Delta Omega Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Delta Omega Alpha Chapter?

Delta Omega is a national honor society for public health. The first chapter was founded in 1924 at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, hence the name Alpha Chapter. There are currently 65 chapters in the U.S., with more than 13,000 members, of which, 1,812 are in the Alpha Chapter.

Delta Omega membership is open to faculty, alumni and students in recognition of outstanding accomplishment in scholarship, research and practice.

What is the role of the Delta Omega Alpha Chapter?

Delta Omega Alpha Chapter sponsors a scientific poster competition with cash awards for first, second and third prizes of $500, $300 and $200 respectively. Delta Omega also covers the cost of attendance for the winner at the annual APHA conference. More information is available here.

Delta Omega Alpha Chapter annually can induct a maximum of:

10 percent of the student graduating class
10 alumni
3 percent of the full-time faculty

On the basis of overall GPA, the top 25 percent of students each year are identified as being eligible for nomination for membership to Delta Omega. Therefore, there is no GPA cut-off as the distribution of overall GOA may change every year. Upon achieving GPA criteria, the Chapter sends a letter to students informing them of their eligibility for memebrship and soliciting 2 nomination letters of support from their academic adviser or other faculty members as well as a self statement of not more than 250 words. The Student Nomination Committee reviews all materials to select students who demonstrate current or potential qualities of outstanding leadership in public health.

Eligible alumni, i.e. alumni whose degrees were awarded five or more years ago, are nominated for membership by other Delta Omega Alpha Chapter members. The Alumni Nomination Committee reviews all nominations and selects alumni whose work in the research or practice of public health serves as a model for future graduates of the School.

Faculty members are selected for membership by the Faculty Nomination Committee. The committee accepts nominations from department chairs and other members. The committee pays particular to outstanding public health performance in scholarship, teaching, research and the quality of publications.

Alumni and faculty can submit their nominations throughout the year here.

Are part-time students eligible?

Part-time students are eligible as candidates for nomination and selection.

Are MPH-MSN students eligible? How about post-graduates?

Delta Omega considers current year expected MPH-MSN graduates in the student selection process, but post-grads (not graduated in the current academic year) are considered either in the alumni or faculty category.

How many letters of reference are required?

Two references from faculty members for each student are considered by the Student Nomination Committee. Additionally, a letter of student self-nomination is required not to exceed 250 words.

Is it possible to transfer into the Delta Omega Alpha Chapter from an undergraduate Delta Omega chapter?

Yes. Transfers must contact the National Chapter, however. The representative there is Heather Kileff.

What are the initiation fees and dues?

There is a $50 fee for inductees. Subsequent to induction, annual dues are required to maintain membership. Lifetime membership is also available.

Information

For information about the Delta Omega Alpha Chapter, call 410-614-5019, or e mail Philippa Moore. Current Delta Omega Alpha Chapter members may also join the Delta Omega Alpha Chapter group on Linkedin.