On April 28, 1926, fifteen premedical students at the University of Alabama met with Dr. Jack P. Montgomery, Chairman of the Premedical Committee and Professor of Organic Chemistry, to formalize the organization of a new premedical honorary fraternity. A second chapter was installed at Howard College, now Samford University, in 1929. At the first national convention held at the University of Alabama on April 18, 1930, ten members representing five chapters and one petitioning group were in attendance. From these modest beginnings, Alpha Epsilon Delta has become the world's largest body devoted to premedical education, with a membership exceeding 108, 000 in 168 chapters of which about 7,000 are in active chapters and about 8,500 are in professional school. Originally the Society was an unincorporated association, but in 1949 it was incorporated in the state of Michigan. In February, 1962, the Society was reincorporated in the District of Columbia as a non-profit, educational organization.

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The Texas Zeta Chapter of AED has its roots in the TCU Premed/Predent Honor Society which was formed in 1975 with Dr. Manfred Reinecke as its faculty advisor. The society expanded to the point that, in 1978, a committee was formed to petition for affiliation with the national organization AED. AED approved the petition, and on April 20, 1979, the Texas Zeta Chapter of AED was established at TCU with the initiation of 31 active members, three active alumni, and five honorary members. Dr. Reinecke served as the faculty advisor until 1991 and was succeeded by Dr. Phil Hartman. Dr. Reinecke and Dr. Hartman have also served as chairs of TCU's Health Professions Advisory Committee. It may be of interest to know that there has been tremendous stability to TCU's PreHealth Professions Program. This is evidenced by the long tenure of each head of the program, noted as follows:

• Will Winton  1918-1950
• Willis G. Hewatt  1950-1972
• Manfred Reinecke  1972-1991
• Phil Hartman  1991-present

The objectives of AED are to:
* Encourage and recognize excellence in prehealth scholarship;
* Stimulate an appreciation for prehealth education;
* Promote cooperation and contacts between health professions students and premedical students and
educators in developing an adequate program of prehealth education;
* Bind together similarly interested students; and to use its knowledge for the benefit of health organizations, charities, and the community.

Alpha Epsilon Delta is an affiliated society of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.