Welcome to Alpha Omega Alpha at the NYU School of Medicine. AOA is the only national honor medical society in the world and was established to recognize and perpetuate excellence in medicine. As stated in the society's consitution, "Alpha Omega Alpha is organized for educational 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." Since its establishment in 1902 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago by William Webster Root, the society's growth has paralleled the development of American medical education. Today there are 122 active chapters and 2 associations in the United States and Canada. The New York Delta Chapter was started at NYU SoM in 1923 with 15 original members and has since elected over 2000 members (1666 students, 338 alumna, 43 faculty, and 3 housestaff). Original charter members included: Samuel A. Brown, Ernest Paul Desanto, Dr. Everett G. Fausel, Dr. Florence H. Frankel, Holmes C. Jackson, Julius Kavee, Dr. Bernard Kurtz, Dr. William Leifer, Emil J. Pellini, Dr. Zernbabel A. Raskin, Harold D. Senior, Dr. David H. Smith, Dr. Robert P. Wallace, Dr. Michael Weingarten, and John Wyckoff.