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Nu Sigma Nu () was an international
professional fraternity Professional fraternities, in the North American fraternity system, are organizations whose primary purpose is to promote the interests of a particular profession and whose membership is restricted to students in that particular field of profess ...
for
medicine Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pract ...
, now existing as a handful of stable remaining chapters. It was founded on 2 March 1882 by five medical students at the
University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
, who identified as their immediate object "to further the best interests of our profession." Later, its purpose was more fully stated as, "To promote scholarship, the development of better teaching, and generally in raising medical education to a higher level." As one of the earliest formed among all professional fraternities, Nu Sigma Nu was the first fraternal organization nationally to limit membership to medical students only. It can therefore claim that it was the first Medical Professional Fraternity.. Series number and closing date of the issue are inferred.


History

The organization evolved quickly from its birth on 2 March 1882 under the leadership of five original members, all of the class of 1883, who, along with one other became the six recognized Founders of the Fraternity. The six were: The first five developed and signed the Constitution, and all six signed the original charter upon their initiation. Soon afterward, two professors were added to the membership rolls: Donald McLean and George E. Frothingham. With these, and a fixed attention on professional achievement in its defined area of study, the fraternity had a relatively short period before contemplating a national expansion. The Grand Chapter of Nu Sigma Nu was formed in 1886. Its ''Beta chapter'' was formed in 1889 at the
Detroit College of Medicine The Wayne State University School of Medicine (WSUSOM) is the medical school of Wayne State University, a public research university in Detroit, Michigan. It enrolls more than 1,500 students in undergraduate medical education, master's degree, Ph ...
, and the fraternity added additional chapters during a vigorous period of growth from 1890 to 1933. Nu Sigma Nu was the first of five national medical professional fraternities to form, and did so when the concept of a professional fraternity was far less common; it was a pioneer in establishment of the professional model.


Recent times

The fraternity became co-educational in 1972. The national fraternity was dissolved in 1973, due to changing student interest and organizational turmoil. However, several well-established chapters survived and have flourished as semi-local institutions. The remaining chapters occasionally communicate, but there is no continuation of national convention activity.Per ''Alpha'', ''Epsilon'' and ''Lambda'' chapter website notes. Chapters that aggressively maintained their ties with alumni and faculty for the benefit of student members, and who eyed long term viability, with alumni support, encouraged early growth of their building and scholarship funds. As early as 1901, ''Alpha chapter'' had accumulated enough capital to seek real estate investment, purchasing a suitable lot in Ann Arbor on Huron Street, near the medical school at that time. Historical records show ''Epsilon chapter'' at the
University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tw ...
similarly sought to build early in its history, choosing a site at 429 Union Street, in Minneapolis, just two blocks from the medical school. Prior to this, ''Epsilon chapter'' rented space at the Masonic Temple at 6th and Hennepin in Minneapolis.


Prominent members

* William J. Mayo, one of the co-founders of the
Mayo Clinic The Mayo Clinic () is a nonprofit American academic medical center focused on integrated health care, education, and research. It employs over 4,500 physicians and scientists, along with another 58,400 administrative and allied health staff, ...
*
William E. Upjohn William Erastus Upjohn (June 15, 1853 – October 18, 1932) was an American medical doctor and both founder and president of The Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company. He was named Person of the Century by the Kalamazoo, Michigan, newspaper."Perso ...
, founder of the Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company


Chapters

The Society had established 37 chapters by 1930, and 45 by circa 1953. Of that chapter roster, three remain active: * Epsilon chapter,
University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tw ...
-
Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
* Lambda chapter,
University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...
-
Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
* Rho chapter,
Thomas Jefferson University Thomas Jefferson University is a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in its earliest form in 1824, the university officially combined with Philadelphia University in 2017. To signify its heritage, the univer ...
(formerly Jefferson Medical College) -
Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
The ''Alpha chapter'' at the
University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
-
Ann Arbor, MI Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851. It is the principal city of the Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all o ...
disbanded in 2008. The address of the former house was: 1912 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 and housed 34 students. Apparently, some of the dormant chapters nevertheless have maintained investment and/or scholarship funds. In 2011, the successors of the ''Beta Xi chapter'' at the
University of Colorado The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, and the University of Co ...
announced their intent to contribute $650,000 for a "green roof" - an ecologically sensitive gathering place atop the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center at the new
Anschutz Medical Campus The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is the academic health sciences campus in Aurora, Colorado that houses the University of Colorado's six health sciences-related schools and colleges, including the University of Colorado School ...
at the University of Colorado. The chapter had expired in approximately 1973 at about the time the national was dissolved, though afterwards its alumni bought three houses which they leased to students for over a decade after the chapter's closure.Nu Sigma Nu Donates to Student Gathering Place
accessed 6 July 2014
Nu Sigma Nu's few surviving chapters are stable and well-capitalized, with comfortable, and even impressive buildings in comparison with other professional fraternities. Chapter websites explain recent construction, remodeling and amenities designed to attract graduate students. The ''Epsilon'' and ''Lambda'' chapter buildings house 13, and 10 respectively, while the ''Rho'' chapter houses 12. By the writing of the 1903 history there were already 2,093 members. By circa 1954 Nu Sigma Nu had initiated over 30,000 members on 45 campuses.


Membership requirements

Varies by chapter. The Michigan chapter offered its facilities to house medical students and those in related fields. Other chapters appear to limit membership to only medical students.


Scholarships

The ''Alpha chapter'' previously offered funds to support an international residency to one student per year, paid for by a fund developed by the alumni of the chapter.


Publications

Several catalogs and histories were published by the Fraternity in its early years, including ''Nu Sigma Nu in 1903'', and similarly titled versions in 1900, and other years. Some chapter had been diligent in publishing 'chapter bulletins' which included historical summaries, lists and commentary of national interest. The disbanded national Fraternity has no website. However, members and alumni correspond informally and may find contact information on individual chapter websites. ''Alpha chapter'' at Michigan may retain some of its archivist role: The national fraternity, at the 12th National Convention in March 1902, resolved to have the executive committee negotiate with ''Alpha chapter'' to serve as the archive keeper of the society, and set aside a room in their proposed new building specifically for this purpose.


Traditions

The 'fraternity yell' as adopted in 1903 was "Nu Sig Nu Sig Nu Sig Nu, Nu Sig Nu Sig Nu Sig Nu." The flowers of the fraternity are the red and white carnation. The crest is sometimes, but not always, versioned by chapter; ''Alpha chapter'' used an "Α" in the center, ''Epsilon chapter'' uses an "Ε" in the center, etc. The official colors are Garnet, White and Yellow gold. A number of songs are recorded in the 1903 history, pairing them with then-popular tunes to which the new words were written to fit. One of them, to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, is called ENYS GNAL DLUA:


Notes


Other professional medical fraternities

In addition to the medical fraternities listed here, there are numerous chiropractic, pre-health, pharmacy and nursing fraternities. * Alpha Delta Theta, medical technology *
Alpha Gamma Kappa Alpha Gamma Kappa ( or AGK) is the oldest and largest professional fraternal organization for students and practitioners of podiatric medicine in the United States. The fraternity was founded in 1939 at the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podia ...
*
Alpha Kappa Kappa Alpha Kappa Kappa () is a medical school fraternity that was founded on September 29, 1888, at Dartmouth Medical School. History AKK operated as a national organization that had over 60 chapters at various medical schools throughout the United ...
*
Alpha Phi Sigma Alpha Phi Sigma () (Phi is pronounced "fi") is the only Criminal Justice Honor Society accredited by the Association of College Honor Societies. Traditionally a national organization serving United States universities, recent expansion into Canad ...
, see Phi Delta Epsilon *
Alpha Tau Sigma Alpha Tau Sigma () was a professional medical fraternity that ceased operations in 1964. History Alpha Tau Sigma Fraternity was a professional medical fraternity founded in 1912 at the American School of Osteopathy, now the private A.T. Still Un ...
, Osteopathic, dormant * Mu Sigma Phi, Philippines *
Omega Tau Sigma Omega Tau Sigma () is a Veterinary Medicine Professional fraternities and sororities, professional fraternity started at the University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine in 1906 ...
, veterinary medicine *
Omega Upsilon Phi Omega Upsilon Phi () was a medical fraternity founded at the University at Buffalo on . Its Founders were: The crest was a shield displaying a monogram of the Omega Upsilon Phi letters below an eye. The colors are crimson and gold and the fl ...
, see Phi Beta Pi *
Phi Alpha Gamma Phi Alpha Gamma () is a professional fraternity 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. Wil ...
, formerly Homeopathic, see Phi Chi *
Phi Beta Pi Phi Beta Pi () medical fraternity is a professional fraternity founded in 1891 at the West Pennsylvania Medical College. History Phi Beta Pi medical fraternity is a professional fraternity founded March 10, 1891, at the West Pennsylvania Medical ...
*
Phi Chi (''Phthomen Chraismein'') en, First to Serve , colors= Olive green & white , symbol= Adult Tiger Beetle (''Cicindela patruela''), Doodlebug , flower= Lily of the Valley , publication= ''The Chronicles''; formerly ''The Quarterly'' , chapters= 1 ...
*
Phi Delta Epsilon Phi Delta Epsilon () (commonly known as PhiDE) is a co-ed international medical fraternity and a member of the Professional Fraternity Association. History Phi Delta Epsilon was founded on October 13, 1904, at Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell Uni ...
*
Phi Kappa Mu The Phi Kappa Mu () is a medical fraternity based in the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. The Greek letters stands for Fraternity of the College of Medicine. Founded in August 1933, it is the oldest medical fraternity in the ...
, Philippines *
Phi Lambda Kappa Phi Lambda Kappa () is a professional medical fraternity that was founded at the University of Pennsylvania in 1907. History The fraternity, founded as a local of this same name in 1907 at the University of Pennsylvania, grew into a national of 4 ...
*
Phi Rho Sigma Phi Rho Sigma () is a professional fraternity founded by medical students at Northwestern University in 1890. Early History Phi Rho Sigma was founded at the Northwestern Medical School, then the Chicago Medical College on . Its founder were: * M ...
*
Sigma Mu Delta Sigma Mu Delta ({{lang, grc, ΣΜΔ) is a professional pre-medical fraternity founded at University of California, Davis in 1994. It is the first organization of its kind on the West coast. Currently, Sigma Mu Delta has chapters at the University ...
, pre-medical *
Theta Kappa Psi Theta Kappa Psi Medical Fraternity, Incorporated, () is a North American professional medical fraternity. As of 2023, it operates as an independent local fraternity with one active chapter. History Kappa Psi The Society of Kappa Psi was founded ...


References

*


External links


Alpha chapter website
accessed 5 July 2014

accessed 5 July 2014
Lambda chapter Website
accessed 5 July 2014 {{authority control Professional medical fraternities and sororities in the United States Medical associations based in the United States Student organizations established in 1882 Former members of Professional Fraternity Association 1882 establishments in Michigan