Phi Chi
Encyclopedia
Phi Chi is one of the oldest and largest international medical fraternities of its kind in the world. Phi Chi evolved from the merging of two professional medical fraternities bearing the same name. Phi Chi Society (Phi Chi East) was founded on March 31, 1889, at the University of Vermont
, Burlington, Vt. Phi Chi Medical Fraternity (Phi Chi South) was founded on October 26, 1894, at the Louisville Medical College, Louisville, Ky. These two organizations did not know that they shared a similar name when they were founded. On March 5, 1905, in Burlington, Vt., Phi Chi Society and Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, Inc., were consolidated taking the name Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, Inc.
Phi Chi has grown to become a co-ed, international, professional medical fraternity with chapters in 5 countries.
The Eastern Fraternity was founded by Caleb Wakefield Clark on March 31, 1889, who called to his support Frederick Luther Osgood, Isaac Newton Fox and Alfred Judson Young, all of the class of 1889. According to a letter from Dr. Clark shortly before his death, “Phi Chi was not formed for purely social reasons and indeed, my aim and desire to bring about such an organization was primarily to get together and discuss thing medical and thus get more out of our college course. The new fraternity was to be established to give all possible aid in the dissemination of knowledge and information along medical lines and to broaden and uplift the minds of all; as I keenly felt the need of a society through which we could work and cooperate.”
In 1895, members from the University of Vermont
met in Baltimore, Md and created the Beta Chapter in the Baltimore Medical College. In 1900, Gamma was chartered in the Maine Medical College under similar circumstances. In 1902 and 1903, Beta organized Delta and Theta in Baltimore. On February 26, 1904, Alpha Chapter called a convention of Phi Chi Society Chapters (A, B, Γ, Δ, Θ) to meet in Burlington, Vt. June 5, 1904, is the first convention of the Grand Chapter.
“October 26, 1894, at four o’clock, p.m., there assembled in the office of Doctor Clinton Kelly” of the faculty of the Louisville Medical College, “A. Harris Kelly, Samuel T. McClung, G. Fowler Border, Joseph N. Powers, George E. Gavin, Charles W. Hibbitt, and Linn L. Kennedy (all of whom became members of Alpha of the Southern Fraternity; now Alpha Alpha) for the purpose of organizing a fraternity.”
The growth of Phi Chi is a great monument to the spirit that urged the original group to unite and form a medical fraternity in a city where little was known of such societies. The first members of the Southern Fraternity consisted of the previously mentioned as well as Carey A. Gray and Walker B. Gossett.
On November 5, 1894, a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and not until November 17, was the first officers elected: Presiding Senior, McClung; Presiding Junior, Gossett; Secretary, Kennedy, and Powers, Treasurer (Judge Advocate and the minor officers had not been provided for). Wedding, Chapman and Shacklett were elected to membership and included with Gossett and Gray in the charter listing of members. The First Regular Meeting was held on Saturday, December 8, 1894. On December 29, 1894, D.A. Garrison, O. K. Harris, E. Rea Norris and A.P. Campbell were to complete the charter members.
Beta and Gamma chapters are installed in December 1896.
On February 26, 1897, the first Grand Chapter Convention of Southern Phi Chi Chapters (A, B, Γ, Δ) is called; this date later becomes Founder’s Day.
In 1898 Phi Chi expands out of the Louisville, KY.
The first volume of The Phi Chi Quarterly, the name of the official fraternal publication, is published on April 1, 1904 (the name is changed to The Phi Chi Chronicles in 1989).
On March 5, 1905, Phi Chi Medical Fraternity (Southern Phi Chi) and Phi Chi Society (Eastern Phi Chi) are joined in Baltimore, MD, making Phi Chi the largest medical fraternity in America. Chapter names which conflicted during the joining were resolved by allowing the older chapter to retain its single name and the second chapter to have its name duplicated (Alpha, University of Vermont, 1889; Alpha Alpha, Louisville Medical College, 1894).
On July 1, 1910, the first history of Phi Chi is published. In 1915 the first Phi Chi Directory is published with 37 active chapter (some chapters had been consolidated) and 6,790 initiated members.
1922 saw the merger of Pi Mu Honor Society
and Phi Chi as well as the chartering of Beta Mu Chapter at McGill University
, Phi Chi’s first Canadian Chapter, on May 15.
December 1925, 24th Grand Chapter Convention is held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. There are 54 chapters and 12,169 members.
In 1927, the Student Loan Fund was created which was run by the Welfare Association after its creation in 1947, to provide emergency loans for members in need.
On February 21, 1948, Phi Alpha Gamma
and Phi Chi merge.
In 1949, the Phi Chi Welfare Association is incorporated. On August 20, Irvin Abell
, the first Grand Presiding Senior of Phi Chi, dies.
Eden J. Carey, MD, Memorial Award in Anatomy plaques are created in May 1950.
February 26, 1960, Omega Chapter of Phi Chi is chartered at National Autonomous University of Mexico
, Mexico City, the first chapter south of the border. The Michael J. Carey, MD, Senior Service Award is first presented.
May 21, 1962, ΥB Chapter of Phi Chi is chartered at University of Puerto Rico
, San Juan, PR.
At the XL Grand Chapter Convention in 1973, women medical students are allowed membership.
September 1989, AA and AB Alumni Chapters are chartered.
Sigma Chi Mu Chapter is chartered on October 19, 2001, at American University of the Caribbean
, St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, making it the first Caribbean chapter.
August 4, 2002, Sigma Tau Chi Chapter of St. Christopher College of Medicine in Luton, England is chartered making it the first European chapter of Phi Chi.
;
Chartered- April 4, 1914
Upsilon Nu - University of Nebraska;
Chartered- November 7, 1916
Epsilon Kappa - University of Washington
;
Chartered- February 26, 1948
Phi Rho - St. Louis University;
Chartered- December 10, 1930
Zeta - University of Texas Medical Branch
;
Chartered- April 29, 1903 (By Phi Chi South)
Chi - Jefferson Medical College;
Chartered- December 9, 1903 (By Phi Chi South)
Kappa Chi - University of Minnesota
;
Chartered- May 22, 1920
Chi Upsilon - Creighton
;
Chartered- January 15, 1916
Omicron - Tulane University
;
Chartered- December 21, 1905 (By Phi Chi South)
Psi - University of Michigan
;
Chartered- December 16, 1905 (By Phi Chi South)
Sigma Kappa – Medical University of South Carolina
;
Chartered- June 2, 1927
, West Indies;
Chartered- April 20, 2007
Sigma Tau Chi – St. Christopher College of Medicine;
Luton, England;
Chartered- August 4, 2002
Sigma Chi Mu - American University of the Caribbean
;
St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
;
Chartered- October 19, 2001
Nu Sigma - Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine
; Halifax, Nova Scotia
, Canada
;
Chartered- December 15, 1928
East was founded in 1889. Phi Chi South was formed in 1894. When the two fraternities combined in 1905, it was decided that when the name of any two chapters conflicted, the chapter with precedence would retain the single letter and the chapter following shall duplicate its name, such as Alpha (1889), University of Vermont
, and Alpha of Louisville (1894), which became Alpha Alpha.
University of Vermont College of Medicine
The University of Vermont College of Medicine is an American medical school located in Burlington, Vermont and associated with the University of Vermont . Established in 1822, it is the nation's seventh oldest medical school...
, Burlington, Vt. Phi Chi Medical Fraternity (Phi Chi South) was founded on October 26, 1894, at the Louisville Medical College, Louisville, Ky. These two organizations did not know that they shared a similar name when they were founded. On March 5, 1905, in Burlington, Vt., Phi Chi Society and Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, Inc., were consolidated taking the name Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, Inc.
Phi Chi has grown to become a co-ed, international, professional medical fraternity with chapters in 5 countries.
Phi Chi Society of the East
In 1895, members from the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
met in Baltimore, Md and created the Beta Chapter in the Baltimore Medical College. In 1900, Gamma was chartered in the Maine Medical College under similar circumstances. In 1902 and 1903, Beta organized Delta and Theta in Baltimore. On February 26, 1904, Alpha Chapter called a convention of Phi Chi Society Chapters (A, B, Γ, Δ, Θ) to meet in Burlington, Vt. June 5, 1904, is the first convention of the Grand Chapter.
Phi Chi Medical Fraternity of the South
The growth of Phi Chi is a great monument to the spirit that urged the original group to unite and form a medical fraternity in a city where little was known of such societies. The first members of the Southern Fraternity consisted of the previously mentioned as well as Carey A. Gray and Walker B. Gossett.
On November 5, 1894, a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and not until November 17, was the first officers elected: Presiding Senior, McClung; Presiding Junior, Gossett; Secretary, Kennedy, and Powers, Treasurer (Judge Advocate and the minor officers had not been provided for). Wedding, Chapman and Shacklett were elected to membership and included with Gossett and Gray in the charter listing of members. The First Regular Meeting was held on Saturday, December 8, 1894. On December 29, 1894, D.A. Garrison, O. K. Harris, E. Rea Norris and A.P. Campbell were to complete the charter members.
Beta and Gamma chapters are installed in December 1896.
On February 26, 1897, the first Grand Chapter Convention of Southern Phi Chi Chapters (A, B, Γ, Δ) is called; this date later becomes Founder’s Day.
In 1898 Phi Chi expands out of the Louisville, KY.
The first volume of The Phi Chi Quarterly, the name of the official fraternal publication, is published on April 1, 1904 (the name is changed to The Phi Chi Chronicles in 1989).
Phi Chi Medical Fraternity
On July 1, 1910, the first history of Phi Chi is published. In 1915 the first Phi Chi Directory is published with 37 active chapter (some chapters had been consolidated) and 6,790 initiated members.
1922 saw the merger of Pi Mu Honor Society
Pi Mu Honor Society
Pi Mu, ΠM, was founded on December 13, 1892 at the University of Virginia by John W. Mallet, Hugh I. Cummings, Powell C. Fauntleroy, Hugh T. McGuire, E. L. Hobson, Nicholas Wothington, Rawley Penick, Charles E. Marrow, James S. Irving, Rawley Martin and Hugh H. Duke. Dr. Mallet designed the name...
and Phi Chi as well as the chartering of Beta Mu Chapter at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Phi Chi’s first Canadian Chapter, on May 15.
December 1925, 24th Grand Chapter Convention is held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. There are 54 chapters and 12,169 members.
In 1927, the Student Loan Fund was created which was run by the Welfare Association after its creation in 1947, to provide emergency loans for members in need.
On February 21, 1948, Phi Alpha Gamma
Phi Alpha Gamma
Phi Alpha Gamma , was founded at the New York Homeopathic Medical College, March 25, 1894, by Thomas D. Buchanan, Thomas F. Davies, Edmund M. De Vol, Robert M. Jones, Brooks DeF. Worwood, Arthur B. Smith and Harry S. Willard. Beta chapter was founded at the Boston University School of Medicine,...
and Phi Chi merge.
In 1949, the Phi Chi Welfare Association is incorporated. On August 20, Irvin Abell
Irvin Abell
Irvin Abell was a surgeon from Louisville, Kentucky. He graduated from Louisville Medical College in 1897 and then studied in Germany at the University of Marburg and the University of Berlin...
, the first Grand Presiding Senior of Phi Chi, dies.
Eden J. Carey, MD, Memorial Award in Anatomy plaques are created in May 1950.
February 26, 1960, Omega Chapter of Phi Chi is chartered at National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
, Mexico City, the first chapter south of the border. The Michael J. Carey, MD, Senior Service Award is first presented.
May 21, 1962, ΥB Chapter of Phi Chi is chartered at University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
, San Juan, PR.
At the XL Grand Chapter Convention in 1973, women medical students are allowed membership.
September 1989, AA and AB Alumni Chapters are chartered.
Sigma Chi Mu Chapter is chartered on October 19, 2001, at American University of the Caribbean
American University of the Caribbean
The American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine is an international, for-profit, U.S. curriculum-based medical school with a main basic science campus in Sint Maarten, and is based in Coral Gables, Florida...
, St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, making it the first Caribbean chapter.
August 4, 2002, Sigma Tau Chi Chapter of St. Christopher College of Medicine in Luton, England is chartered making it the first European chapter of Phi Chi.
USA Chapters
Alpha Beta - University of TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
;
Chartered- April 4, 1914
Upsilon Nu - University of Nebraska;
Chartered- November 7, 1916
Epsilon Kappa - University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
;
Chartered- February 26, 1948
Phi Rho - St. Louis University;
Chartered- December 10, 1930
Zeta - University of Texas Medical Branch
University of Texas Medical Branch
The University of Texas Medical Branch is a component of the University of Texas System located in Galveston, Texas, United States, about 50 miles southeast of Downtown Houston...
;
Chartered- April 29, 1903 (By Phi Chi South)
Chi - Jefferson Medical College;
Chartered- December 9, 1903 (By Phi Chi South)
Kappa Chi - University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
;
Chartered- May 22, 1920
Chi Upsilon - Creighton
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
;
Chartered- January 15, 1916
Omicron - Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
;
Chartered- December 21, 1905 (By Phi Chi South)
Psi - University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
;
Chartered- December 16, 1905 (By Phi Chi South)
Sigma Kappa – Medical University of South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
The Medical University of South Carolina opened in Charleston, South Carolina in 1824 as a small private college for the training of physicians. It is one of the oldest continually operating school of medicine in the United States and the oldest in the Deep South...
;
Chartered- June 2, 1927
International Chapters
Iota Mu- St. George's, GrenadaGrenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
, West Indies;
Chartered- April 20, 2007
Sigma Tau Chi – St. Christopher College of Medicine;
Luton, England;
Chartered- August 4, 2002
Sigma Chi Mu - American University of the Caribbean
American University of the Caribbean
The American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine is an international, for-profit, U.S. curriculum-based medical school with a main basic science campus in Sint Maarten, and is based in Coral Gables, Florida...
;
St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Antilles
The Netherlands Antilles , also referred to informally as the Dutch Antilles, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of two groups of islands in the Lesser Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao , in Leeward Antilles just off the Venezuelan coast; and Sint...
;
Chartered- October 19, 2001
Nu Sigma - Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine
Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine
The Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine, otherwise known as Dalhousie Medical School, is a faculty at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada...
; Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
;
Chartered- December 15, 1928
Chapter Order
Phi ChiPhi Chi Society
Phi Chi Society, or what would become known as the Eastern Fraternity of Phi Chi, was founded by Caleb Wakefield Clark with the support of Frederick Luther Osgood, Isaac Newton Fox and Alfred Judson Young, all of the class of 1889...
East was founded in 1889. Phi Chi South was formed in 1894. When the two fraternities combined in 1905, it was decided that when the name of any two chapters conflicted, the chapter with precedence would retain the single letter and the chapter following shall duplicate its name, such as Alpha (1889), University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
, and Alpha of Louisville (1894), which became Alpha Alpha.