WBI
« Omega Beta iota «
National Osteopathic Political Action Honor Society
Official Induction Requirements - 2011
q Membership in the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
ü Student membership is free, and every osteopathic medical student is an AOA member upon enrollment!
ü Physician membership is elective and therefore a membership fee is assessed
ü Proof may be provided as a copy of the applicant’s AOA card or, alternatively, in the form of the applicant’s AOA ID number, which will be verified by the AOA national roster
q Membership in the American Osteopathic Information Association (AOIA)
ü Membership is free and must be affirmed with the AOIA
ü Verification of membership will be supplied by the AOIA
q Membership in the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)—STUDENT APPLICANTS ONLY
ü Each osteopathic medical school campus has a SOMA chapter
ü Active participation within local SOMA chapter is encouraged
ü Documentation in the form of chapter officer’s acknowledgement (letter with signature), national roster, and chapter event participation records (if available)
q Membership in your respective State Osteopathic Association/Society—PHYSICIAN APPLICANTS ONLY
ü Verification of membership may be provided as a copy of the applicant’s state association/society card if available or, alternatively, will be verified by the respective state association/society
q Osteopathic Political Action Committee (OPAC) Membership
ü Students must be members of the Student Chairman’s Club for at least two years
ü Physicians must be members for at least four years
ü Verification of membership will be supplied by the AOIA/OPAC
q Membership in the Grassroots Osteopathic Advocacy Link (GOAL) program
ü Membership is FREE and may be acquired by accessing www.capwiz.com/aoa-aoia/mlm/signup; after registration, members will receive the DO Washington Update and GOAL Advocacy Action Alerts on key legislative activities throughout the year
ü Verification of membership will be supplied by the AOA Washington office
q Participation in local/state campaigns
ü May be achieved in ways such as letter-writing, lobbying at the state capital, volunteering time on local campaigns (phone calls, poll working, etc)
ü Verification of participation to be provided by applicant in the form of copies of letters written, official letters from campaign organizers/candidates, letter from polls, etc. Validity of this supporting documentation will be at the discretion of the National Director of Omega Beta Iota
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q Participation in D.O. Day on the Hill
ü D.O. Day on the Hill is held every Spring (usually in April) in Washington, DC
ü The event allows osteopathic medical students, physicians, and other members of the osteopathic community to meet face-to-face with their state Senators, Representatives, and staffers in order to lobby on AOA priority issues
ü Students are required to attend at least two years; if your second attendance will be the D.O. Day on the Hill held the same year, you may apply for Omega Beta Iota induction with the understanding that, if all other requirements are met, your induction is contingent upon your attendance at and participation in the upcoming D.O. Day on the Hill
ü Physicians are required to attend at least four years (including medical school years); if your fourth second attendance will be the D.O. Day on the Hill held the same year, you may apply for Omega Beta Iota induction with the understanding that, if all other requirements are met, your induction is contingent upon your attendance at and participation in the upcoming D.O. Day on the Hill
ü Verification of participation will be provided by the AOA Washington office
q Letter/Statement of nomination/recommendation
ü To be provided by a non-student member of the osteopathic profession whom can attest to the applicant’s character and participation in political events
q Additional qualifications (favorable but NOT required):
ü Leadership roles on campus and/or within state and national osteopathic associations
ü Participation in D.O. Day on the Hill for more than two years
ü OPAC membership longer than that required for induction
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OR APPLICATION TO OMEGA BETA IOTA MAY BE ADDRESSED TO:
Philip Eskew, JD, MBA, OMSIII
OBI National Membership Director & SOMA Director of Political Affairs
Omega Beta Iota is an affiliate organization of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)