College of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons - Cortex Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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Organization of osteopathic physicians in Cahfornia hkewise hod an early inception, when in 1899, the Osteopathic Association of the State of California was formed. Feeling the need of unity in order to obtain legislation giving the Osteopath legal rights to practice in the state, this was made the primary object of the organiza- tion. In 1913, the constitution of the State Organization was revised changing the name to California Osteopathic Association. This body has furthered the work of attaining the original aims of the organization, until today California has the greatest number of osteopathic physicians of any State, practicing under the most liberal conditions offered them by any State. Foundation of the Los Angeles County Osteopathic Society was effected in 1901. This organization has done much to better the conditions in the field of osteopathy locally, and has done much to support the Los Angeles College of Oste- opathic Physicians and Surgeons. Sigma Sigma Phi, the National hionorary Osteopathic Fraternity, was estab- lished at the Kirksville College in 1921. In the Osteopathic colleges at Des Moines, Kansas City and Los Angeles, chapters of Sigma Sigma Phi duly succeeded the original chapter at Kirksville. The Gamma Chapter was established in this College in 1931. Since its inception, this chapter has, by its activities, become an integral unit of the notional organization. The objectives of the Fraternity are clarified by consideration of the manner in which new members are elected. These candidates are male students, chosen principally from the sophomore class, who have attained a scholastic average of 1.5 or better and whose activities and appearance are such as to indicate that they would be willing to cooperate with their fellows in helping to advance the projects designed to better the standing of Osteopathy. The meetings have been held chiefly in the form of dinners, the business being discussed at conclusion of the meals. The first project to be undertaken was one dealing with the preparation for State Boards. Members of the Senior class met under the auspices of Sigma Sigma Phi and reviewed and answered former State Board questionnaires. A plan to induce each graduating senior to become a member Page Sixty-iix

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ORGANIZATIONS RGANIZATION is the keynote to success — a fact well bourne out by the famous statement — In unity there is strength. Realizing the benefits to be gained by organization — a group of men and women who had the furtherance of Osteopathy as their goal — met on April 19, 1897 and evolved the American Association for the Advancement of Osteopathy. The original group was composed largely of students of the American School of Osteopathy. The membership was soon restricted to graduates, however, and after three years, the organization became widely affiliated with the Associated Colleges of Osteopathy. At the fifth annual meeting — in 1902 — the present name — The American Osteopathic Association was adopted. In carrying out the advancement of Oste- opathy, the organization began by launching a monthly osteopathic periodical — The Journal — the first copy of which appeared September, 1901. In the years that followed, the American Osteopathic Association has furthered its efforts to accomplish its original purposes. The Association now includes in its membership a goodly percentage of the osteopathic physicians of the world. It seeks an adequate standard of osteopathic education, a high plane of professional conduct, justice in legislative halls and the courts, recognition of the truths of osteopathy in the v orld of science and an understanding of the benefits of osteopathy on the part of humanity in general. I ' JXI- ' 5 7)- M

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of the State and Notional Associations was formulated with the result that Seniors became more thoroughly aroused with the necessity of establishing these affiliations. The first national osteopathic fraternity to be organized was the Atlas Club, evolved at a meeting held in the American School of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri, on December 10, 1898. The name was adopted by its founders from the first cervical vertebra and the pin symbolizes this bone. In 1916, the two chapters of the Calumet Club at Los Angeles and Des Moines were added to the roster of chapters of Atlas Club. At present there are six chapters at Kirksville, Chicago, Des Moines, Los Angeles, Kansas City and Philadelphia. Activities of the Cricoid Chapter for the past academic year have been varied and both instructive and enjoyable. Regular bimonthly meetings were held through- out the year at the penthouse atop the Richfield Building, at which interesting and instructive talks were given by various professional men in the field. Social activities included the fall get-acquainted party at Monte Nido, given by Drs. DeMuth and Collinge. Two dances were held, one at the ancestral home of brother Longyear in Altadeno, the other at the Glen Arden Club in Glendale, at which six new men were pledged to the Club. On February 17th, E. P. Von Gehren, Irwin h arner and hi. A. Stockdale were initiated. Social activities were culminated for the academic year by a most enjoyable sport dance given at the Casa de Rosa Inn. The evening was a fitting close to a season to be long remembered by all Atlas members. The idea a Greek Letter Fraternity originated in the minds of nine progressive men of the American School of Osteopathy and on May 21, 1903 such a fraternity was founded and duly christened Iota Tau Sigma. The objective of the founders of Iota Tau Sigma was the advancement of the true art of healing — the Science of Osteopathy. The academic year of 1933-34 has been the most outstanding and successful year for Gamma Chapter since 1920. A new spirit has been built up through the Pitge Sixty-seven