Alpha Omega (fraternity)

Alpha Omega (ΑΩ, sometimes AO), is a professional Jewish dental fraternity. It was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1907 by a group of dental students originally to fight discrimination in dental schools. The headquarters is currently located in Clarksville, TN.

"ΑΩ" redirects here. For other uses, see Alpha and Omega (disambiguation).
Alpha Omega
ΑΩ
Founded1907 (1907)
Baltimore, MD
TypeProfessional
AffiliationPFA (former)
ScopeInternational
PublicationThe Alpha Omegan
Chapters125
Members6,000 living collegiate
15,000 lifetime
PresidentGail Schupak, DMD
HeadquartersPO Box 30847
Clarksville, TN 37040
USA
WebsiteOfficial website

Objectives

The objectives of the fraternity are to promote the profession of Dentistry; to establish, foster and develop high standards of scholarship, leadership and character; to inculcate a spirit of fellowship amongst all its members; to create and bind together a body of professional people, who, by scholarly attainments, faithful service and the maintenance of ethical ideals and principles, have achieved distinction; to honor achievement in others; to strive for breadth of vision, unity in action and accomplishment of ideals; to commend all worthy deeds, and if fraternal welfare demands, to call and counsel with its members; to accept, sponsor and develop the cultural and traditional achievements of our faith; to build within our fraternity a triangle, the base of which is Judaism, the supporting sides, professionalism and fraternalism.

Achievements

In 1953, the fraternity founded The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine in Jerusalem. The fraternity also founded The Tel Aviv University School of Dental Medicine, now called the Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, in Tel Aviv, Israel. It continues to raise funds through campaigns and grants from its various foundations to provide continual support for both schools.[1][2][3]

History
  • 1907: At the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in Philadelphia, a group of students joined to create an organization called Ramach, the predecessor to Alpha Omega
  • 1907: A similar group with similar objectives known as Alpha Omega was organized in Baltimore. These two groups joined as the Alpha Omega Fraternity in 1907
  • 1912: First Alpha Omega Fraternity Convention was held in New York with 40 men in attendance
  • 1916: Constitution and bylaws were adopted
  • 1916: First alumni chapter was established in Philadelphia - prior to that Alpha Omega was made up of student chapters
  • 1917: First issue of the Alpha Omegan was published
  • 1921: Pi Student Chapter was formed in Toronto thereby expanding Alpha Omega into an international scope
  • 1924: First non-US alumni chapter was founded in Toronto
  • 1932: (October 7), merger with Alpha Zeta Gamma completed with chartering of Alpha Kappa and Alpha Lambda.
  • 1936: Alpha Omega establishes the Achievement Medal. Given to an individual outstanding in Dentistry or its allied sciences, in recognition of his or her professional contribution. Alpha Omega has honored many giants in the field of dentistry and medicine, which included Albert Einstein, Jonas Salk, Charles Best, Harry Sicher, D. W alter Cohen, Ronald Goldstein, Gordon Christensen and most recently R. Bruce Donoff, Dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine
  • 1941: Alpha Omega donates a mobile dental ambulance to the Royal Canadian Dental Corps
  • 1942: Three additional mobile dental ambulances were donated to the United States Army
  • 1946: Alpha Omega commitment in the creation of a dental school in Israel serves as impetus for the formation of its first chapters outside of North America
  • 1948: With the creation of the state of Israel Alpha Omega donated materials, including hospital and field equipment, as well as qualified teachers to help train Israeli personnel. Estimated value of the materials, service and equipment sent to Europe and Israel exceeded over $500,000
  • 1949: Alpha Omega Biological Laboratory at Brandeis University established - first corporate gift received by this newly established first Jewish-sponsored non-sectarian college
  • 1950: Headquarters relocated to New York City from Philadelphia
  • 1952: Founded the Hadassah, Hebrew University School of Dental Medicine (interim provisional school)
  • 1952: Harry Jolly of Canada becomes first non US president of Alpha Omega
  • 1953: Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, founded by Alpha Omega was formally dedicated in Jerusalem - Alpha Omega's contributions to date over $1.5 million
  • 1954: Israeli chapters chartered in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa
  • 1963: First European chapter established in Paris
  • 1969: The US Alpha Omega Foundation incorporated in the state of New York as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization
  • 2015: ΑΩ in partnership with Henry Schein launched the Alpha Omega Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program

Alpha Zeta Gamma

Alpha Zeta Gamma was a Jewish Dental Fraternity that officially merged with Alpha Omega on September 17, 1932.[4]: 37 

Alpha Zeta Gamma was founded at the Chicago College of Dental Surgery in 1910 with their Alpha chapter there and chartered in the State of Illinois on April 21, 1914. Additional chapters were at Northwestern (Beta) in 1914(?), Illinois (Gamma), Western Reserve (Delta) in 1912, Maryland (Theta) in 1921, Harvard (Eta), Pittsburgh (Kappa) in 1922 and Tufts (Phi) in 1923. Alumni Clubs were Illinois Alumni Club, Alpha Zeta Gamma Study Club of Chicago, The Boston Alumni Club and the New York Alumni Association.

A fire at the National Office in 1925 destroyed many early records. In November 1931, an invitation was extended to Alpha Omega to send representatives to meet with the Supreme Council of Alpha Zeta Gamma. With the merger viewed favorably, Alpha Omega invited representatives of Alpha Zeta Gamma to their 1931 convention in Buffalo, New York. Terms of the merger were approved at the convention by Alpha Omega and one week later by the Supreme Council of Alpha Zeta Gamma. At the January 18, 1932 meeting of the Chicago Dental Society, a joint banquet of Alpha Omega and Alpha Zeta Gamma showed positive sentiment on both sides. On September 17, 1932 the merger contract was signed and on October 7, 1932, the Alpha Zeta Gamma chapters at Chicago College of Dental Surgery (Loyola of Chicago) and Northwestern were chartered as chapters of Alpha Omega.

Chapters

This is a list of the chapters for Alpha Omega, in order of founding:[1][4][5]

Chapter Installed Date and Range Institution Location Country Status Reference
Ramach
(see Theta-Ramach)		 1907–1916 Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery (later Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia) Philadelphia, PA USA Merged [lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3]
Zeta
(see Zeta-Mu)		 1908–1923 University of Maryland Baltimore, MD USA Merged [lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5]
Beta October 9, 1910 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA USA Active
Gamma 1911 Tufts University Boston, MA USA Active
Iota 1911 NYU (Square) New York, NY USA Active [lower-alpha 6]
Delta 1912–19xx Harvard University Boston, MA USA Inactive
Eta
Originally "Achim"		 1914 Columbia University New York, NY USA Active
Theta
(see Theta-Ramach)		 1914–1916 Temple University Philadelphia, PA USA Merged
Theta-Ramach 1916 Temple University Philadelphia, PA USA Active [lower-alpha 7]
Sigma October 1916–1918 Jersey City College of Dentistry Jersey City, NJ USA Inactive [lower-alpha 8][lower-alpha 9]
Alpha December 1916 SUNY Buffalo Buffalo, NY USA Active
Epsilon 1917 Georgetown University Washington, D.C. USA Active [lower-alpha 10]
Kappa
(see Kappa-Nu)		 1918–1929 University of the Pacific (College of P&S) San Francisco, CA USA Merged
Lambda 1919–19xx Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry Portland, OR USA Inactive [lower-alpha 11]
Mu
(see Zeta-Mu)		 1919–1923 Baltimore College of Dental Surgery Baltimore, MD USA Merged [lower-alpha 12]
Nu
(see Kappa-Nu)		 1920-1929 University of California at San Francisco San Francisco, CA USA Merged [lower-alpha 13]
Xi 1920–1926 Colorado College of Dental Surgery Denver, CO USA Inactive [lower-alpha 14]
Omicron 1920–1988 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA USA Inactive
Pi 1921 University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario Canada Active [lower-alpha 15]
Rho 1922–1968+ University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN USA Inactive [lower-alpha 16]
Zeta-Mu 1923 University of Maryland, College Park College Park, MD USA Active [lower-alpha 17]
Tau 1924 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA USA Active [6]: 41 
Upsilon 1924–1987 Marquette University Milwaukee, WI USA Inactive [6]: 41 
Phi 1925–1987 University of Louisville Louisville, KY USA Inactive
Chi 1926 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI USA Active
Psi May 15, 1927 Ohio State University Columbus, OH USA Active
Alpha Alpha 1928 University of Illinois Chicago, IL USA Active
Alpha Beta 1928 Virginia Commonwealth Richmond, VA USA Active
Alpha Gamma 1928 Indiana Dental College Indianapolis, IN USA Active
Alpha Delta 1928–1988 Emory University Atlanta, GA USA Inactive [7][lower-alpha 18]
Alpha Epsilon 1929–1991 Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO USA Inactive [lower-alpha 19]
Kappa-Nu 1929 University of the Pacific (College of P&S) and University of California at San Francisco San Francisco, CA USA Active [lower-alpha 13][lower-alpha 20]
Alpha Eta February 14, 1931 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA USA Active
Alpha Iota April 22, 1931 University of Missouri Kansas City, MO USA Active [lower-alpha 21]
Alpha Theta 1932–1971 ? Loyola University New Orleans, LA USA Inactive [8][lower-alpha 22]
Alpha Kappa October 7, 1932 Northwestern University Evanston, IL USA Active [lower-alpha 23]
Alpha Lambda October 7, 1932 Loyola University Chicago, IL USA Active [lower-alpha 24]
Alpha Mu 1932–19xx Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada Inactive
Alpha Nu 1933 Detroit Medicine Detroit, MI USA Active
Alpha Zeta 1935–1984 University of Tennessee Memphis, TN USA Active
Omega 1936 Case Western University Cleveland, OH USA Active
Alpha Chi 1945–19xx, 1988 Texas A&M University College of Dentistry Dallas, TX USA Active [lower-alpha 25]
Alpha Pi 1956 McGill University Montreal, Quebec Canada Active
Alpha Sigma 1958 Hebrew University Jerusalem Israel Active
National Undergraduate Chapter 1959–19xx Howard University Washington, D.C. USA Inactive
Alpha Psi 1959–19xx Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ USA Inactive [9]
Alpha Rho 1959–19xx University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada Inactive
Alpha Upsilon 1960–19xx University of Alabama Birmingham, AL USA Inactive
Alpha Tau 1970 University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA USA Active
Beta Alpha 1971–19xx Meharry Medical Nashville, TN USA Inactive
Beta Beta 1974–19xx University of Florida Gainesville, FL USA Inactive
Beta Chi 1975-1988 Harwood University Washington, DC USA Inactive
Beta Delta 1976 University of Western Ontario London, ON Canada Active
Beta Epsilon 1977 Boston University Boston, MA USA Active
Beta Eta 1979-1988 UT Houston (Texas Dentistry) Houston, TX USA Inactive
Beta Gamma 1980-19xx University of Texas, San Antonio San Antonio, TX USA Inactive
Beta Iota 1980 University of Colorado Aurora, CO USA Active
Beta Kappa 1982-19xx Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv Israel Inactive
Beta Lambda 1984-19xx University of Connecticut Farmington, CT USA Inactive
Sigma Beta 1986-19xx SUNY, Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY USA Inactive
Delta Rho 1987-1990 Fairleigh Dickinson University Rutherford, NJ USA Inactive [lower-alpha 26][lower-alpha 27]
Beta Upsilon 1990-19xx University of Buenos Aires ? Buenos Aires Argentina Inactive
Sigma Alpha 1990-19xx University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa Inactive
Tau Alpha Mu 19xx ? Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL USA Active
Capítulo Lambda 19xx ? University of Monterrey Monterrey, Nuevo León Mexico Active
Gamma Beta 19xx ? Midwestern University Downers Grove, IL USA Active
Nu Gamma 19xx ? University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC USA Active
Nu Epsilon 19xx ? University of New England Portland, ME USA Active

Notes
  1. This was the oldest chapter of the fraternity. In 1909 the young chapter was moved to Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, which had absorbed the Penn College of Dental Surgery. Later that year, on December 20, 1909 it joined in a friendly merger with another local, which became the Zeta chapter, located in Baltimore. A decade later, when "Medico-Chi" merged into Penn, the 1933 history states that "when Medico-Chi passed out of existence, the members of Ramach were transferred, resulting in formation of Theta-Ramach chapter (p.65). The passive voice may indicate that they had little say in the matter, while their school was absorbed by Penn, the students of the chapter went to Temple. The History further remarks on the Theta-Ramach chapter's friendly relations with nearby Beta chapter (at Penn).
  2. In 1909 this school merged its assets into the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, which in 1916 would itself merge into the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. The school had previously lost some faculty to create the dental school at Temple University, but this action pre-dated the formation of Alpha Omega by several decades.
  3. Formed at Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery which become Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia in 1909. That school would merge with the University of Pennsylvania in 1916.
  4. This was the first chapter to carry the name Alpha Omega, formed as a local in 1908. It joined in a friendly merger with the Ramach local in Philadelphia on December 20, 1909, taking the name Zeta chapter.
  5. At formation, this chapter served three Baltimore area dental schools.
  6. Chapter was originally called "Ididim", Hebrew for friend
  7. Result of merger of Theta and Ramach chapters.
  8. With the school's closure, most students transferred to Epsilon chapter at Georgetown.
  9. This school closed in 1918.
  10. Originally chartered at George Washington Dental College, a department of George Washington University. In 1904, what was then Columbian University changed its name to George Washington University, about a decade prior to establishment of the chapter. The chapter originally accepted members from both George Washington University and Georgetown Dental Colleges. The chapter officially moved to Georgetown University after closure of the George Washington Dental School (a department of GWU) in May 1920.
  11. Originally at North Pacific College
  12. This school merged into the University of Maryland in 1923, prompting the mergers of Zeta and Mu chapters that year.
  13. First formed at the nearby University of California.
  14. This school closed in 1926.
  15. First Canadian chapter.
  16. This chapter originated as Tau Beta Phi (local), in 1920.
  17. Result of merger of Zeta and Mu chapters.
  18. Emory's dental school closed in the early 1990s.
  19. Washington University's dental school closed in 1991.
  20. Result of merger of Kappa and Nu chapters.
  21. Originated as The Pulp Club (local) in 1929.
  22. Loyola's dental school was closed in 1971.
  23. Originated as the Beta chapter of Alpha Zeta Gamma, formed in 1914. A separate group of petitioners for a chapter of Alpha Omega was held in abeyance while the pending matter of a national merger was effected. Both groups were initiated to become Alpha Kappa chapter of Alpha Omega.
  24. Originated as the Alpha chapter of Alpha Zeta Gamma, formed on October 1, 1910, at the Chicago College of Dental Surgery. That school had briefly affiliated with Lake Forest University, then with Valparaiso, an arrangement that ended following WWI. It was independent for almost a decade until a 1926 merger with Loyola of Chicago.
  25. Originally at Baylor College of Dentistry
  26. FD University has since moved from Rutherford to several other locations.
  27. The Fairleigh Dickinson School of Dentistry closed in 1990.

See also

References
  1. Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. V-8–9. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  2. Noted, for example in this press released by the American Friends of Tel Aviv University, dated November 21, 2012, accessed 18 May 2022.
  3. SDM Newsletter (PDF). Tel Aviv University. December 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2022. The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine: Founded by the Alpha Omega International Fraternity
  4. Alpha Omega History. 1933.
  5. William Raimond Baird (1977). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (19th ed.). Baird's Manual Foundation, Incorporated. p. 501.
  6. The 1933 History of the fraternity has a typo on scanned p.41, where the chapter list swaps the locations of Tau and Upsilon chapters. The body text of that book confirms the correct schools.
  7. Noted in Emory Magazine, in an article about Anti-Discrimination
  8. "Open Wide".
  9. Seton Hall College of Medicine and Dentistry records span the years 1946-1965
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