Curt Baum ‘76
Dr. Curt Baum’s journey to medicine started with a duffel bag, a two-man room on the second floor of 1045 Emery Road, and an unexpected series of events that led him to sign a pledge card in the summer of 1975. What followed was more than just a strong start to college—it was the beginning of a lifelong commitment to excellence, service, and brotherhood.
Curt was initiated into the Gamma-Omicron Chapter in 1976 and quickly stood out as a leader. He served as Grand Procurator during his junior year and was the honor initiate of his pledge class—a signal even then of the character and drive he would bring to everything that followed.
After graduating with a B.S. from the University of Kansas in 1979, Curt earned his M.D. from the KU School of Medicine in 1983. He completed both his residency in internal medicine and his fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, finishing in 1988. Since then, he has spent his entire career practicing gastroenterology in Topeka, Kansas—serving countless patients and leading within his medical group, including a long tenure as medical director of the Division of Gastroenterology.
Curt is a member of the Kansas Medical Society, Shawnee County Medical Society, and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Beyond the clinical setting, he has served as President of the University of Kansas Medical Alumni Association and remains deeply involved in the KU medical community.
His dedication to Kappa Sigma didn’t end with graduation. Curt served on the Gamma-Omicron Corporation Board for 15 years, helping to guide the chapter through periods of growth and transition. His sense of duty to the house mirrors the values he’s upheld throughout his career: leadership, accountability, and paying it forward.
For Curt, the influence of Gamma-Omicron goes far beyond titles or recognition. The academic foundation and peer mentorship he received during those early semesters—particularly from fellow pre-meds like Ken Mohler, Randy Brown, and pledge trainer Kurt Duffens—set him on a course toward a rewarding and impactful life in medicine. He credits the chapter not just for friendships, but for shaping the trajectory of his career and the values he’s carried with him every step of the way.
Today, Curt continues to live out the principles of Kappa Sigma with humility and purpose. He and his wife Paula are proud parents of three children—Jennifer, Randy, and Valerie—and grandparents to six. His legacy is one of service: to his patients, his profession, and his fraternity.