Open Letter to the Class of 2022

Dear University of Minnesota Medical School Class of 2022,

This year, the University of Minnesota’s Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society chapter nominated its most diverse and representative member class since its inception. Spearheaded by recent graduates Dr. Cleresa Roberts and Dr. Hawa Ali (Class of 2021 Alpha Omega Alpha President and Membership Coordinator), a newly revamped selection process was developed last year with the goal of a more holistic, equitable approach to identifying and honoring multi-faceted excellence among University of Minnesota Medical School students.

Historically only a fraction of the student body was invited to apply to AOA based on class standing and board scores, thus excluding many excellent candidates for membership. Valid concerns about this selection method have been raised by members of our 2022 Medical School class. We have also heard fears that AOA’s commitment to diversity is temporary. As the junior AOA class, we would like to address these concerns head-on; our goal is to be completely transparent about AOA’s selection process, core values, and commitment to diversity.

Two AOA cohorts are traditionally elected per graduating class: a junior cohort in spring of the 3rd year of medical school, and a senior cohort in the fall of 4th year. Our current junior class was nominated on the basis of holistic review and exemplary achievement in all AOA pillars, without the explicit consideration of Step scores or preclinical grades. Beginning with the senior 2021-2022 class, AOA will permanently stop utilizing Step scores and academic grades as stand-ins for academic performance. This is both because these metrics will no longer exist for use (as the school is discontinuing all non-pass/fail clinical and preclinical grades and Step 1 becomes pass/fail this January), and primarily because there are more meaningful ways to measure the success of a future physician. Academic excellence is and will always remain a core tenet of AOA values, and moving forward will be embodied by traits such as integrity, professionalism, diligence, cultural humility, and respect.

As of last year, our University of Minnesota AOA chapter no longer limits its applicants to an invite-only pool. We invite all members of the graduating class of 2022 to apply for membership on the basis of how well they feel they exemplify AOA’s core pillars of excellence: leadership, academic achievement, gifted teaching, humanism, service, research, and diversity. A short one-page essay and CV are required, anonymized, and graded by a panel of AOA board members and faculty based on the demonstration of AOA values.

We strongly encourage all classmates from both campuses who believe they personify the core AOA values described above to apply for senior AOA membership this July. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our board members with any questions or concerns that may arise.

Signed,

Jade Cohen, President

Cecilia Di Caprio, Vice President

Guy Guenthner, Membership and Alumni Coordinator

Simi Odusanya, Diversity Liaison and Community Service Chair

and

The University of Minnesota Alpha Omega Alpha Chapter 2021-2022 Junior Board

Fadlullah Ba’th

Katherine Beck-Esmay

Kharmen Bharucha

Omar Cespedes Gomez

Kristine Nachbor

James Pathoulas

Carlos Perez

Vikram Puram

Thomas Sorenson

Jena Velji-Ibrahim

Anna Wojcicki

Cosigned,

Dr. Charles Billington, MD, AOA Chapter Councilor

Dr. Michael Kim, MD, AOA Faculty Advisor