Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Honor Medical Society is a prestigious national organizations dedicated to recognizing and promoting excellence in the medical profession. The AΩA Epsilon Chapter was founded at FIU in 2012. Each year, junior and senior medical students are selected for induction based on their academic, leadership, and service qualifications. FIU residents, fellows, and physician faculty are also eligible for AΩA. AΩA recognizes scholarship and other values including honesty, ethics, dedication to serving others, and leadership. Nearly 75% of deans of U.S. medical schools are members of AΩA.
Our Chapter’s Vision & Mission Statement: We believe the practice of medicine is reliant on inquisitive, service-minded individuals, who, under the guidance of gifted teachers, develop effective leadership skills, high educational achievement, and the ideals of humanism to serve the greater community. By honoring these qualities, we ensure that the physicians of tomorrow will maintain the ideals of humanism, leadership, service, and academic excellence.
Executive Board
Chapter Advisor: Rebecca Toonkel, M.D.
President: Jami Alamar (Class of 2025)
Vice President: Maria Valle Gonzalez (Class of 2025)
Secretary: Jay Chandar (Class of 2025)
Community Engagement: Rafey Khan (Class of 2025)
Alumni Relations: Steven Latta (Class of 2025)
National Award Winners
We are very proud of our chapter for earning National AOA recognition. We would like to recognize the following achievements:
AΩA Award for Excellence in Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Medical Education and Patient Care, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, 2020
Medical Student Service Leadership Project Grant, Developing Medical Students Leaders in the Underserved Community, Student Run Clinic, 2019
AΩA Professionalism Award, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, 2018
Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship Award
Joel Mantilla, Class of 2026, 2024
Alyssa Pereslete, Class of 2025, 2023
Sarah Makhani, Class of 2022, 2021
Thomas Vazquez, Class of 2021, 2020
Leah Cohen, Class of 2019, 2018
Helen H. Glaser Student Essay Award
“Respect” by Jaclyn Arvedon, Class of 2022, Third Place, 2021
The Pharos Poetry Award
“Kid in a white coat” by Gabriella Garcia, Class of 2025, Second Place, 2022
Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award
Javier Hiriart, M.D., 2024
Nathalie Regalado, M.D., 2023
Peter Khamvongsa, M.D., 2022
Nelson Garcia Jr., M.D., 2021
Larry Spiegelman, M.D., 2020
Regina Carney, M.D., 2019
Ralph Levy, M.D., 2018
Membership
Each year, junior and senior medical students are selected for induction based on their academic, leadership, and service qualifications. FIU residents, fellows, and physician faculty are also eligible for AΩA.
Faculty Members
2019: Robert Sackstein, M.D., Ph.D
2018: Herbert Wertheim, O.D., D.Sc., M.D. (hc)
2017: Gagani Athauda, M.D., Vivian Obeso, M.D., A. Frederick Schild, M.D.
2013: James Patrick O’Leary, M.D., Robert Dollinger, M.D., John Rock, M.D., Carolyn Runowicz, M.D., Robert Hernandez, M.D., Pedro “Joe” Greer, M.D., Pedro Lopez, M.D., Chad Perlyn, M.D., Sheldon H. Cherry, M.D.
Graduate Members
2017: Hanadys Ale, M.D., Allergy & Immunology Fellow, Class of 2013; Mohammad Al-Mousily, M.D., Pediatrics Resident, Class of 2015