Phi Delta Epsilon

Phi Delta Epsilon
Phi Delta Epsilon
ΦΔΕ
Founded	October 13, 1904; 119 years ago; Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University
Type	Professional
Affiliation	PFA
Former Affiliation	PIC
Status	Active
Emphasis	Medicine
Scope	International
Motto	Facta Non Verba; Deeds Not Words
Colors	Royal purple and Ivory
Symbol	Caduceus
Flower	Scarlet Red carnation
Jewel	Amethyst and Pearl
Philanthropy	Children's Miracle Network
Chapters	81 Pre-Medical Chapter, 101 Medical Chapters
Members	35,000 lifetime
Headquarters	714 Lyndon Lane, Suite 1; Louisville, Kentucky 40222; United States
Website	www.phide.org

Phi Delta Epsilon (ΦΔΕ) (commonly known as PhiDE) is a co-ed international medical fraternity founded at Cornell Medical College and a member of the Professional Fraternity Association.

History

Phi Delta Epsilon was founded on October 13, 1904, at Cornell University Medical College. Founders were:

Aaron Brown
Henry Aaronson
Michael Halpern Barsky
Bernard Hyle Eliasberg
Irving Harold Engel
Philip Frank
Abraham Leon Garbat
William Isidore Wallach

During the first decade of this century, there were many doors closed to Jewish medical students and physicians, doors which would not fully open until after World War II. In 1904, it was not uncommon for American medical schools and medical fraternities to have quotas limiting the admission of Jewish students. Thus, Brown and his friends decided to start their fraternal organization, guided by the precepts of philanthropy, deity, and equity.^[2]

Soon after, more chapters were organized in the East and Midwest. In 1918, Phi Delta Epsilon amalgamated with Alpha Phi Sigma,^[3] a medical fraternity organized in 1908, whose ideals and principles were similar to those of PhiDE. Its seven existing chapters were in the Midwest and West, which geographically complemented the existing PhiDE chapters.^[4]

Following the merge, the chapters were divided into districts, and by 1930, enough members had graduated from medical schools to form graduate clubs. In 1926, an Endowment Fund was started. In the 1940s, the Aaron Brown Lectureship Program was begun and has remained an important chapter event through the years.^[2]

In the late 1960s, the fraternity opened its membership to women and encouraged recruitment of medical students of all races, nationalities, and religious beliefs. The fraternity's membership diversified throughout the following decades. The addition of the premedical affiliation in 1994 at Binghamton University rounded out the fraternity's membership, which now spans an entire lifetime of medical education and practice.^[2]^[5]

The Fraternity has over 35,000 practicing professionals in its active network.^[5]

Symbols

The seal of the fraternity consists of the scales of justice with the letters Phi, Delta, and Epsilon on the sides and at the bottom. The scale is balanced upon a caduceus with a Delta as its base. The letter Alpha appears beside the left wing and the letter Sigma beside the right. Above the center of the wings is a star containing the letter Phi.

Throughout its history, the fraternity has recognized three badges. The first and oldest badge includes the Greek letter Phi on its left side, Delta at its top, and Epsilon on its right. The Delta is set with pearls on its sides and amethysts at its angles. Below the Delta is a torch, and in front of the torch is a bow with a ruby at its center. All badges are identical, but as occasion demands various stones are placed therein to designate successful completion of a term in a specific International Board office.^[2] The fraternity's premedical badge is made of 14-carat gold and is triangular. The left side of its face is purple, while the right side is ivory. The medical badge, also made of 14-carat gold, consists of a torch centered in front of the outline of a triangle. Both badge and seal may only be used or worn by initiated members.

The fraternity's colors are Royal purple and ivory.^[2] Other symbols of PhiDE include amethyst, pearl, and the scarlet red carnation.

Chapters

Phi Delta Epsilon has chartered 101 medical school chapters and 81 pre-medical chapters, including 12 international.

References

^ Phi Delta Epsilon - UC Davis
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 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-90–91. ISBN 978-0963715906.
^ Not to be confused with the Alpha Phi Sigma, the criminal justice honor society of the same name, founded in 1942 at Washington State University, nor the scholarship recognition society called Alpha Phi Sigma founded in 1930 at Truman State University.
^ Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. G. Banta Company. 1920. p. 516.
^ ^a ^b Phi Delta Epsilon homepage