Alpha Omega Alpha Leadership Team
AOA Faculty Councilor (MetroHealth) (lead)
David Kaelber, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAP, FACP, FACMI, FAMIA
Professor of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, CWRU
Chief Medical Informatics Officer/VP of Health Informatics and Patient Engagement Technologies, The MetroHealth System
AOA Faculty Councilor (University Hospitals)
[vacant]
AOA Faculty Councilor (Cleveland Clinic)
Sofya Asfaw, MD, FACS
Assistant Professor Surgery, CCLCM of CWRU
General Surgery and Anesthesia
Cleveland Clinic
AOA Faculty Councilor (Veterans Administration Hospital of Cleveland)
Nadim El Chakhtoura, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, CWRU School of Medicine
Medical Director, Community Living Centers
Sections of Acute Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine
Department of Veterans Affairs Northeast Ohio Health System, Cleveland
AOA Advisor
Steven Ricanati, MD
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, CWRU
Associate Dean, Office of Student Affairs, CWRU SOM
Dean, Wearn Society, CWRU SOM
AOA Coordinator
Dawn Reid
Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) is the national medical honor society with the overall vision to promote and recognize excellence in the profession of medicine in all of its forms. The CWRU chapter of AOA is the third (Gamma) chapter started nationally and the first (Alpha) chapter in Ohio. The school's AOA chapter is managed by the CWRU SOM Office of Student Affairs and encompasses both University Program and Lerner College program medical students, faculty, and alumni.
The three Greek letters "AΩA" are the initials of the essential words in the Honor Medical Society's motto, which translates to “Be worthy to serve the suffering.”
AOA Mission
Alpha Omega Alpha is dedicated to the belief that in the profession of medicine, we will improve care for all by:
- Recognizing high educational achievement;
- Honoring gifted teaching;
- Encouraging the development of leaders in academia and the community;
- Supporting the ideals of humanism; and
- Promoting service to others.
Awards and Programs
Alpha Omega Alpha supports many fellowships, grants, programs, and awards for medical students and physicians, and publishes a quarterly peer-reviewed medical humanities journal, The Pharos. This publication contains articles on nontechnical medical subjects, including history, ethics, national issues, personal essays, and poetry. The following awards are available to medical students enrolled at CWRU SOM (either the University or Lerner College programs). Students do not need to be members of AOA to receive an award.
The Pharos Poetry Award
Award granted for meaningful poetry related to health or medicine. Cash awards of $600 for first place; $350 for second place; and $200 for third place. The three winning entries will be published in The Pharos.
Helen H. Glaser Student Essay Award
Award granted for creative narratives or scholarly essays relevant to medicine. Winning essays will be published in the Autumn issue of The Pharos. Cash awards of $1,500 for first place; $1,000 for second place; and $850 for third place.
Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship
This fellowship offers funds ($5,000 + $1,000 travel expenses) that are expected to be the main source of support for research conducted either during a continual period of a minimum of 8 to 10 weeks; 30 hours or more per week; or an average of 4 hours per week for 12 months over a period of 1 to 2 years. The research should focus on clinical investigation, basic laboratory research, epidemiology, social science/health services research, leadership, or professionalism.
Medical Student Service Leadership Project Grant
AOA is committed to preparing future leaders in medicine and health care. Leadership is about making a positive difference and can be developed through education, observation, experience, and by working with leader mentors. Service learning provides excellent opportunities for students to develop as servant leaders. Only one team from each school may be nominated. CWRU SOM was the winner of a 2023 Medical Student Service Leadership Project Grant for a project titled: “Food as Medicine: A Community-Centered, Industry to Hospital Approach to Bridging the Gap Between Food and Health for Underprivileged Patients.”
CWRU AOA Chapter History
The Alpha Omega Alpha chapter at Case Western Reserve University (initially Western Reserve University) was formed in 1903 and was the third (gamma) chapter created nationally and the first (alpha) chapter created in Ohio. The CWRU Alpha Omega Alpha chapter has inducted over two thousand inductees, including:
- 5 Charter members from 1903
- 38 Alumni
- 75 Faculty
- 34 Residents/Fellows
- 1,858 Students
People connected with CWRU have received several Alpha Omega Alpha grants and awards, including:
- The Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship – 14 submitted, 12 accepted (2010-2023)
- The Helen H. Glaser Student Essay Award – 2024; “Perseverance and Passion: The Road to Being a Woman in Neurosurgery” – Evangeline Bambakidis (2024)
- Medical Student Service Leadership Project Grant – 2023; "Food as Medicine: A Community-Centered, Industry to Hospital Approach to Bridging the Gap Between Foor and Health for Underprivileged Patients" (CCLCM) (2023)
- Postgraduate Fellowship – 2013, 2023
- Visiting Professorships – 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018
Over the years, CWRU medical students have contributed valuable insights to the field of medical education by writing white papers on significant topics. These papers covered a range of subjects, including student debt and financial literacy to social media. By exploring these issues, the students highlighted current challenges and innovative strategies to address them. Their work reflects a commitment to advancing medical education for future generations. Their efforts underscore the role of medical students as active contributors to their own learning environments and the future of healthcare education.
- 2007 - Student Debt
- 2012 - Social Media
- 2013 - Financial Literacy
- 2017 - Career Advising
AOA Elections
At this time, the CWRU AOA Chapter is not electing any new medical students, residents, fellows, faculty, or alumni members.
More Information
Additional information about AOA nationally can be found on the AOA website or in this helpful pamphlet. Inquiries or questions can be sent to the CWRU AOA email at casemed-aoa@case.edu.