Medical honor society recognizes new members, national research fellow

Four third-year medical students from the Brody School of Medicine were recently inducted into the East Carolina University chapter of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Holly Dieu, Sam Hankins, Kendall Liner and James Washburn were elected by current chapter members based on their scholastic achievement, leadership, ethical standards, teaching, professionalism, record of service to the school and community and their potential for achievement in medicine.

“AOA uses scholastic achievement as the primary, but not the sole, basis for nomination,” said Dr. Danielle Walsh, ECU pediatric surgeon and councilor for the Brody chapter. “Class rank is a marker of academic excellence alone, but this society aims to recognize the well-rounded student who excels academically.”

Also inducted was Brody alumnus Dr. Amir Motameni, a general surgery resident at Vidant Medical Center. He was nominated by AOA’s student members after Brody medical students named him Outstanding Teaching Resident for the third consecutive year.

Additionally, first-year medical student Dioval Remonde has been named the recipient of the 2015 Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship. Remonde is the first Brody student to receive this national award, which honors a deceased, long-time administrator and honorary member of the society.

This $5,000 fellowship aims to serve as the recipient’s primary source of support, allowing them to conduct 200-300 hours of clinical investigation, basic laboratory research, epidemiology, social science/health services research, leadership or professionalism activities.