Campaign Update

Phi Rho Sigma Medical Society Receives New Charter at Creighton

In its heyday, Creighton’s all-male Phi Rho Sigma Medical Society, ETA chapter, was known for its full academic as well as social calendars.

The fraternity’s house at 4016 Davenport St. served as the physical home each year to medical students hailing from California, New York and elsewhere. On weekdays, members studied. Breakfast and dinner were served Monday through Friday with a big dinner on Sunday.

“But the memories, those were made on the weekends,” said Omaha anesthesiologist Pat Adley, MD’64. “We were pretty well known around the city for our active social scene on Fridays and Saturdays. On Saturday nights, we always had live music.”

The chapter was founded in 1900, and Adley said the “glory days” were probably the mid-1950s — after the Korean War — to around 1970.

But then, the music stopped. The ETA chapter disbanded and, in 1982, the house with so many memories was sold for $30,229 by the Phi Rho Sigma Alumni Association.

Fast forward to 2005 when Omaha ophthalmologist Carol Drake, M.D., (wife of Robert Troia, MD’79) and faculty adviser for the Phi Rho Sigma chapter at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, received a call from Wells Fargo bank. There was a dormant account, held in the fraternity’s name, that was about to be turned over to Nebraska’s state treasurer.

Drake did some sleuthing and discovered the account, which contained $95,153, represented proceeds from the sale of the Davenport Street house plus interest. She began contacting ETA chapter alumni, including Adley, to determine how they wanted to proceed.

Fast forward again to June 2007. The ETA chapter rises from the ashes and receives a new charter. There are differences now. The new chapter includes men and women — about 25 medical students to date — and there is no house. But the house remains an important piece of this chapter’s past and future. Money from the long-dormant account will be used to support the chapter’s service and educational activities.

Former Creighton Phi Rho members interested in serving on a newly formed alumni board, should contact Carol Drake at (402) 393-6936 or cdrake6936@msn.com.