Albemarle County Medical Society records

The Seal of the Albemarle County Medical Society (ACMS) indicates that it was organized in 1914, but Dr. Armistead Page Booker who wrote an unfinished draft of the history of the society postulated that it may have existed as early as 1851. He quotes Dr. Wyndham Blanton in "Medicine in Virginia in the Nineteenth Century" as noting, "in January 1851, the 'Stethoscope,' a medical journal of that time, reported that there was a local society in Charlottesville." Booker's draft continues to trace the early days and states, "in the first published list of the component [local] societies, in the 22 January 1915 issue of the 'Virginia Medical Semi-Monthly,' there is the 'Doctors' Club' with Dr. J. Carroll Flippin as President and Dr. Halstead S. Hedges as Secretary. In October 1915, in the 'Transactions,' there is a listing of the component state societies, by congressional districts, as well as the names and places of residence of all of the members. The only local society included, the 'Albemarle County Society,' had 38 members." By 1925 membership had grown to 79 active members. In 1950 there were 131 and by 1982 the number reached 475. Booker points out that many members distinguished themselves over the years as teachers, practitioners, original thinkers in clinical and basic research, and leaders in organized medicine.

The Society has served as an arena for scientific talks and socializing as well as a forum for legislative information and action and community service. The Society was the driving force behind the mass oral polio virus vaccinations that were given in the Charlottesville area in the early 1960s. The Society weighed in on fluoridation of the Charlottesville water supply, health care of the elderly, medical malpractice, driving under the influence, and seat belts, and has lobbied state and national representatives concerning medically related legislation. That lobbying has resulted in letters from Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, Harry F. Byrd, Thomas J. Michie, Virginius Dabney, and Huburt H. Humphrey among others.

The "Albemarle Medical News" has been published by the ACMS since Spring 1992. Originally a quarterly, it is now published twice a year. It includes medical articles of interest, legislative updates, memoriams for members, and medical students news. Its inaugural issue states that there are nearly 500 physicians (almost evenly divided between University physicians and physicians in private practice) who are members of the ACMS and that it is a component of the Medical Society of Virginia. The "Message from the President" goes on to say, "Our business is communication. Our monthly meeting is almost like the old town meeting where everyone gets brought up to date on the latest developments in medicine and then gets a chance to give feedback. We discuss local medical problems and help find solutions to them. At each meeting we have a scientific presentation of broad clinical interest. After the business and the scientific portions of the meeting we have a reception and dinner together."

Over the years the Society has financially supported various entities including the American Medical Education Fund, the Medical Student Scholarship Fund, the local rescue squads, the Bessie Dunn Miller Cancer Center, and the Virginia Council on Health and Medical Care.