About AED

Alpha Epsilon Delta (ΑΕΔ) is a U.S. health preprofessional honor society. The organization currently has more than 144,000 members within 186 chapters at universities throughout the United States, making it the world’s largest Honor Society serving all students from different backgrounds in the pursuit of a career in the healthcare.

The College of Charleston AED Delta chapter aims to promote cooperation and contacts between pre-medical students, medical personnel, and educators in developing an adequate program of pre-medical education. CofC’s AED is an affiliate of the American Association of the Advancement of Science and a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.

History of AED

The birth of AED occurred in the spring of 1926 when Dr. Sidney A. Mitchell discussed his idea of forming an honorary fraternity at the University of Alabama with fellow premedical students and Dr. Jack Montgomery, professor of organic chemistry and premedical advisor. Minutes of the first formal meeting appeared under the date of April 28th, 1926 and state: ” A meeting of about 15 premedical students was held in the lecture room of Toumey Hall for the purpose of further organizing the AED honorary premedical fraternity which has been under way for some time. The proposed constitution which had been drawn up by Mr. Mitchell was read, discussed and referred to a committee which included Mr. Mitchell with instructions to make any necessary alternations and draw up a ritual and by-laws for the fraternity. The 1926-27 school year was devoted to completing the organization of the new fraternity and developing a program of activities. The first initiation of new members was held on March 4th, 1927 following the election of eight students who had completed at least three semesters of premedical work and whose grades placed them in the upper fifth of their class and one faculty member.

The University of South Carolina became the first organization from another school to petition for a chapter and a charter and membership certificates were sent to the club which arranged a program and banquet on May 20th, 1928 and became the South Carolina Alpha Chapter. Expansion continued at that time with Alabama Beta at Samford University in Birmingham, Texas Alpha at the University of Texas on January 20th, 1929 and Texas Beta at Baylor University on April 11th, 1929. Today, there are now over 186 chapters all over the US.

*An interesting note in the history was that the original constitution as drawn up by the founders had limited membership to male students; however, in February 1929 an amendment was adopted which admitted women to membership and two women were initiated on February 15th, 1929.

For more information about AED, visit the national website: https://aednational.com/