Mu Sigma Phi (medical fraternity)

For other uses of "Mu Sigma Phi", see Mu Sigma Phi (disambiguation).
Mu Sigma Phi
MΣΦ
Founded October 3, 1933 (1933-10-03)
University of the Philippines
Type Medical
Motto All for the Glory
Colors

     Green      Red      Yellow      Black

     Gold
Publication

The MΣΦ Medics Newsette (1951; adapted by the UP College of Medicine as "The UP Medics Newsette" since November 1951)

The Amici (1952 - present)
Headquarters Manila
Philippines
Homepage www.musigmaphi.com

The Mu Sigma Phi, or MΣΦ is the first fraternity in the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. It is also the first medical fraternity in the Asian region.

The fraternity was first mentioned in the Philippine Collegian in its November 24, 1933 article as the "first and only medical students' fraternity."

The Mu Sigma Phi does not confer honorary memberships.


History

The first fraternity in the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. Dr. Fernando Calderon, the first Filipino Dean of the UP College of Medicine and the first Filipino Director of the Philippine General Hospital, became the fraternity's first Faculty Adviser.

The Service Arm of the Fraternity

Being a fraternity of medical students, the Mu Sigma Phi has developed a tradition of service. Less than two years after its inception, Mu put together a fund for typhoon victims in the island province of Leyte. This unprecedented act was commended by then Governor-General Frank Murphy (the Philippines was under American rule until 1946). In the succeeding decades, the Fraternity put up projects for the College and its training hospital, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). These projects, notably the Mu Blood Bank and the Mu Eye Bank, were turned over to the College. To facilitate access of indigent patients of the PGH to free medicines, Mu put up a 'Charity Medical Bag' in 1956.

In line with the College's emphasis on community medicine, Mu has adopted several communities since the 1970s. Mu contributes medical and educational assistance to these areas through medical missions, public health seminars, and the training of local health workers.

Several organizations, including the Philippine government, have recognized the efforts of Mu Sigma Phi in socio-civic work. In 1997, the Presidential Commission for Urban Poor cited the Fraternity as its "Most Active NGO Partner[1] in Luzon", an award conferred by then President Fidel V. Ramos. The Committee of Health of the Philippine Senate, for its part, declared Mu to be the "Best Community Oriented Student Organization" in 2002. Recently, the Mu Sigma Phi was named as the 2007 Most Outstanding Student Organization in the University of the Philippines-Manila after also being bestowed the same honor the previous year.

Today, service activities of the Fraternity include medical missions, blood-letting drives, benefit concerts, and working trips to its adopted communities. These are usually held on Saturday and Sundays as the undergraduate brods have classes from Monday to Friday. Major medical missions are occasionally held during summer and semestral breaks.

The Mu Sigma Phi Foundation

In 2004, alumni of the Mu Sigma Phi and its counterpart sorority formed the Mu Sigma Phi Foundation, a nonprofit organization which aims to support the projects of the UP College of Medicine. Its most recent project was the renovation of the Anatomy laboratory for the benefit of first-year medical students. This undertaking was completed on July 2006.

In December 2008, Mu Sigma Phi celebrated its diamond jubilee. Its website lists over 1,600 brothers from all over the world.

Awards

References

  1. ↑ Hernando, Merlina R. (2004-04-03). "Unplugging the sounds of silence". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
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