History
Chapter History
On April 25, 1962, James A. Campbell, MD Secretary/Treasurer of the National Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society notified WVU Vice President for Health Sciences, Kenneth E. Penrod, PhD, that the West Virginia alpha chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha was approved as a new chapter of the honor medical society as established by the faculty members of AOA Home. This would be the 86th chapter for AOA Home. The Founding Members who were first elected by other institutions included:
Founding members elected by other institutions:
- Margaret Albrink, MD Internal Medicine Yale University
- Wilhelm S. Albrink, MD Pathology, Yale University
- William E. Anderson, MD Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota
- Edmund B. Flink, MD Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota
- William G. Klingberg, MD Pediatrics, Washington Univ – St. Louis
- Donald Koppel, MD Internal Medicine, Illinois University
- John J. Lawless, MD Internal Medicine/ UHS, University of Chicago
- Hisham S. Majzoub, MD Surgery, American University of Beirut
- Franklin Milam, MD Urology, University of Pennsylvania
- John W. Nelson, MD Neurology, Indiana University
- G. Robert Nugent, MD Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati
- Justus C. Pickett, MD Orthopedics, Case Western Reserve
- Kenneth E. Penrod, PhD Physiology/ VP Health Sciences, Duke University
- Maynard Pride , MD Surgery, Case Western Reserve
- Stanley R. Shane, MD Internal Medicine, University of Kansas
- Benjamin B. Stout, Jr. MD Internal Medicine, Jefferson Medical College
- Thomas J. Tarnay, MD Surgery, Columbia University
- Kenneth E. Thomas, MD Surgery, Stanford University
- Frederick R. Whittlesey, MD Internal Medicine, Case Western Reserve
The charter members elected by the founding members:
- Clark K. Sleeth, MD, Dean
- Edward J. VanLiere, PhD, MD, Dean Emeritus
- Harold I. Amory,MD, Chair Radiology
- Nicholas W. Fugo, MD, Chair Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Robert J. Johnson, MD, Chair of Anatomy
- Reginald F. Krause, MD, Chair of Biochemistry
- Thomas A. Loftus, MD, Chair of Psychiatry
- Bernard Zimmerman, MD, Chair of Surgery
The founding officers included:
- President: Frederick R. Whittlesey, MD
- Secretary/Treasurer: William G. Klingberg, MD
- Counsellor: John J. Lawless, MD
On May 23, 1962, Wilbert C. Davison, MD, President of National AOA Home and Dean Emeritus of Duke University School of Medicine came to Morgantown for the initial installation banquet and the inaugural annual AOA Home speaker. His talk was entitled, "Trends in Medical Practice".
The chapter has preserved the text of the second induction banquet speech delivered by chapter member Franklin Milam, MD delivered May 24, 1963.
Medical History has always been important at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. The noted American sculptor, Milton Horn, was commissioned in 1954 to create a visual history of the healing arts for the proposed West Virginia University Medical Center. He produced eight high-relief panels depicting important developments and personages in the history of medicine, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy. Medical Center architect, Cyrus E. Silling, had chosen Horn to render the sculptures. Collaborating with his wife, Estelle, the artist took a year for research in the history of health sciences. Fifteen milestones from the beginning of health sciences to the twentieth century were carved in white Georgia marble on each face of the fifteen-foot pylons marking the entrance of the Basic Sciences building at the Medical Center. The reliefs, installed in October, 1956, have become the emblem of the now Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center. This art depicting important milestones in the History of medicine remind the members of AOA Home to strive for excellence and remit suffering each time they enter the building.
Councilors of WV AOA Chapter
Renee Saggio, MD (2024 to present)
Melanie Fisher, MD (2000 to 2024)
Elliott Chideckel, MD (1990 - 2000)
Edmund B. Flink, MD (1981 - 1990)
Wilhelm Albrink, MD (1978 - 1981)
Clark K. Sleeth, MD (1971 - 1978)
William G. Kingberg, MD (1965 - 1971)
John J. Lawless, MD (1962 - 1965)
Secretary / Treasurers of WV AOA Chapter
Norman D. Ferrari III, MD (2000 to Present)
James Martin, MD (1977 - 2000)
Wilhelm Albrink, MD (1974 - 1977)
William Anderson, MD (1972 - 1974)
Frank McKee, MD (1971 - 1972)
Herbert E. Warden, MD (1967 - 1971)
Margaret J. Albrink, MD (1965 - 1967)
William G. Klingberg, MD (1962 - 1965)