Sigma Mu Delta

Sigma Mu Delta (ΣΜΔ) is a professional pre-medical collegiate fraternity.[1][2] Founded at the University of California, Davis in 1994, Sigma Mu Delta has chapters at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Santa Cruz and is sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of California.[2][3][4][5][6] Membership is not limited to pre-med students but is aimed at undergraduate students who plan on studying medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, or veterinary medicine.[7][8] The mission of the fraternity is "to unify pre-medical students in a brotherhood dedicated to academic excellence."[9] Although organized as "the only all-male pre-medical fraternity", Sigma Mu Delta now welcomes all gender identities.[9][10][11]

Sigma Mu Delta
ΣΜΔ
FoundedFebruary 9, 1994 (February 9, 1994)
University of California, Davis
TypeProfessional
EmphasisPre-medical
ScopeRegional
MottoPraevaleti Uniter
Prevailing Together
PillarsBrotherhood, education, and dedication
Colors  Red
  Blue
SymbolThe Caduceus
Chapters2 active, 1 inactive
Members120+ collegiate
800+ lifetime
NicknamesSMD, Sig Mu
HeadquartersDavis, California
United States

History

Alpha chapter – University of California, Davis

Sigma Mu Delta originated from an Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) study group formed by Roger Fong, Duc Tran, and Loc Trieu at the University of California at Davis.[12] The three students' friendship and mutual academic support continued after the MCAT.[12] The three expanded into a circle of eleven men who shared the goals of connecting pre-medical students on campus and motivating each other in their pursuit of becoming physicians.[12][11] These men became the founding class of Sigma Mu Delta's Alpha chapter on February 9, 1994.[12][11]

The founders of Sigma Mu Delta were:

  • Roger Fong
  • Jeffrey Lin
  • Vincent Mai
  • P.  Peregrino
  • Andy Pham
  • Duc Tran
  • Khai Tran
  • Loc Trieu
  • Richard Yee
  • Steve Young
  • Sun Young

They wrote the fraternity's constitution and established the rituals, symbols, and ceremonies of the fraternity.[12] In addition to preparing for entrance exams, the fraternity participated in charitable events such as blood and bone marrow drives and the March of Dimes'Walk America.[13][14][15] It also offered free MCAT practice tests and medical school interview workshops and brought representatives from MCAT review courses to campus for panel discussions.[16][17][18]

Beta chapter – University of California, Berkeley

After nearly ten years, the fraternity decided to expand. Pledge master Edward Po and pledge father Sam Soltani oversaw the initiation of twenty undergraduates at the University of California, Berkeley, forming the Beta chapter in the fall of 2003.[12][19] Expansion led to its reorganization; the fraternity established a constitutional committee and an incorporation committee, leading to the establishment of Sigma Mu Delta, Inc.[12]

Gamma chapter – University of California, Santa Cruz

Encouraged to join Kappa Gamma Delta in its expansion into UC Santa Cruz, the Alpha chapter inducted a charter class in the spring of 2011 at the University of California, Santa Cruz under the oversight of pledge master Owen Kemp and pledge father Stelios Papadopoulos. In September 2012, the Gamma chapter of Sigma Mu Delta was officially recognized and promoted by the university.[20][21][22]

Tri-Chapter conference

Alpha chapter president, Jonathan Quach, organized the first Tri-Chapter conference in collaboration with the Beta and Gamma chapters. It took place at the UC Davis campus in the spring of 2012. The primary goal of the conference was to unite all three chapters, creating a cross-chapter network. This conference is now an annual event that rotates between the member campuses.

Recent activity

In November 2019, the Alpha chapter lost its university recognition and is closed indefinitely after hazing incidents.[23][24] The Beta chapter sponsors educational presentations and participates service projects with various non-profit organizations, including the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Berkeley’s Alzheimer’s Center, Glide Memorial Church, and Seed of Health.[2] The Gamma chapter meets weekly during the school year.[3] Kappa Gamma Delta is Sigma Mu Delta's sister sorority.[25] the two jointly sponsor professional, service, and social events each semester, including a bi-annual dinner.[2][26]

Symbols

In December 2003, the fraternity filed with the U.S Patent and Trademark Office to register ΣΜΔ, translating as Sigma Mu Delta in English, as its symbol of membership.[1] The fraternity's pillars are brotherhood, education, and dedication.[2][4] Its colors are red and black. Its symbol is the caduceus. The Sigma Mu Delta motto is "prevailing together".[11]

Chapters

Following are the chapters of Sigma Mu Delta. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are indicated in italic.

Chapter Chartered/Range Institution Location Status References
Alpha February 9, 1994 – November 2019 University of California, Davis Davis, California Inactive [12][lower-alpha 1]
Beta Fall 2003 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, Calfornia Active [12]
Gamma Spring 2011 University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California Active [12]

Notes
  1. Chapter was closed by the university for hazing incidents.

See also

References
  1. Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office: Trademarks. U.S. Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office. 2005. p. 486 – via Google Books.
  2. "Sigma Mu Delta | CA Link". University of California Berkeley. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  3. Dulisz, Damian (November 6, 2022). "Sigma Mu Delta". University of California - Santa Cruz Events Calendar. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  4. "UC Berkeley Pre Medical Fraternity". Day of Difference. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  5. Hlaudy, Korey (2011-03-15). UC Davis: Off the Record (2012 ed.). College Prowler. ISBN 978-1-4274-9714-7.
  6. Chang, Tristen (2005). UC Davis: Off the Record. College Prowler, Inc. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-59658-141-8.
  7. "Sigma Mu Delta: UC Berkeley's Premier Pre-Medical Fraternity". Sigma Mu Delta Berkeley. Spring 2022. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  8. "UC Davis Alpha Chapter". Sigma Mu Delta. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  9. "Constitution, Beta chapter" (PDF). callink.berkeley.edu. University of California. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  10. "What's the Rush". The California Aggie. 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  11. "Sigma Mu Delta | The Only All-Male Premedical Fraternity at UC Davis - Home". web.archive.org. 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  12. "History: The Roots of Sigma Mu Delta". Sigma Mu Delta. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  13. "Walkers Fight Birth Defects". The California Aggie. May 1, 1995. Retrieved 2023-02-04 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  14. "Bone Marrow Drive Aims to Draw Underrepresented Groups for Test". The California Aggie. March 10, 1998. Retrieved 2023-02-04 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  15. Martin, Elizabeth (May 21, 2003). "UC Davis Hosts Vascular Screening at Maidu Center". The Press-Tribune. Roseville, California. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-02-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Panel to Feature MCAT Review Course Representatives". The California Aggie. May 11, 1994. Retrieved 2023-02-04 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  17. "How Would You Score [advertisement]". The California Aggie. February 21, 2001. Retrieved 2023-02-04 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  18. "Medical School Interview Workshop Part III [Advertisement]". The California Aggie. November 26, 2001. Retrieved 2023-02-04 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  19. "The History of Sigma Mu Delta". Sigma Mu Delta, Beta Chapter web.archive.org. web.archive.org. 2008-05-04. Archived from the original on May 4, 2008. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  20. "GLO Governing Councils". University of California Santa Cruz. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  21. "Pre-Health Student Organizations | Careers". University of Santa Cruz. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  22. "2019-2020 Registered Student Organizations". SOMeCA | University of California, Santa Cruz. 2019. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  23. "Record number of Greek organizations have recognition revoked after hazing incidents". The California Aggie. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  24. "Organizational Conduct | Center for Student Engagement". University of California Davis. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  25. "About Us". Sigma Mu Delta UC Santa Cruz Pre-Medical Fraternity. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  26. "Bi-Annual Dinner with Sigma Mu Delta". ΚΓΔ. November 11, 2016. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
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