FAQ

AOA doesn’t seem relevant to current medical school values, and the selection process is mysterious and confusing. How is AOA changing its focus moving forward?

Our goal is to be completely transparent about the changes in our application process and eligibility moving forward. The changes in selection criteria detailed in our open letter to the class of 2022 are permanent.


Reflecting the medical school’s success in recruiting an increasingly diverse and representative cohort of future physicians, the Minnesota Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha’s updated mission is to represent all students in terms of race, ethnicity, sexuality, first-generation college or medical school status, and urban or rural status while upholding the definition of an honor medical student as one who exemplifies the core AOA values of leadership, academic excellence, gifted teaching, humanism, service, research, and diversity.


What else does AOA do? Is it just about membership?

AOA also organizes service projects to give back to the Minneapolis-St. Paul community. This year, we decided to discontinue the Human Torso Project in order to focus on events that best promote outreach about careers in medicine to diverse young students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in medicine. We are continuing our 20+ year partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota Human Body Gallery project, and will additionally be partnering with SNMA on their community service initiatives including The Ladder and Science Fusion.


We continue to expand AOA’s volunteer efforts to best reflect the updated values of the medical school community and admissions process, and are currently planning additional 2021-2022 events. We are particularly interested in partnering with various student groups that seek to increase diversity and representation in medicine. If you have suggestions for future volunteer events or collaborations, please contact Simisola Odusanya, Kharmen Bharucha, Omar Cespedes Gomez, or Carlos Perez.


What do you mean by diversity in your AOA class? Are you looking for things to change?

The demographic breakdown of our junior AOA class of 15 is as follows: 33% or 5/15 URM (underrepresented minority), 27% or 4/15 other BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), 33% or 5/15 white, and 7% or 1/15 other/unspecified. This represents the most diverse AOA class since our chapter’s inception in 1908. Few students originally from the Duluth campus have been elected to AOA in recent years; we strongly encourage all Duluth students to apply for AOA membership and to reach out with any questions.


We believe that our demographics reflect the increasingly understood value of diversity in medicine and appropriately mirror the demographic shift of future physicians based on medical school admissions. Numerous studies have shown that increased diversity and representation among physicians improves patient care. To best serve our population, our numbers must reflect them, and our goal is to be a medical honor society that reflects this changing and evolving face of medicine.


How many people can be accepted to AOA?

Up to 1/6th of the total class can be accepted to AOA. At the University of Minnesota, this means typically 40-45 members of each graduating class may be elected to AOA. This varies slightly every year depending on how many students are in the graduating class and includes both Junior and Senior AOA. There are currently 15 junior AOA members from the 2022 class.


If I apply to senior AOA, how is it different from junior AOA?

The distinction between junior and senior AOA is based on when a medical student is elected. Junior AOA is the earliest opportunity for future physicians to distinguish themselves and Junior AOA members serve as board members during the 4th year of medical school. Senior AOA members will not hold University of Minnesota board positions during their 4th year, but will be part of the greater AOA community for life. Physicians may also be elected to AOA as residents and faculty attendings by the chapter at their institution; each year UMN AOA inducts 4 total physicians this way.


If accepted to AOA, will it show up on my residency application?

Yes. The senior AOA selection process is specifically designed for accepted senior members to be listed in the national AOA database prior to residency application submission in September. Residency programs should be able to search and find your name in the national database if you are elected to senior AOA.


I have questions about my application. Who can I contact?

Any of the junior AOA members can be contacted about the application process, community service initiatives, concerns or questions. For specific questions, contact:

  • Guy Guenthner, Membership Coordinator (aoa.membershipcoordinator.uofm@gmail.com)

  • Simi Odusanya, Diversity Liaison and Community Service Chair (aoa.diversityliaison.uofm@gmail.com)

  • Jade Cohen, President (aoa.president.uofm@gmail.com)

  • Cecilia Di Caprio, Vice President (aoa.vp.uofm@gmail.com)


How can I learn more about AOA?

We have two websites, both of which are under construction. These will be updated in the coming year. Stay posted!