It was founded on 2 March 1882 by five medical students at the University of Michigan, who identified as their immediate object "to further the best interests of our profession.

"[1] Later, its purpose was more fully stated as, "To promote scholarship, the development of better teaching, and generally in raising medical education to a higher level."

"[1] Later, its purpose was more fully stated as, "To promote scholarship, the development of better teaching, and generally in raising medical education to a higher level."

Soon afterward, two professors were added to the membership rolls: Donald McLean and George E. Frothingham.

With these, and a fixed attention on professional achievement in its defined area of study, the fraternity had a relatively short period before contemplating a national expansion.

As early as 1901, the Alpha chapter had accumulated enough capital to seek real estate investment, and it purchased a suitable lot in Ann Arbor on Huron Street, near the medical school at that time.

[1] Historical records show Epsilon chapter at the University of Minnesota similarly sought to build early in its history, choosing a site at 429 Union Street, in Minneapolis, just two blocks from the medical school.

[citation needed]The national fraternity was dissolved in 1973, due to changing student interest and organizational turmoil.

"[1]: 382  Several songs are recorded in the 1903 history, pairing them with then-popular tunes to which the new words were written to fit.