Year Established: 1967

Ideals:

Eta Sigma Gamma is the national professional health education honorary. The organization is designed specifically for professionals in health education anywhere in the United States as well as other nations.

In the tradition of Greek usage, the letters Eta, Sigma, Gamma were chosen to represent the Greek equivalent of the letters H, S, C, the abbreviation for the term health science.

The ideals of Eta Sigma Gamma are symbolized in its seal. The tri-dimensional concept is embodied in the triangle surrounded by three joined circles. The triangle is divided into four equilateral triangles, each carrying a symbol. A lamp of learning is in the center triangle, surrounded by an open book representing teaching, a microscope signifying research, and an outstretched hand representing service. These three elements form the basic purposes of the organization and the profession; teaching, research and service. The unifying element of these purposes is symbolized by the lamp of learning, since it is though the learning process that each purpose is achieved.

Purposes:

The primary purpose of Eta Sigma Gamma, from its beginnings in 1967, has been to further the professional competence and dedication of individual members of the health education profession.

Goals:

The goals of the Honorary include:

• supporting the planning, implementation and evaluation of health education programs and resources;

• stimulating and disseminating scientific research;

• motivating and providing health education services;

• recognizing academic achievement;

• supporting health education advocacy initiatives;

• promoting professional standards and ethics;

• and promoting networking activities among health educators and related professionals.

Operation and Governance

National Office:

The honorary is governed by the National Board of Directors which is made up of the national president, national vice president, immediate past president, national secretary-treasurer, director of chapter development, three members-at-large (one of which is a student member) and editors of the Health Educator and the Health Education Monograph Series. Eta Sigma Gamma holds a national meeting in the fall of each year.

National Officers:

President: Dr. Ranjita Misra

Vice President: Currently vacant

Immediate Past President: Dr. Marianne Frauenknecht

Secretary/Treasurer: Dr. Jeff Clark

Director Chapter Development: Dr. Irene O’Boyle

Editor of The Health Educator: Dr. Roberta Ogletree

Editor of Health Education Monograph Series: Dr. Mohammad Torabi

Member-At-Large: Ms. Regina McCoy Pulliam

Member-At-Large: Dr. Kelly L. Wilson

Student Representative: Ms. Laura Elmore

Executive Director: Susan Koper

Chapters:

Collegiate chapters are granted to institutions of higher education that have a degree program in school or community health education and/or public health education, and meet academic and organizational support criteria described in the Eta Sigma Gamma Constitution and By-Laws. Each collegiate chapter has its own officers, collects its own local dues and decides on programs and activities which will further enhance the profession and Eta Sigma Gamma. Additionally, each chapter has a faculty sponsor who supervises, encourages, and advises members of the local collegiate chapter.

The National Chapter-At-Large is provided for those professionals for whom it is deemed impossible to be initiated through a collegiate chapter. Officers of the National Chapter-At-Large are the national officers of Eta Sigma Gamma. Since regular meetings of the National Chapter-At-Large are deemed impractical, members are encouraged to attend collegiate and national meetings whenever time and geographic location permit.

Becoming a Member:

Membership in Eta Sigma Gamma is limited to men and women who meet the national and local standards of this organization and are accepted and initiated into membership of a collegiate chapter or in the national chapter-at-large. Membership for students in Eta Sigma Gamma can only be achieved by affiliating through a collegiate chapter. Professionals active in the profession of health education and holding a degree can affiliate through the chapter-at-large. Further information on this process can be obtained by contacting the national office

Dues:

Members who have met current financial obligations of Eta Sigma Gamma are known as active members. This includes life members.

• Yearly National Student Membership Dues, $35 ($45 International)
• Yearly National Professional Membership Dues, $50 ($60 International)
• Three Year National Student Membership Dues, $95 ($105 International)
• Three Year National Professional Membership Dues, $135 ($145 International)
• Lifetime National Membership Dues, $500 ($550 International)

Benefits to Members:

Each member, upon initiation, receives a certificate of membership and the official jewelry of Eta Sigma Gamma. In addition, membership includes a subscription to The Health Educator and the Health Education Monograph Series. This affords an excellent vehicle for sharing ideas about the profession. Annual awards are presented by the national office as well as through most collegiate chapters. The national office, at the annual meeting, may present the following awards: the Honor Award; the Distinguished Service Award; Gamman of the Year; Chapter Excellence, Chapter Achievement, and Chapter Recognition Awards; and the John P. McGovern and Founder's Scholarship Awards. In addition, collegiate chapters are encouraged to apply annually for project grants to assist them financially in achieving their goals.

Some activities in which past outstanding chapters have participated are:

• Conducting education and screening clinics in cooperation with a variety of voluntary and official agencies

• Participating in fund raising activities, career days and health fairs with local community health agencies

• Sending active members to national, regional and local conferences

• Publishing articles in the Health Educator and the Health Education Monograph

• Participating as student representatives on university and community task forces and committees

• Developing and maintaining educational displays to promote health awareness, knowledge, skills and behavior

• Organizing lecture series, panel discussions, research projects and social activities

Delegate:

 

For more information, click on the link to access ESG's website or contact the National Office at the number listed at the top of the page.