The Professional Society, Delta Omega, is the public health honorary society within accredited schools and programs of public health. The purpose of the Society is to encourage excellence in student scholarship and research, to recognize academic and professional achievement in the field of public health, and to promote continued effort in public health. Originally founded in 1924 at The Johns Hopkins University, the national Delta Omega Society has more than 70 local chapters in the USA and internationally. Our chapter, The Rho Chapter, was founded in 1985, initiated by Robert Tuthill, now faculty emeritus, who attends the annual meetings.  Professors Emeriti Darity and Peters joined him to found the local organization. We honor the SPHHS charter members below.

Election to membership is intended to recognize merits and to encourage further excellence in public health. There are three categories of nomination: student, alumnus/a, and faculty. Besides the Amherst campus, nomination for membership includes the MPH Online Program and the UMass Worcester campus.

Delta Omega Society Rho Chapter Events

The SPHHS at UMass Amherst and the satellite section in Worcester, including the Online MPH program, sponsors events on the Amherst campus during the academic year. Research Day is a major event. This faculty-juried poster session allows the graduate students to present projects to the health community, their peers, and the SPHHS. The winning poster abstract is submitted for further judging to the annual APHA meeting, sponsored by the national Delta Omega Society. That committee selects the best entries for national presentation at the annual meeting. Our School has been represented in the national competition numerous times.

The Rho Chapter of Delta Omega sponsors a formal induction ceremony to honor its own in three categories. A graduate student inductee is selected based on academic excellence and demonstration of qualities of leadership in public health. The alumnus/a inductee must present accomplishments in public health which serve as a model for future graduates. The faculty nomination shows contributions to public health scholarship, teaching, research, and publication.

More information can be reviewed at http://www.deltaomega.org or by writing to the National Delta Omega Society at 1900 M Street NW, Suite 710, Washington DC 20036.

Delta Omega Rho Chapter Charter Members 1985
William A. Darity, Ph.D., Dean Emeritus SPHHS
Howard A. Peters, Ph.D., Emeritus Environmental Science
Robert W. Tuthill, Ph.D., Emeritus Epidemiology

Chapter Officers 2011—2012
Margaret E. McCarthy, President   mem@schoolph.umass.edu
Martha Zorn, Secretary/Treasurer   mzorn@schoolph.umass.edu