Alpha Gamma Kappa ( or AGK) is the oldest and largest professional fraternal organization for students and practitioners of

podiatric medicine Podiatry ( ), also know as podiatric medicine and surgery ( ), is a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle and lower limb. The healthcare professional is known as a podiatrist. The US ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. The fraternity was founded in 1939 at the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

Mission statement

The mission of Alpha Gamma Kappa Podiatric Fraternity is ''"''to promote and perpetuate the profession of podiatric medicine through social, educational, community service, and leadership events, which foster the growth and development of podiatric medical students and physicians."

History

On January 21, 1939, eight men at Illinois College of Chiropody and Orthopedics (now Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine) in

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, founded a fraternity for "social spirit and fraternalism." It was the first podiatry collegiate fraternity. Samuel Abdoo was elected the fraternity's first president. It became a national fraternity in 1948 with the chartering of ''Beta chapter'' at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–United States border, Canada–U.S. maritime border ...

. The two chapters would occasionally correspond with one another, but for the most part remained separate entities with their traditions, except for the "Ritual of Initiation," which is still in use, written by the ''Alpha chapter'' in 1939. In the fall of 1961, the ''Gamma chapter'' was chartered at the California School of Podiatric Medicine in

San Francisco, California San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

. In 2007, a transfer student from Scholl College to the Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine in

Miami, Florida Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

sought to create a fraternity there. The ''Delta chapter'' was established on October 2, 2007. This was followed by the ''Epsilon chapter'' at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in 2008 and the ''Zeta chapter'' at

Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Des Moines University (DMU) is a Private university, private Medical school in the United States, medical school in West Des Moines, Iowa. Founded in 1898, Des Moines University is the second oldest osteopathic medical school and the fifteenth l ...

in 2009.

Symbols and traditions

The fraternity's colors are cardinal and gold and its jewel is the white pearl. The white rose is the official flower of the fraternity. Its color represents purity and truth, while its beauty and fragrance symbolize the affection and friendship of the brothers. Annually, chapters hold a spring White Rose Ball. Its badge is diamond-shaped, trimmed in gold with the Greek letters appearing in gold and surmounting a skull and crossbones in gold on a background on black onyx. On the back of the badge is the motto ' or "Zeal for the Foot." The pledge pin is a triangle of cardinal with the winged foot of Mercury in the center.

Asclepius Asclepius (; ''Asklēpiós'' ; ) is a hero and god of medicine in ancient Religion in ancient Greece, Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology. He is the son of Apollo and Coronis (lover of Apollo), Coronis, or Arsinoe (Greek myth), Ars ...

, the Greek demigod of medicine and healing holds a special place in Alpha Gamma Kappa tradition and symbolism. The pledge manual of the fraternity is named ''The Asklepian. ''Each year on or near November 7, chapters hold a celebration known as Asclepius Day with a festive party or event. The Roman god Mercury is the Patron of Alpha Gamma Kappa''.'' His winged sandal is a prominent symbol, displayed on the fraternity's coat-of-arms and the pledge pin. The fraternity flag is rectangular and divided into three equal sections. The first and third sections are cardinal, with the middle section being white. In the middle section is the coat of arms of the fraternity. The flag is used only during ritualistic ceremonies and on special occasions.

Governance

Since 1939, the fraternity has functioned as a

confederation A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

with chapters being loosely affiliated with one another. There have been no national officers or conventions. Individual chapters are subordinate to the respective podiatric medical student association at their college or school.

Activities

In the 1960s, the ''Beta chapter'' started and maintained a free clinic completely run by students to provide podiatric medical care to the less fortunate in

Cleveland Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...

. In 2013, the ''Alpha chapter'' saw a resurgence in social and fundraising activities, raising thousands of dollars to provide care for uninsured patients through Rosalind Franklin University's new Interprofessional Community Clinic. The fraternity's highest and most prestigious award is the "''Pedis Studium'' Award" which is presented by chapters to podiatric physicians who are members of the fraternity and have, in their practice of podiatric medicine, exemplified the principles of Alpha Gamma Kappa through service, education, and leadership.

Chapters

References

{{Authority control Student organizations established in 1939 Professional medical fraternities and sororities in the United States Medical and health organizations based in California Education in Lake County, Illinois Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science 1939 establishments in Illinois