In October of 1904, Aaron Brown and eight of his friends founded Phi Delta Epsilon at Cornell University Medical College. During the first decade of this century, there were many doors closed to Jewish medical students and physicians. It was not uncommon for American medical schools to have quotas limiting the admission of Jewish students, and medical fraternities. These doors would not be fully open until after World War II, which ended in 1945.  Therefore, Aaron Brown and his friends decided they would start their own fraternal organization in 1904, guided by the principles of philanthropy, deity, and equity & education.

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The success of the Cornell chapter soon led to the organization of other chapters in the East and Midwest. In 1918, Phi Delta Epsilon amalgamated with Alpha Phi Sigma, a medical fraternity organized in 1908 whose ideals and principles were similar to those of PhiDE. Its chapters were in the Midwest and West, making for an ideal union.

Following the amalgamation, the United States was divided into districts and, by 1930, enough members had graduated from medical schools to allow for the formation of graduate clubs. In 1926, an Endowment Fund was started, giving the Fraternity long-term stability. In the 1940s, the Aaron Brown Lectureship Program was started and has remained a vital chapter event through the years.

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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 past 25 years have seen the Fraternity’s membership become wonderfully diverse, reflecting the diversity of the medical profession today. The addition of the pre-medical affiliation in 1994 rounded out the Fraternity’s membership, which now spans an entire lifetime of medical education and practice.

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PhiDE celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004 as a strong, vibrant, and professionally directed organization headed for new growth and great excitement. The 21st century beckons us, and we continue operate under Aaron Brown’s guiding principles of Philanthropy, Deity, and Equity & Education. Phi Delta Epsilon is also a part of the Professional Fraternity Association.

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Phi Delta Epsilon has grown from a small insular group to a diverse, all-inclusive organization. We have done this by following our motto: Facta Non Verba, Deeds Not Words. And, indeed, we will continue to prosper, grow, and spread the warmth of our fraternalism into the future.