Awards
Download the 2026-2027 AΩA Awards Bulletin here
ATTENTION: All applicants must fill out this Google Form to indicate award(s) applying for. This is a requirement so USU Faculty can approve necessary paperwork. Preliminary Google Form submission is required minimum of 3 weeks prior to Award Deadline.
National Awards
Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship
Deadlines -January 19, 2027
*Requires local and national applications*
Description
Every year, Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) offers up to $7,000 fellowships to medical students in order to promote basic and clinical research in medical fields, social science, or health services.
Eligibility
First-, second-, and third-year medical students are eligible. MD/PhD holders are not eligible for this fellowship..
Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award
Deadline - April 9, 2027
National application only
Description
Every year, Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) offers this award to four faculty members at LCME-approved schools of medicine for their outstanding contributions to the education of medical students: two educators from basic science, preclinical departments, and two from clinical disciplines. Each recipient will receive a $10,000 award. In addition, each recipient's nominating institution will receive $2,500 for teaching activities. The recipients will be recognized at the annual Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Awards Dinner and their travel expenses related to attendance will be reimbursed by AΩA.
Eligibility
Each medical school in the United States and Canada may nominate one faculty member (Associate Professor or higher) each year, if the institution has not had a recipient of this award in the past three years. The nomination is made by the dean.
Helen H. Glaser Student Essay Awards
Deadline - December 1, 2026
National application only
Description
Every year, Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) offers this award to encourage scholarly writing on nontechnical medical topics. Up to $2000 will be awarded to winning essays, which can be published in The Pharos.
Eligibility
Authors must be enrolled at medical schools that have an active ΑΩΑ Chapter or association, but need not be members of ΑΩΑ; however, if they are AΩA they must be an active member. Only one entry may be submitted per student.
Richard L. Byyny Fellow in Leadership Award
TBD
National application only
Description
Every year, Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) offers the Fellow in Leadership Award to recognize and support the development of outstanding mid-career physician leaders. Recipients will receive a $25,000 award to be used for further development of their leadership skills through a specific year-long project.
Eligibility
Mid-career Physicians who are actuve members of AΩA. Nominations must be made by the senior executive of the physician’s organization. Only one nominee will be accepted from a Chapter, private/community hospital, or organization. Nominations must be submitted to the local AΩA Chapter Councilor or to a Chapter Association Chair if the applicant is affiliated with a medical school/medical center.
Medical Student Service Leadership Award
Deadline - February 16, 2027
*Requires local and national applications*
Description
Every year, Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) offers three-year funding for a student service leadership project. Each chapter may submit one proposal for a student service leardership project funded for three years at $5000 for the first year and $4000 for the second.
Eligibility
A team of students applies for this award. Teams with AΩA members serving as team leaders will be given priority. Proposals with matching institutional or dean’s funds will be given priority.
All AΩA members in the submission packet must have active status.
AOA Professionalism Award
Deadline - October 13, 2026
Description
A one-time award of $10,000 to recognize and honor faculty, programs, and institutions with the best practices in medical professionalism education. One award is presented each year. Must submit to Local AOA chapter 1 week prior to national deadline.
Eligibility
Programs at medical schools, or institutions affiliated with medical schools, that have a professionalism program that has produced proven outcomes are eligible. Medical schools that have received the Professionalism Award are not eligible to submit another nomination for three subsequent years. All AΩA members included in the nomination packet must have active dues status in AΩA.
Robert H. Moser Essay Award
Deadline - October 20, 2026
Description
To honor the late Robert H. Moser, MD (AΩA, Georgetown University, 1969). Awarded to one outstanding essay celebrating the life of a physician like Dr. Moser who has enriched the world through his/her career in medicine.
One award of $4,500 for an essay highlighting the life of a physician who has enriched the world of medicine.
Eligibility
All physicians. AΩA membership is not required, however, AΩA members who submit an essay must have active status. Physicians on the AΩA Board of Directors or The Pharos Editorial Board are not eligible.
Local Awards
Nominations are currently closed
Faculty Mentor of the Year
2026 Award Winner: Dr. Matthew Hawks
This award serves to recognize outstanding mentoring provided by individual faculty and reinforce to the USUHS & AOA community the important role of mentorship in shaping future physicians.
Faculty Teacher of the Year
2026 Award Winner: Dr. John Atwood
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the education of medical students by two faculty members:one educator from basic science/preclinical departments and one from Clerkship/clinical disciplines.
Resident Teacher of the Year
2026 Award Winner: Dr. Katie Krivda
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the education of medical students by one resident physician during Clerkship/Advanced Clerkship rotations.
Medical Student Awards
There are a number of award opportunities for medical students sponsored by various specialty and medical organizations available every year. These awards are dependent upon the organization offering them and vary in their submission dates and processes. In general there are awards which are available for all class years and those with interests in almost any specialty. Below is an excel sheet which lists and organizes a number of these available awards. Please note the below reward criteria, and that this excel sheet is not exhaustive.
Please utilize this Google Form to indicate interest prior to applying for awards for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Rules for Application
BEFORE YOU APPLY, PLEASE KNOW:
The Office of General Counsel has provided some ground rules when considering awards to apply for:
1) The award cannot be a monetary award with the purpose of reimbursing tuition (as we have no tuition).
2) The award must meet these standards where it is made as part of an established program of recognition under which
(1) awards are funded to ensure its continuation on a regular basis
(2) selection of award recipients is made pursuant to written standards
(3) awards are bona fide
(4) awards are given for meritorious public achievement by person(s) who do not have interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of recipients' official duties." 5 C.F.R. § 2635.204(d)
3) The Office of General Counsel is not able to provide further guidance on the appropriateness of any particular award on this list until the student has been selected for an award (read: you may end up applying for an award, being selected, but then being told that you are unable to accept because it is not appropriate for a USU student).
IF SELECTED FOR AN AWARD, YOU MUST:
1) Notify the Office of General Council who wil advise you on the appropriateness of the award and whether or not you are able to officially accept.
2) Notify OSA that you have been selected for an award (if you have not already been in contact with the Office of General Counsel, they will advise you to get in touch with them at this time.
LASTLY, YOU MAY NOT OFFICIALLY ACCEPT ANY AWARD ON THIS LIST WITHOUT FIRST GETTING APPROVAL FROM THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL.
Please click here to download and view the excel sheet containing the list of awards. (Being Updated for the 2026-27 AY)