Diversity in Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Abstract

To the Editor: As the University of Michigan chapter examines its own Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society’s (AΩA’s) election process, we appreciate that Dr. Byyny and colleagues expressed in their Invited Commentary1 that “it is imperative that each AΩA chapter consider and integrate diversity, inclusion, and equity … when undertaking the AΩA election process,” and asked, “How can we help?” To this end, the AΩA national leadership team should hold its chapters directly accountable for their representation of students underrepresented in medicine (UiM) to ensure progress is made. Failing to do so may inadvertently displace this responsibility to the small number of UiM students and faculty inducted, who already spend disproportionate amounts of time engaging in diversity-related initiatives compared with their non-UiM peers.2 Although seeking to “inform and educate AΩA chapters, members, and students about the importance of inclusion, diversity, and equity,”1 is important, information and education alone will be insufficient. Rather, the AΩA national leadership team must implement specific strategies to foster transparency and accountability. AΩA national could, for example, require its chapters to keep publicly available records of member demographics and action plans to address shortcomings in their election processes. To further foster innovation, AΩA could offer grants or awards to specifically recognize chapters that implement novel election processes with demonstrated improvement in UiM representation, while continuing to recognize institutions dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion more broadly.3 Without mandated transparency and accountability, AΩA chapters may be incentivized to hide problematic data or pursue inaction. Although many chapter leaders will do what is right and diligently seek to improve diversity amongst their membership, many will not, to the detriment of thousands of UiM students. The AΩA national leadership team must take more definitive action to keep its chapters accountable for increasing UiM representation. A failure to do so will almost certainly lead to maintenance of the status quo, particularly among organizations not independently motivated to restructure their election processes. Ultimately, this inaction will continue to perpetuate inequality in AΩA elections. Joshua B. Kurtz, MDPediatric intern, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the time of writing, the author was vice president, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society chapter, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; [email protected]; ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7528-1722.Nadine Ibrahim, MDHead and neck surgery intern, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. At the time of writing, the author was president, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society chapter, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; [email protected]; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4914-0736.Maureen Fausone, MDIntern, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee. At the time of writing, the author was a fourth-year medical student, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.