National and chapter news

Loma Linda University School of Medicine Induction Ceremony

Darrell Kirch, MD, president and CEO of the AAMC, giving his talk, "Will You Lead?"

Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA), the national medical honor society, and its Epsilon chapter at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine (LLUSM) inducted 32 new members into the organization during its annual awards banquet, which was held on Tuesday, March 1, in the Centennial Complex of Loma Linda University (LLU).

After a welcome by Grigoriy Arutyunyan, student vice president, and an invocation by Sarah Roddy, MD, associate professor of pediatric neurology, and councilor for the Epsilon chapter, it was time for Henry Lamberton, PsyD, associate dean for student affairs, to introduce the newest members of AΩA:

LLU Class of 2011

Alumnus

Forrest Jellison, MD

House staff

Robert Ayer, MD
Andrew Graves, MD
Hasan Syed, MD

Dr. Lamberton peppered his remarks with life sketches and personal anecdotes about each initiate's individual interests in medicine and in life. At the conclusion of his comments, the newest AOA members lined up for a photograph with the guest speaker, Darrell Kirch, MD, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Following the presentation of the newest members, H. Roger Hadley, MD, LLUSM dean, introduced Dr. Kirch as a distinguished physician, educator, and medical scientist, widely recognized as an authority on the organization and management of academic medical centers. In his address—titled simply "Will You Lead?"—Dr. Kirch offered a candid and forthright assessment of the state of health care in America and said the time has come for medical professionals to create innovative solutions for the fiscal, political, and practical challenges of providing medical care in the 21st century.

The Epsilon chapter of AΩA was chartered to the Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1956.

"We are very proud of our newly initiated senior students as well as alumni and house staff," she concluded.