UF College of Medicine students, residents and faculty accepted into national honor society

Thirteen University of Florida College of Medicine students, two residents and one faculty member have been elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society.

Current society members select inductees on the basis of academic standing, personal and professional character, service to the medical and local community, and potential for future contributions to medicine.

Fourth-year students Eric Castaldo, Trudi Fahey, Tracie Farmer, Deidre Fish, Jennifer Goldman, Alison Hartemink, Liborio LaRussa, Paige Lindberg, Shannon Neville, Jennifer Overman, James Reeves, Alex Sleeker and Jason Westin were elected to the society. They join Jennifer Auer, Paul Gallogly, Nathan Pennell, Megan Mrstik and Jason Shinn, who were chosen in the spring.

The top one-fourth of the medical class is eligible for election to Alpha Omega Alpha, but only one-sixth of the class can be selected.

One faculty member is elected to the society each year. Dean McCarley, M.D., associate professor of medicine in the College of Medicine’s medical oncology division and chief of the hematology/oncology section at the Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville, was this year’s inductee. Obstetrics and gynecology resident Brenda Shoup, M.D., and neurology and psychiatry resident Dylan Wint, M.D., also were chosen to join.

Alpha Omega Alpha strives to recognize and perpetuate excellence in the medical profession. Since 1903, the not-for-profit organization has promoted scholarship and research in medical schools, encouraged a high standard of character and conduct among medical students and graduates, and recognized high attainment in medical science, practice and related fields. The UF chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha was formed in 1960.