Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Honor Society
The Renaissance School of Medicine Chapter of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Honor Society is seeking faculty nominations for induction in academic year 2025-2026. Annually, the school may induct up to 10 faculty who demonstrate characteristics that align with AOA’s mission, values, and motto, “worthy to serve the suffering.”
Alpha Omega Alpha is dedicated to the belief that in the profession of medicine we will improve care for all by:
- recognizing high educational achievement
- honoring gifted teaching
- encouraging the development of leaders in academia and the community
- supporting the ideals of humanism
- promoting service to others
Election to AOA is an honor signifying a lasting commitment to professionalism, leadership, scholarship, research, and community service. A lifelong honor, membership in the society confers recognition of one’s dedication to the profession and the art of healing.
Criteria for faculty selection include:
- Demonstration of continued academic and professional achievement, leadership, professionalism, service, teaching, research/scholarship, and humanism
- Demonstration of a commitment to scholarly excellence and medical education
- Demonstration of integrity, empathy, and excellence in communication
- Doctoral degree (M.D., D.O., Ph.D., or equivalent)
Faculty may be nominated by an existing AOA faculty member or by their Department Chair. Self-nomination is not considered. When nominating a faculty member, please confirm that the faculty member is not already a member of AOA.
A complete nomination packet must include the following:
- Candidate’s curriculum vitae
- Letter from the nominee’s Department Chair describing the nominee’s attributes and qualifications for membership in the areas of leadership, service, research/scholarship, teaching/mentorship, and professionalism.
- Optional additional letter of support from a colleague who is an existing AOA faculty member
Please submit one PDF file containing all documents labeled: FirstLast_FacAOA2526 through this link.
Deadline for submission is December 31, 2025 at 5PM
Selections will be announced in February 2026.
Faculty inductees are invited to the annual RSOM AOA induction ceremony that is held in March 2026.
2025 Faculty Awards
The nominations for RSoM Faculty Awards are now closed. They will be reopened in Spring 2026.
Eligibility
All Renaissance School of Medicine faculty members and faculty members at our close affiliates are eligible for
consideration for all awards. Please note, past recipients are not eligible for consideration in the same category in
which they previously received an award.
Applicant nominations are considered for three consecutive years. Candidates nominated, but not awarded, in the
2023 and 2004 cycle do not need to reapply for the same award in this cycle. However, a new application can be
submitted if there is additional evidence to support the candidate's nomination.
 | Aesculapius Award for Excellence in Medical Education |
| The Aesculapius Award represents the highest teaching award offered to medical school faculty at Stony Brook in recognition of their teaching medical students, residents, fellows, and/or faculty. Nominees will be assessed on the quantity, quality, and impact of their work in seven domains of educational excellence: teaching, learner assessment, curricular development, advising and mentoring, educational leadership and administration, scholarly approach to education, and educational scholarship. Awardees receive a gift of one thousand dollars to be spent on education-related activities. The names of the faculty members who receive the award are displayed on a plaque in the Dean’s Awards Wall. | |
 | Early Career Research Excellence Award |
| Open to basic, clinical, and translation researchers below the rank of Associate Professor. This award recognizes excellence in basic, clinical, and/or translational research. Nominees are assessed on research focus and creativity, impact and potential, funding, publications and output, collaboration, and contributions to the research mission, their department, and the school of medicine. The strength of the nomination letter and letters of recommendation will also be taken into consideration. | |
 | Senior Research Excellence Award |
| Open to basic, clinical, and translation researchers at the rank of Associate Professor or above. This award recognizes excellence in basic, clinical, and/or translational research. Nominees are assessed on research excellence, leadership, mentorship, impact, funding record, knowledge sharing, and contributions to their department and the school of medicine. The strength of the nomination letter and letters of recommendation will also be taken into consideration. | |
 | Excellence in Clinical Service Award |
| Recognizes devotion to delivering quality care and teaching for a faculty member in a surgical or medical specialty. Nominee considerations include the candidate's clinical excellence, communication skills, dedication to promoting health and wellbeing, teamwork and leadership, professionalism, teaching and mentorship, and community engagement. The strength of the nomination letter and letters of recommendation will also be taken into consideration. | |
| Excellence in Clinical Practice in the Community Award |
| Recognizes devotion to delivering quality care and teaching in the community for a faculty member in a surgical or medical specialty. Nominee considerations include the candidate's clinical excellence, communication skills, dedication to promoting health and wellbeing, teamwork and leadership, professionalism, teaching and mentorship, and community engagement. The strength of the nomination letter and letters of recommendation will also be taken into consideration. | |
 | The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award Presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation |
| Honors physicians who recognize the value of humanism in the delivery of care to patients and their families. This award recognizes faculty members who are mentors and exemplars of humanism in the care of patients and their families. Nominee considerations include demonstrated integrity, excellence, collaboration and compassion, altruism, respect and resilience, empathy, service, and compassion in the delivery of patient care, role-modeling, mentoring, and teaching. Those honored with the Tow Award are expected to reflect these values in daily practice and to continuously strive to be exemplars of humanism in healthcare. | |
 | Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award |
| Recognizes faculty member who best exemplifies excellence in mentorship of faculty. Nominee considerations include the nominee’s mentorship effort and impact, mentee advocacy, scholarship with mentee, and mentees’ outcomes. The award recognizes faculty members for the outstanding support of their colleagues, guiding them in their academic, clinical, and research work, and helping them in defining and obtaining their professional goals. The strength of the nomination letter and letters of recommendation will also be taken into consideration. | |
 | Faculty Excellence in Student Mentoring Award |
| Recognizes faculty member who best exemplifies excellence in mentorship of medical students. Nominee considerations include the nominee’s mentorship effort and impact, mentee advocacy, educational activities, scholarship with mentee, and mentees’ outcomes. The award recognizes faculty members for their outstanding support of medical students, guiding them in their academic and clinical work, and helping them in defining and obtaining their professional goals. The strength of the nomination letter and letters of recommendation will also be taken into consideration. | |
| Faculty Excellence in Student Mentoring at an Affiliate site Award |
| Recognizes faculty member who best exemplifies excellence in mentorship of medical students at an affiliate site. Nominee considerations include the nominee’s mentorship effort and impact, mentee advocacy, educational activities, scholarship with mentee, and mentees’ outcomes. The award recognizes faculty members for their outstanding support of medical students at an affiliate site, guiding them in their academic and clinical work, and helping them in defining and obtaining their professional goals. The strength of the nomination letter and letters of recommendation will also be taken into consideration. | |
 | Faculty Excellence in Resident/Fellow Mentoring Award |
| Recognizes faculty member who best exemplifies excellence in mentorship of residents/fellows. Nominee considerations include the nominee’s mentorship effort and impact, mentee advocacy, educational activities, scholarship with mentee, and mentees’ outcomes. The award recognizes faculty members for the outstanding support of residents/fellows, guiding them in their academic and clinical work, and helping them in defining and obtaining their professional goals. The strength of the nomination letter and letters of recommendation will also be taken into consideration. | |
| Faculty Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award |
| Recognizes faculty member who best exemplifies excellence in mentorship of graduate students. Nominee considerations include the nominee’s mentorship effort and impact, mentee advocacy, educational activities, scholarship with mentee, and mentees’ outcomes. The award recognizes faculty members for the outstanding support of graduate students, guiding them in their academic and research work, and helping them in defining and obtaining their professional goals. The strength of the nomination letter and letters of recommendation will also be taken into consideration. | |