Professional pre-medical sorority
Kappa Gamma Delta (ΚΓΔ) is a professional college sorority for women studying medicine and related professions.
History
Founding
Kappa Gamma Delta began during the winter quarter of 1993 at the University of California, Davis when students Charlene Tran and Marge Lee envisioned a professional sorority that would provide support for women during their premedical studies and graduate school. Tran and Lee were supported in their efforts by Sigma Mu Delta, a pre-health fraternity. The founding group included these two with 10 other women:
- Maricris Belisario
- Chong Choe
- Mindy Compton
- Pamela Hy
- Marge Lee
- Kathy Pham
- Jennifer Skinkle Schwartz
- Charlene Tran
- Gwen Tran
- Aileen Tieu
- Carolyn Trieu
- Julie Tse
The first meeting was held on March 3, 1994 in the lounge of Temescal apartments in Davis. With its founding, Kappa Gamma Delta became the first premedical sorority in the United States of America.[1]
Expansion
Prior versions of its website indicated immediate expansion into a Beta chapter at the University of California, Berkeley, but that group, under that chapter name, is no longer listed. Two other potential names from the standard alphabetical order appear to have been unused.
In Spring 2002 Kappa Gamma Delta formed its Epsilon chapter, (again?) entering the University of California, Berkeley with the initiation efforts of Jo Ann Etorma and Annie Khan, members of Alpha chapter.[2] A third chapter was formed in the Winter of 2006 when Davis chapter members, Sabrina Silva and Judy J. He, established Zeta chapter at the University of California, Santa Cruz.[3] In April 2023 the Eta chapter of Kappa Gamma Delta was formed with Haley Gross as inducting president at The University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, marking the organization's first expansion outside of California.[4] This milestone appears to have reignited Kappa Gamma Delta's ambition for growth and expansion, as, building on this momentum, the sorority soon established two additional chapters outside of California: the Theta chapter at Michigan State University under Rachel Roberts[5] and the Iota chapter at DePaul University under Elise Villwock and Wafa Choubkha.[6]
Chapters
Chapter list from the national website. Active chapters noted in bold, inactive chapters noted by italics. [1]
Symbolism and traditions
The first Coat-of-Arms consisted of an open book, a haystack, the sorority flower, the female symbol, and an Oil lamp. The haystack was later replaced by a torch surrounded by several rings. The founders chose the sorority symbol to be the caduceus, wings, and the female symbol. The sorority song and oath were adopted on June 10, 1994. The constitution was affirmed May 30, 1994.[1]
While participating in service projects such as the Bay to Breakers and various symposia such as "Life During and After Medical School," the women of Kappa Gamma Delta developed their motto, "Service to Humanity".
Kappa Gamma Delta's Sorority Song was written by Jennifer Skinkle and Charlene Tran:
Kappa Gamma Delta,
Sisterhood Forever.
Educating our Future,
Trusting each other
To make our dreams come true.
Service to Humanity,
We learn responsibility.
With inspiration from our sisters
Doctors we will be.
