Delta Epsilon Mu

Delta Epsilon Mu, Incorporated (ΔΕΜ) is a co-ed fraternity in the United States for students and professionals in clinical or applied practice with interests or focus in pre-health or health-related fields.

It has active chapters in New York, California, Maryland, Florida, Virginia, Washington DC, Kansas, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Rhode Island, Washington, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

History
In the fall of 1995, Binghamton University students Marianna Strakhan, Teri Broklawski, Debbie Amste, and Ellen Hoffman began planning of a pre-health fraternity to unite students interested in entering various pre-health professions on the campus. Broklawski recruited Sherine Banton, Wendy Cooper, Wendy Goldstein, and Keri Weintraub to help solidify the foundations of the fraternity. These eight students presented the Student Association of Binghamton University (SABU) with 100 student signatures in support of the formal establishment. In January 1996, the SABU formally recognized the fraternity as a student organization.

In February 1996, the fraternity hosted its first formal recruitment event, selecting 36 students of various pre-health interests to become the founding members of Delta Epsilon Mu. National Founders' Day is recognized on May 3, 1996, in commemoration of the date the first ratification documents for the fraternity were signed.

Though the founders had no expectations of the future growth of the organization, word of the fraternity's establishment met the ears of students at the University of California, Davis, which eventually formed the Beta chapter in 2003. From 2003 to 2009, active charters were issued to the University of Maryland at College Park, the University of Central Florida, the Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of California, Merced.

In 2010, the chapter presidents met to draft the first plans for the integration of the chapter-based efforts and potential formalization of national leadership. Through these discussions, the first National Board of Directors was informally established. In 2012, the addition of chapters at the George Washington University and University of Kansas warranted the need for a more formal national leadership model. Over multiple meetings, the representatives of each chapter came together to formally draft the first national bylaws, thus establishing the first national leadership model for the organization at-large.

The fraternity's first national convention was held at the University of Maryland at College Park in 2013, where the first national bylaws were ratified. The first recognized national executive committee, headed by newly-elected national president John "Jake" Koster and national vice president Bradley Dmuchowski, brought on a new vision for continued growth and establishment of infrastructure. In 2015, the national fraternity was recognized as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation by the IRS.

Delta Epsilon Mu is a member of the Professional Fraternity Association.

Symbols
The fraternity's founding principals or pillars are Loyalty, Dedication, Friendship, Support. Its slogan is "Helping People, Together". Its colors are crimson, white, and black.

Activities
The members of Delta Epsilon Mu serve the community by advocating health education and care, and through active participation in service activities, fundraising, and outreach programs. Members are allowed to directly participate in health-oriented workshops and discussions, thereby attaining access to pertinent academic and career information through association with professors, advisors, career professionals, alumni members, and fellow active members.

Governance
Delta Epsilon Mu maintains a National Executive Committee, with a national president and eight vice presidents, and nineteen directors. It also has a National Membership Council that meets monthly and holds a national convention annually.

Chapters
Delta Epsilon Mu has active chapters or charters at 43 four-year collegiate institutions and inactive charters at 7 four-year collegiate institutions. It divides its chapters into four regions and ten districts in the United States