Delta Omega

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This article is about the public health honor society. For osteopathic professional organization founded in 1904 in Missouri, see Delta Omega (osteopathic).
Delta Omega
ΔΩ
FoundedMay 14, 1924; 99 years ago (1924-05-14)
Johns Hopkins University
TypeHonor
AffiliationIndependent
EmphasisPublic Health
ScopeInternational
Mission statement"To promote excellence in contributing to the field of public health and advancing the health of people in every aspect..."
Colors  Black and   Gold
  The stole color is   Peach
SymbolTriangle
Chapters133 total
Members20,000+ lifetime
HeadquartersPO Box 2406
Arlington, Virginia 22202
US
WebsiteDelta Omega homepage

Delta Omega (ΔΩ) is the honorary society for studies in public health, founded at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

History[edit]

Delta Omega was founded in 1924 by two graduate students at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. The Founders were:

Hume was a member of the Army Medical Corps from 1916 to 1951, and had already served overseas fighting Typhus epidemics in Siberia, Russia and in Naples, Italy. Mitchell was an Assistant Surgeon in the United States Public Health Service for approximately a decade. Later, he went into private medical practice with a 50-year career in Silver Spring, Maryland.[1]

The ideal for Delta Omega came while sharing the daily commute between Baltimore and Washington. Both men sought to elevate the relatively young profession of public health to a level similar to other professions, and as such, that it should have a fraternity of its own. Hume was the first to insist that the fraternity be honorary in nature, and while Mitchell had originally suggested a social basis he soon agreed with his friend that the groups should be formed as an honor society. They consulted with members of other fraternities, and health experts of other fields. A group of seventeen students, one faculty member and one alumnus were chosen to become the charter members of the Johns Hopkins chapter. This group immediately formed committees to work out the constitution and symbolism. A constitution was ratified on May 14, 1924.[1]

Expansion began within the first year. Upon return from the summer recess, Hume reported success around the East coast, while Richard Bolt, a charter member, worked to organize groups in the West. By the October 15, 1924 meeting, chapters were approved at Harvard (Beta chapter) and MIT (Gamma chapter). Soon, these would be followed by Michigan (Delta chapter) and Yale (Epsilon chapter). Expansion and growth continued quickly in spite of some growing pains due to the fast pace. The first California chapter, at the University of California (Zeta chapter) effectively spanned the nation by March 1926.[1]

Delta Omega's activities were severely constrained during WWII, and were fully suspended between 1942 and 1944 because of wartime priorities. However, additional pressure came from organizational disagreements. At the time, Delta Omega offered membership only after completion of a year of residency, i.e.: after the undergrad and medical school years. This effectively resulted in control of the society becoming vested in faculty membership. Further, at Johns Hopkins, the activities of the fraternity were in some cases duplicative to those offered by the school itself. A debate ensued concerning the fact that some members, soon upon election, would resign from the practice of public health on an official level to go into private practice. In fact, Founder Mitchell, who had led Alpha chapter, resigned from his leadership position when he left for private practice. The result of this debate, explained further in the Fraternity's History,[1] was to suspend operations at Alpha chapter, which would not resume at the school until 1978. The other chapters sputtered along. In 1948 a revitalization was sparked, but it took time, and some chapters did not re-emerge. The lecture series was expanded in the 1960s and 1970s. But it appears that it took the revitalization of Alpha chapter in 1978 to spark a new round of expansion that continues to the present day.[1]

Currently, there are over 110 chapters with over 20,000 members throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Beirut, and Taiwan.[2] The society's mission is to promote excellence in contributing to the field of public health and advancing the health of people in every aspect, both in the United States and internationally.[2]

Membership[edit]

Membership in Delta Omega reflects the dedication of an individual to quality in the field of public health and to protection and advancement of the health of all people. Election to the society is based on outstanding performance – scholarship in students, teaching and research in faculty members, and community service in alumni. Election to membership in Delta Omega is intended, not only to recognize merit, but also, to encourage further excellence in, and devotion to, public health work.[3]

Each chapter must be associated with a Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)- accredited school and is limited to inducting no more than 20% of the graduating student body, and 10% of undergraduates. GPA requirements are up to each chapter; historically, each inductee has been the top 25% of their class for academic performance. Public health faculty and alumni may also be inducted, but no more than 3% of faculty may be inducted from one program.[4]

Honorary members[edit]

In addition to the regularly elected members, chapters and the national executive board invite persons possessing exceptional qualifications, who have attained meritorious national or international distinction in the field to become honorary members of the society. These members include:

Name Meritorious Service Ref
Peter Buxtun Researcher, exposed Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment [3]
Mona Hanna-Attisha Researcher, exposed Flint water crisis [3]
Herbert Hoover Former U.S. President [3]
John Edward Porter Former U.S. Congressman [3]
Dr. Jonas Salk Inventor of the Polio vaccine [3]
David Satcher Former U.S. Surgeon General [3]
Shannon Watts Gun Safety Activist [3]
Gretchen Whitmer Governor of Michigan [3]

Activities[edit]

The National Office of Delta Omega conducts yearly activities in addition to the individual chapters. Most importantly an annual business meeting is held each year in conjunction with the meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA). During the meeting the Delta Omega National Council, consisting of representatives from the chapters, meet to discuss initiatives and activities on a national and chapter level.[3]

In addition to the annual business meeting, Delta Omega hosts a national student poster competition, honoring exceptional student research, and a national curriculum award, to honor innovative public health curricula. Each year the selected poster presenters are given the opportunity to present their award-winning research at the APHA annual meeting. The curriculum award winners present their work at the APHA annual meeting as well as in front of the Delta Omega National Council. Chapters also conduct a variety of activities throughout the year on their campus and in their communities including; scholarship competitions, research awards, socials, lectures, community service projects and many others.[3]

Publications[edit]

Delta Omega values the advancement of public health education, practice and research and has therefore taken on an initiative to preserve Public Health Classics. For the past decade, the society has sought to preserve and promote public health history by identifying and reprinting classic works in public health. Classics may be books, scientific journal articles, technical reports, legislation or other written publications or multi-media productions. The classics are selected for their historical value and significant contribution to the profession and science of public health. These documents are usually out of print or not widely available in libraries. Delta Omega places the classics on its Web site to make them freely available to all members.[3]

Chapters[edit]

Delta Omega has chartered 122 chapters, most of which remain active. Active chapters are noted in bold, inactive chapters noted in italics.[3]

State or country University Chapter Status Installed Date and Range Reference
Maryland Johns Hopkins University Alpha Active May 14, 1924–March 1942,
  re-established 1978 		[1]
Massachusetts Harvard University Beta Inactive October 15, 1924–1944,
  re-established 1948–1969 		[1]
Massachusetts Massachusetts Institute of Technology[5] Gamma (original) Inactive October 15, 1924–1944 [1][5]
Michigan University of Michigan Delta Inactive December 1924–1944,
  re-established 1948–1971 		[1][6]
Connecticut Yale University Epsilon Inactive December 1924–March 1944 [1][6]
California University of California Zeta Active March 1926–1944,
  re-established 1948–1971,
  re-established 19xx 		[1]
Louisiana Tulane University Eta Active 1950 [1]
North Carolina University of North Carolina Theta Active 1953 [1]
California University of California, Los Angeles Iota Active 1953 [1]
California Loma Linda University Kappa Active 1971 [1]
South Carolina University of South Carolina Mu Active 1978 [1]
Washington University of Washington Nu Inactive 1978 ? –20xx ? [7]
Oklahoma University of Oklahoma Xi Active 1978 [1]
Illinois University Illinois Lambda Active 1980 [1]
Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh Omicron Active 1982 [1]
Minnesota University of Minnesota Pi Active 1985 [1]
Massachusetts University of Massachusetts Amherst Rho Active 1985 [1]
California San Diego State University Sigma Active 1985 [1]
Florida University of South Florida Tau Active 1987 [1]
Massachusetts Boston University Alpha Beta Active 1987 [7]
Alabama University of Alabama at Birmingham Upsilon Active 1989 [7]
Georgia Emory University (Rollins) Phi Active 1992 [7]
Puerto Rico University of Puerto Rico Chi Active ? 1993 ? –20xx ? [7]
Maryland Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Psi Active 1996 [7]
District of Columbia George Washington University Omega Active 1995 [8]
Missouri Saint Louis University Alpha Delta Active 1998 [7]
Ohio Ohio State University Alpha Epsilon Active 1999 [7]
New York University at Albany, SUNY Alpha Gamma Active 1999 [7]
Utah University of Utah Alpha Theta Active 2000 [7]
New Jersey Rutgers School of Public Health Alpha Eta Active 2001 [7]
Texas University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Alpha Iota Active 2001 [7]
Virginia Eastern Virginia Medical School Alpha Kappa Active 2001 [7]
Georgia Morehouse School of Medicine Alpha Lambda Active 2001 [7]
Florida Florida A&M University Alpha Mu Active 2001 [7]
Illinois Northern Illinois University Alpha Zeta Active 2001 [7]
Arizona University of Arizona Alpha Nu Active 2001 [7]
Wisconsin Medical College of Wisconsin Alpha Omicron Inactive 2003–20xx [7]
Iowa University of Iowa Alpha Phi Active 2003 [7]
Tennessee East Tennessee State University Alpha Pi Active 2003 [7]
Texas University of North Texas Health Science Center Alpha Sigma Active 2003 [7]
Texas Texas A&M School of Public Health Alpha Tau Active 2003 [7]
Colorado Colorado School of Public Health Alpha Upsilon Active 2003 [7][9]
Massachusetts Tufts University School of Medicine Alpha Rho Active 2004 [7]
Ohio Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health (CEOMPH)[10] Alpha Chi Active 2005 [7][10]
Florida Nova Southeastern University Alpha Xi Active 2005 [7]
Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania Beta Alpha Inactive 2006–20xx [7]
Florida Florida International University Alpha Omega Active 2006 [7]
Louisiana Louisiana State University Alpha Psi Active 2006 [7]
Arkansas University of Arkansas Beta Delta Active 2006 [7]
Maryland Morgan State University Beta Epsilon Active 2006 [7]
Indiana Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis Beta Zeta Active 2006 +/- ? [7]
New York SUNY Downstate College of Medicine Beta Iota Active 2006 [7]
Pennsylvania West Chester University Beta Xi Active 2006 [7]
Kentucky University of Kentucky Beta Gamma Active 2006 [7]
Illinois Northwestern University Beta Eta Inactive 2007–20xx [7]
Georgia Georgia Southern University Beta Kappa Inactive 2007–20xx [7]
Pennsylvania Temple University Beta Theta Inactive 2007–20xx [7]
New York Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Beta Omicron Active 2008 [7]
Kentucky University of Louisville Beta Pi Active 2008 [7]
Connecticut University of Connecticut Health Center Beta Rho Active 2008 [7]
California University of Southern California Beta Lambda Active 2009 [7]
Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania Beta Nu Inactive 2009 +/- ? [7]
Florida University of Miami Beta Sigma Active 2009 [7]
Tennessee Meharry Medical College Beta Psi Inactive 2010–20xx [7]
Georgia University of Georgia Beta Chi Active 2010 [7]
Pennsylvania Drexel University Beta Omega Active 2010 [7]
North Carolina University of North Carolina at Charlotte Beta Phi Active 2010 [7]
Maryland University of Maryland, College Park Beta Tau Active 2010 [7]
Florida University of Florida Beta Upsilon Active 2010 [7]
Hawaii University of Hawaiʻi Gamma (second) Active 2010 +/- ? [7]
Ohio Wright State University Gamma Alpha Active 2010 [7]
Ohio Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health (NOCPH)[11] Beta Mu Active 2011 [7][11]
Beirut, Lebanon American University of Beirut Gamma Delta Active 2011 [7]
New Mexico University of New Mexico Gamma Epsilon Active February 1, 2011 [7]
New York University at Buffalo, SUNY Gamma Lambda Active February 1, 2011 [7]
Maryland University of Maryland School of Public Health Gamma Zeta Active March 1, 2011 [7]
Missouri University of Missouri Gamma Eta Active September 1, 2011 [7]
Georgia Georgia Southern University (Jiann-Ping Hsu) Gamma Theta Active October 1, 2011 [7]
Alaska University of Alaska Anchorage Gamma Iota Active 2012 [7]
Grenada, Caribbean Islands St. George's University School of Medicine Gamma Kappa Active February 1, 2012 [7]
West Virginia West Virginia University Gamma Mu Active 2012 +/- ? [7]
Massachusetts Northeastern University Gamma Nu Active December 1, 2012 [7]
Nebraska University of Nebraska Gamma Omicron Active 2013 [7]
Virginia University of Virginia Gamma Pi Active 2013 [7]
Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Madison Gamma Xi Active 2013 [7]
Ohio University of Cincinnati Gamma Rho Active April 1, 2013 [7]
Missouri Washington University in St. Louis Gamma Sigma Active April 1, 2013 [7]
Indiana Indiana University Gamma Beta Active 2014 [7]
Virginia George Mason University Gamma Tau Active 2014 [7]
Georgia Georgia State University Gamma Upsilon Active 2014 [7]
California Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Gamma Phi Active 2014 [7]
Maine University of New England (United States) Gamma Chi Active 2014 [12]
California National University (California) Gamma Psi Active 2014 +/- ? [7]
New York New York Medical College (Touro) Delta Alpha Active 2015 [7]
Illinois Benedictine University Gamma Omega Active 2015 [7]
California Claremont Graduate University Delta Epsilon Active 2016 [7]
Arizona (or Missouri?) A.T. Still University Delta Gamma Active 2016 [7]
Nevada University of Nevada, Las Vegas Delta Theta Active 2016 [7]
Georgia Mercer University Delta Zeta Active 2016 [7]
Virginia Virginia Commonwealth University Delta Eta Active 2017 [7]
New Hampshire Dartmouth College Delta Iota Active 2017 [7]
New York Hofstra University Delta Kappa Active 2017 [7]
Virginia Virginia Tech Delta Mu Active 2017 [7]
Illinois Loyola University Chicago Delta Omicron Active 2017 [7]
Texas University of Texas Medical Branch Delta Nu Active June 1, 2017 [7]
Florida University of North Florida Delta Xi Inactive July 1, 2017–20xx [7]
Nevada University of Nevada, Reno Delta Phi Active February 1, 2018 [7]
New York Columbia University (Mailman) Delta Pi Active June 1, 2018 [7]
North Carolina East Carolina University Delta Sigma Active September 1, 2018 [7]
Pennsylvania La Salle University Delta Tau Active October 1, 2018 [7]
New Jersey William Paterson University Delta Upsilon Active December 1, 2018 [7]
New York Stony Brook University Delta Lambda Active 2019 [7]
Taiwan, Republic of China National Taiwan University Delta Chi Active March 1, 2019 [7]
New York NYU Delta Beta Active April 1, 2019 [7]
Pennsylvania Thomas Jefferson University Delta Psi Active May 1, 2019 [7]
California UC, Irvine Delta Rho Active September 1, 2019 [7]
California University of San Francisco Epsilon Alpha Active October 1, 2019 [7]
Montana University of Montana Epsilon Beta Active December 1, 2019 [7]
New York CUNY Graduate SPH Epsilon Chi Active February 1, 2020 [7]
Louisiana Louisiana State University Shreveport Epsilon Delta Active September 1, 2020 [7]
Washington Eastern Washington University Epsilon Eta Active November 1, 2020 [7]
Ohio Kent State University Epsilon Gamma Active November 1, 2020 [7]
Rhode Island Brown University Epsilon Iota Active December 1, 2020 [7]
Michigan Wayne State University Epsilon Kappa Active 2017 [7][13]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Historical notes summarized from Shorb, Gerald (1991). "A History of the Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society" (PDF). Amazon AWS. self-published., accessed 2 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b "History". Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m From the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Delta Omega National Website, accessed 2 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Join Delta Omega". Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  5. ^ a b MIT no longer has a public health program.
  6. ^ a b The History simply says that Delta and Epsilon chapters were approved "later that year", after mentioning that Beta and Gamma were approved on October 15, 1924. Original installation date for these two is therefore conjectural.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz From the Delta Omega website, list of chapters, accessed 3 May 2021.
  8. ^ From the Omega chapter website, accessed 2 May 2021.
  9. ^ Alpha Upsilon chapter is shared between the University of Colorado, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado.
  10. ^ a b The CEOMPH is a partnership between The University of Akron (UA), Cleveland State University (CSU), Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), and Youngstown State University (YSU).
  11. ^ a b The NOCPH is a partnership between the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University.
  12. ^ From the Gamma Chi chapter website, accessed 2 May 2021.
  13. ^ Noted in April 2016 intent to form a chapter of Delta Omega on the Wayne campus, accessed 10 December 2021.

External links[edit]

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