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Student Awards and Honors

Special Distinction and Distinction

There are two levels of recognition for graduation;  Special Distinction will be reserved for those students obtaining a ranking in the top 5% of graduating students on the basis of cumulative percentages weighted by clock hours for all graded courses.

The top 16.7% of the graduating class (1/6) ranked on the basis of grade point averages will be considered for recognition of Distinction. It is the prerogative of the committee to establish numeric breaks and make decisions regarding students on either side of the established percentage.   The top 16.7% of the graduating class (1/6), ranked on the basis of cumulative percentages weighted by clock hours for all graded courses, will be considered for recognition.

The deliberations shall be held in April of the year of graduation and include all grades recorded to all fourth year students through the fall semester of fourth year. The recommendations for all graduating students and students recommended to graduate with Distinction are forwarded to the Faculty Board (April-May) for approval.

Individual considerations will be made regarding the performance of students who transfer to The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and complete their degree requirements in Oklahoma. Recognition of honors performance will be the decision of the committee after review of transcripts and credential file from all schools attended.

College of Medicine Policy 316.0, Guidelines for Honors Designation of Graduates

 

Awards

Each year students can apply for awards as they progress through medical school. These consist of corresponding year awards, campus awards as well as departmental awards.

First Year Awards

The Mark A. Everett Foundation Scholar - Given at the end of the freshman year for academic excellence and ranking first in the class. Sponsored by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.
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The Podalirian Award - Selected each year by each class. One classmate is honored for commitment to the University, performance with clinical experiences, community service, the ability to function well in the team approach to medical care, leadership, and strong advocacy on the part of their patients and fellow medical students.

Second Year Awards

The Mark A. Everett Foundation Scholar - Given at the end of the second year for academic excellence and ranking first in the class. Sponsored by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.

The Podalirian Award - Selected each year by each class. One classmate is honored for commitment to the University, performance with clinical experiences, community service, the ability to function well in the team approach to medical care, leadership, and strong advocacy on the part of their patients and fellow medical students.  

The Vernino-Vannatta Award - For excellence in interpersonal skills. Given to the sophomore medical student most able to demonstrate academic achievement, empathic understanding, and caring for others. Sponsored by the Department of Internal Medicine.  

Third Year Awards

The Coyne H. Campbell Award - In recognition of outstanding scholarship, intellectual promise, and creative ability in medicine for the third year of medical school. Sponsored by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.

The Podalirian Award - Selected each year by each class. One classmate is honored for their commitment to the University, performance with clinical experiences, community service, the ability to function well in the team approach to medical care, leadership, and strong advocacy on the part of their patients and fellow medical students.

Fourth Year Awards

The Dean's Award - To the graduate who best exemplifies those principles that characterize the qualities of an outstanding physician.

The Dr. Lewis J. Moorman Scholar - For the student who has shown the greatest scholarly attitude in medicine and ranks first in the class.

The G. Rainey Williams Scholar - For the senior student who demonstrates humane qualities, academic excellence, scholarly concern for patients and colleagues, and most nearly approaches the ideal physician-patient relationship.

The Dr. R. McKinley Williams Scholar - For the student showing scholarly activity and kindly concern for patients and colleagues.

The Fred G. Silva, M.D. Medical Leadership Award - For the senior medical student who demonstrates those professional qualities and leadership skills that will promote understanding of the role of medicine in today's society. Sponsored by the Department of Pathology.

The Nancy K. Hall Award for Community Service and Leadership Award - Named in honor of Dr. Nancy Hall whose commitment and involvement with both the community and the College spanned decades. This award goes to the student who has shown meaningful involvement with community-oriented organizations and activities and has demonstrated outstanding leadership in community services among peers.

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award - Given in recognition of meritorious work and to the student showing the greatest promise through commitment to the scholarly acquisition and effective application of knowledge and who has gained the complete respect of peers with high standards of integrity, compassion and dedication to the practice of medicine. Sponsored by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation and the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey.   

The Khader K. Hussein, M.D. Award in Palliative Care - Recognizing interest, involvement and scholarly performance in the area of palliative care. Sponsored by the Hospice Foundation of Oklahoma, Inc.

Awards Given at the Tulsa Campus

Frank A. Clingan, M.D. Surgical Society Award - For the outstanding senior student in surgery.

F. Daniel Duffy, M.D. Internal Medicine Award - For the student who most exemplifies the attitudes and abilities characteristic of internal medicine.

Roger C. Good Outstanding Student Award - For that senior student demonstrating the highest level of clinical achievement accompanied by the principles of total patient care.

John Barnwell Nettles Award - For outstanding performance in obstetrics and gynecology during the third year of medical school.

Daniel C. Plunket, M.D. Pediatrics Award - For the senior student demonstrating outstanding ability in clinical pediatrics both academically and holistically.

Department of Psychiatry Award - For the outstanding student during third year of medical school from Tulsa Psychiatric Center.

Benjamin Rush Award - For the outstanding student in psychiatry from the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Psychiatric Association.
 

Fourth Year Departmental Awards

The Charles A. Carmack Anesthesiology Award - Presented to the outstanding student in the discipline. Sponsored by the Department of Anesthesiology.

The Mark Allen Everett Dermatology Award - Presented to the senior OUHSC medical student who has demonstrated outstanding performance and potential for leadership in clinical and/or investigative Dermatology. Sponsored by the Department of Dermatology.

Oklahoma College of Emergency Physicians (OCEP) Award - Recognizes students from both the Oklahoma City campus and the Tulsa School of Community Medicine campus who demonstrated excellence in the specialty of Emergency. Sponsored by the Department of Emergency Medicine, Tulsa-SCM.

The Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award - Presented by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

The Endocrine Society's Medical Student Achievement Award - Honoring a senior medical student who has shown exceptional ability and interest in endocrinology. Sponsored by the Section of Endocrinology.

The Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians' Malcolm Phelps Award- To the student who has demonstrated consistent sensitivity to the ideals of medicine throughout medical school. Sponsored by the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, the Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) and the Family Health Foundation of Oklahoma (FHFO).

The Donald W. Reynolds Award in Geriatrics - Given each year to the student deemed to have been the most exemplary during the required fourth year geriatrics rotation. Sponsored by the Department of Geriatrics.

The Robert Montgomery Bird Society Award - To the student who shows great potential for a creative contribution to the medical sciences. Sponsored by the Department of Internal Medicine.

The James R. Couch Award in Neurology - For the graduating student who has personified excellence and potential in the field of Neurology. Sponsored by the Department of Neurology.

The James A. Merrill Award in Obstetrics and Gynecology - For academic and clinical excellence as a third year medical student in obstetrics and gynecology. Sponsored by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The Dean McGee Award in Ophthalmology - Given annually to the graduating senior with the most outstanding performance in ophthalmology. Sponsored by the Department of Ophthalmology.

The Jesus E. Medina Award for Excellence in Otolaryngology - Given for excellence in research by a medical student. Sponsored by the Department of Otolaryngology.

The Children's Hospital Foundation Award in Pediatrics - To the senior student who best exemplifies the ideal patient-doctor relationship with children. Sponsored by the Department of Pediatrics.

The Exemplary Student in Psychiatry Award - To the outstanding student in Psychiatry from the Oklahoma District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association. Sponsored by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

The Department of Radiological Sciences Award - For the senior student demonstrating outstanding ability in Diagnostic Radiology. Sponsored by the Department of Diagnostic Radiology.

The Department of Surgery Outstanding Student Award - To the outstanding student in surgery. Sponsored by the Department of Surgery.

The Outstanding Medical Student in Urology - Presented to the graduating senior based on their outstanding Urology clinic rotation.

The Podalirian Award - Selected each year by each class. One classmate is honored for commitment to the University, performance with clinical experiences, community service, the ability to function well in the team approach to medical care, leadership, and strong advocacy on the part of their patients and fellow medical students.

Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Society

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) is a national honor society established in 1902 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago by a group of medical students headed by William Webster Root. Their goal was the creation of a society that would foster honesty and formulate higher ideals of scholastic achievement. The letters AOA represent the first letters of a Greek motto which means “Worthy to serve the suffering.”

Currently there are over 120 active chapters in the United States and Canada, including the OU CoM.

Membership in AOA is a distinction for medical students that is recognized and honored by all in the profession. Members are selected by the medical school chapter itself, and to be eligible, a student must be in the upper 25 percent of the class. No more than one-sixth (16.67 percent) of the number of students expected to graduate may be elected to membership.

Because of the value of AOA membership to students who are in the process of applying for residencies, our local chapter seeks to have members elected in time to have that distinction reflected in students’ résumés.

Gold Humanism Honor Society

Established by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation in the late 1990’s, the Gold Humanism Honor Society honors medical students for demonstrated excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion, and dedication to service. Selection typically occurs during the spring semester of the third year.