Five UF College of Medicine students elected to national honor society

Five third-year medical students at the University of Florida College of Medicine recently were elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the principal medical honor society in the United States.

Kathleen Cook, Jessica Graham, David Husted, Rolando Molina and Timothy Lucas were announced as new Alpha Omega Alpha members May 16 at the UF chapter’s annual banquet. Graham and Lucas also were elected to serve as co-presidents of the chapter.

The top 25 percent of the medical class is eligible for election into Alpha Omega Alpha, but only 16 percent of the class can be selected. Furthermore, just one-fourth of the eventual honorees in the class can be named to the society during their third year of medical school. Therefore, those selected during their third year typically represent the top of their class. The remaining inductees are selected during their senior year of medical school.

When voting on new members, current society members consider academic standing, personal and professional character, service to the medical and local community and promise for future contributions to medicine.

Alpha Omega Alpha aims to promote scholarship and research in medical schools, encourage a high standard of character and conduct among medical students and graduates, and recognize high attainment in medical science, practice and related fields. The UF Alpha Omega Alpha Chapter, designated as the beta chapter, was formed in 1960.