Two members of the UNMC Department of Psychiatry have been honored by Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) National Honor Society.
Ashish Sharma, MD, Professor and Inpatient Division Director, was elected as a faculty member in the AOA National Honor Society. Department of Psychiatry Chief Resident Jake Givens, MD, was elected as a House Officer Member of AOA National Honor Society by the members of the Nebraska Chapter of AOA.
Among the purposes of AOA are the promotion of scholarship and research in medical schools and the encouragement of a high standard of character and conduct among medical students.
According to the press release, Dr. Givens was selected due to his leadership, scholastic excellence, integrity, professional skills, compassion, and fairness in dealing with colleagues.
Daniel Gih, Vice Chair for Education in the Psychiatry Department, said Dr. Givens is the first resident in the department to earn the national honor.
“Getting inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha is a great honor,” Dr. Givens said. “It was a nice surprise to be recognized for the hard work and dedication we put in as psychiatry residents. The support and career development I received from numerous individuals in the Department of Psychiatry were essential to my being recognized for this honor. I’m really grateful for this distinction and excited to continue my training while exploring the opportunities AOA offers.”
Dr. Givens will be officially inducted at the AOA Spring Banquet on May 6, 2026.
Dr. Ashish Sharma said he was truly honored by the recognition. He was nominated by Psychiatry Department Professor Emeritus Mark Fleisher, MD. Dr. Sharma was elected at the Nebraska Chapter Meeting of AOA on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Dr. Sharma specializes in inpatient consultation-liaison psychiatry. He is a two-time recipient of the University of Nebraska’s Hirschman Golden Apple Award, presented by medical students to the best teacher in 2011 and 2017. He also received the UNMC Student Senate Distinguished Mentor Award in 2015 for excellence in mentoring students. Dr. Sharma is a Distinguished Fellow and member of the American Psychiatric Association. He is also a member of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. He is also a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.