AΩA Charter
Purpose
"Every science was thus far advanced towards perfection be the emulous
diligence of contemporary students and the gradual discoveries of one age
improving on another ... Either truths hitherto unknown must be discovered, or
those which are already known enforced by stronger evidence, facilitated by
cleared method, or elucidated by brighter illustrations."
-Samuel Johnson
Alpha Omega Alpha is the only national medical society in the world. Its
raison d'etre can be expressed in a phrase: to recognize and perpetuate
excellence in the medical profession. As stated in the society's constitution,
"Alpha Omega Alpha is organized for education purposes exclusively and not for
profit, and its aims shall be the promotion of scholarship and research in
medical schools, the encouragement of a high standard of character and conduct
among medical students and graduates, and the recognition of high attainment in
medical science, practice, and related fields."
To fulfill the role it has set for itself, Alpha Omega Alpha elects
outstanding medical students, graduates, faculty, and honorary members to its
ranks and offers its membership three important programs: the Alpha Omega Alpha
Visiting Professorships are designed to enrich the educational environment of
the various medical schools to which they are awarded; the
historically-oriented videotape series, leaders in American Medicine, presents
biographical interviews with distinguished men and women and the society's
journal, THE PHAROS, is published quarterly and includes non-technical papers
and regular features, which address a wide variety of topics of historical,
philosophic, and current interest to physicians. All three are described in
greater detail in the following section entitled "Publications and Programs."
The society key is designed after the Manubrium Sterni. The letters
AΩA, engraved on the key, represent not only the name of the
honor society, but the essential words in its motto:
"Worthy to serve the suffering"
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