Bradley E. Barth, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, is the seventh Executive Director of the Society since its inception in 1902.
Prior to being named Executive Director, Dr. Barth served as an At-Large member of the AΩA Board of Directors and was involved with AΩA for more than a decade. He served as the Chapter Councilor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine (KUSM) for seven years, and on the Councilors’ Task Force for six of those years. As a member of the Councilors’ Task Force, he was instrumental in working with Councilors and Board members to update the AΩA Constitution to recognize in the election of new members the highest levels of excellence, character, trustworthiness, leadership, professionalism, scholarship, and service, and to support elections that are inclusive, diverse, and equitable. The AΩA Board of Directors accepted the Councilors’ Task Force recommendations and amended the AΩA Constitution in October 2020.
While a Councilor at KUSM, Dr. Barth increased the number of newly elected AΩA students traditionally underrepresented in medicine from 6% to 24%, a trend that has continued since he stepped down as Councilor in 2022. His work on diversity, equity, and inclusion at KUSM has been used as an example of a best practice for numerous other AΩA Chapters across the country.
Dr. Barth grew up in rural Kansas and graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in biology. He went to medical school on a Navy Health Professions Scholarship, and was inducted to AΩA in 1994 as a student at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He is an Emergency Medicine physician having completed an internship in internal medicine at the Naval Medical Center of San Diego, and a residency in emergency medicine at the University of California San Francisco Fresno.
Following his internship and flight training, Dr. Barth served as the Flight Surgeon for the Black Stallions of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron FOUR, based out of Sigonella, Sicily. During his Naval career, he received the Navy Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the NATO Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and was named the Atlantic Fleet Flight Surgeon of the Year.
Dr. Barth has been active in faculty development for the KUSM since 2014. He has co-created many longitudinal faculty development programs including Doctors as Educators, Teaching for Excellence, and the Academic Excellence Development Program. He also developed the SOM Exit Interview Program, the New Faculty OnBoarding Program, Mentor Matching Program, and Pandemic Panel Discussion Series, and played a role in bringing coaching into the KUSM curriculum and to the campus.
Dr. Paul Haidet (AΩA, Penn State College of Medicine, 1991) became Editor of The Pharos in 2025. the Director of Medical Education Research and a Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Humanities, and Public Health Sciences at the Penn State College of Medicine. He has served as deputy editor at two peer reviewed journals, and has held several national leadership roles, including terms as President of the Academy of Communication in Healthcare (2011) and the Society of Directors of Research in Medical Education (2016-2018).
Email: ThePharos@alphaomegaalpha.org
Dr. Richard L. Byyny (AΩA, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, 1964) became Editor of The Pharos in 2010. He also served as the Executive Director of Alpha Omega Alpha from 2010 through 2023. He served on the AΩA Board of Directors from 1995 – 1999. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Southern California, where he was elected to AΩA. Dr. Byyny received his internal medicine training at Columbia University, and completed an endocrinology fellowship at Vanderbilt University. He served as head of the Division of Internal Medicine training program at the University of Chicago from 1971–1977. He then moved to Colorado to head up the Division of General Internal Medicine and serve as Vice-Chairman of the Department of Medicine. After holding administrative positions as Executive Vice-Chancellor for the University of Colorado (CU) Health Sciences Center, and as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research/Dean of the CU System, he became Chancellor of the University of Colorado at Boulder, serving from 1997 through 2005.
Email: Info@alphaomegaalpha.org
Prior to joining AΩA, Wendy served as the AΩA Chief Financial Advisor, an external consulting role, for 5+ years. Wendy is a licensed Certified Public Accountant with more than 30 years of CFO, accounting, and non-profit finance experience. She has supported a broad range of non-profit organizations, including both member-based and education focused entities. She is also a certified coach and facilitator through Mindshop, providing budgeting, cashflow forecasting, and strategic planning.
Email: Wendy@alphaomegaalpha.org
Lori Kerr is the Director of Member and Chapter Services and Communications Manager for AΩA. She graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Consumer Econ. She has more than 20 years of experience in office and event management. Lori’s career path has led her from event management in the software industry, to education, and design review coordination for a metro district. Her free time fun includes adventures with her family, traveling, cooking and photography.
Email: Lori@alphaomegaalpha.org
Halie Martinez is the Executive Assistant and Office Manager for the AΩA National Office. She joined the AΩA team in 2022. Halie has a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training, a Master’s degree in Sports Management and holds a Colorado Teaching Licensure in Elementary Education. Her career passions lie in customer service and servant leadership. In her free time, Halie enjoys spending as much time as possible with her husband, 1 year old son, and their black lab. Her favorite activities include traveling, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, running, and reading.
Email: Halie@alphaomegaalpha.org
Julie Passo is the Communications Manager for AΩA. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a Master’s degree in Health Communications from Tufts University School of Medicine. Before joining the AΩA National Office, Julie worked in internal communications at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She has also worked as an account executive in the healthcare sector of a global public relations agency, as a copy editor for a daily newspaper, and as the library technician at an elementary school. Julie enjoys skiing, reading, yoga and spending time with her family.
Email: Julie@alphaomegaalpha.org
