Phi Chi
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 was founded on March 31, 1889, at the University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt. Phi Chi Medical Fraternity 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.
A Short History
Phi Chi Society of the East
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 to meet in Burlington, Vt. June 5, 1904, is the first convention of the Grand Chapter.
Phi Chi Medical Fraternity of the South
“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 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. 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 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.
Phi Chi Medical Fraternity
On March 5, 1905, Phi Chi Medical Fraternity and Phi Chi Society 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.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 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, ΥΒ 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.
On June 12, 2018, Delta Kappa Chapter at Saint James School of Medicine in Anguilla was chartered.
Current Chapters
USA Chapters
Omicron - Tulane University of Louisiana School of Medicine, New Orleans;Chartered- December 20, 1902
Zeta - University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, Galveston;
Chartered- April 29, 1903
Chi - Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia;
Chartered- December 9, 1903
Psi - University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor;
Chartered- December 16, 1905
Alpha Beta - The University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis;
Chartered- April 4, 1914
Chi Upsilon - Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha;
Chartered- January 15, 1916
Upsilon Nu - University of Nebraska Medical School, Omaha;
Chartered- November 1, 1916
Kappa Chi - University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis;
Chartered- May 22, 1920
Sigma Kappa – Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, Charleston;
Chartered- June 2, 1927
Epsilon Kappa - University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle;
Chartered- February 26, 1948
Rho Epsilon Omega - Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgia campus, Suwanee, Georgia;
Chartered- October 22, 2015
International Chapters
Sigma Chi Mu - American University of the Caribbean, Cupecoy, St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles;Chartered- October 19, 2001
Alpha Tau- Saint James School of Medicine, Arnos Vale, St. Vincent and the Grenadines;
Chartered- June 18, 2016
Delta Kappa - Saint James School of Medicine, Anguilla;
Chartered- June 12, 2018