April 17, 2008

Don HIlty, UC Davis associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, has been elected to the UC Davis School of Medicine, Eta California Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha.

AOA is the National Honor Society in Medicine, established at the beginning of the 20th century by medical students in Chicago to enhance the professionalism of medicine. Each year, medical students throughout the nation are elected by vote of the local membership from the top 25% of each class. Criteria for election are, however, more than academic standing, though that is required by the AOA Charter, but also include excellence as a physician (character, conduct, service, high ideals) and potential for achievement of leadership in Medicine, which may be in areas that are clinical, educational, research, and/or community service. It is particularly in these areas of excellence and service that resident and faculty electees are nominated and chosen by the chapter members.

The initials 'AOA' stand for the first letters in the Greek phrase that is the motto of AOA, which translates into English as "Worthy to Serve the Suffering".