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The Chairman's Message
From Past to Future => Winter 2006/2007
My columns for 2006 addressed the topics of communication, citizenship, and collegiality. For the year of 2007, I have decided to review some of the early history of our organizations and their founding physicians. The Florida Obstetric and Gynecologic Society actually predated the founding of our American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists by three years: 1948 for FOGS versus 1951 for ACOG. My first reflections will be about FOGS. Somewhere along the way I ended up with the original minutes of this organization during its first 10 years of existence. The notebook is small but very intriguing and informative. I hope to highlight some of the early members in later columns but thought you might find the following anecdotes interesting.
The first meeting on April 1, 1948, was held at the Ponce de Leon Hotel in Saint Augustine and attended by 24 physicians. The elected president, Dr. Charles Collins (more about him in a later column) was charged with contacting the Florida Medical Association to recruit new members from other physicians "interested" in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Remember, at this time ACOG and ABOG were nascent. The dues were set at $1 per year. An additional 34 physicians joined the group with two big spenders paying dues for two ($2) and five ($5) years respectively. The biggest early expense was for stationary ($13.75) and postage ($2.25). Dr Dorothy Brame was the secretary/treasurer responsible for these carefully kept early records. Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami were the communities with the largest memberships comprising about half of the organization. The president was also the chairman of the Scientific Work Committee of the FMA and solicited papers from the new organization's membership for the FMA's annual meeting. Education has been the premier goal of FOGS since its beginning.
The Executive Committee donated $50 in April of 1949 to the International American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology and joined the National Federation of Obstetric and Gynecologic Societies. I hope to learn how these grew into ACOG for another story. This second meeting also saw the first interaction with elected officials and letters on policy being sent to the President of the United States as well as all elected Senators and Representatives, the Governor and all elected members of Florida's legislative branch. Representatives were also appointed to the Committee on the Fetus and New Born. Support was also given to standards for hospital care to both premature and full term newborn infants as recommended by the America Academy of Pediatrics.
Even as an embryonic organization we find our young society to be a collegial group of men and women interested in education, improvement of women's health care, supportive of like-minded organizations, and willing to work to influence government to aid in their goals. I wish Drs. Collins and Brame could be with us at our next meeting as I believe they would be very proud of our efforts to continue their founding principles.
When you have the opportunity, check with your alma mater and make sure they are aware that ACOG membership is free to medical students. The online site for application is www.acog.org. Recruitment of the best and brightest remains a priority for our College.
The FL Section is pleased and honored to announce that Shelly Holstrom, MD, a member of our section advisory council has been selected as the next District IV junior fellow advisor. Dr. Holstrom was a very active Junior Fellow and we are confident she will serve the District well in her new position.
Remember: The Annual Clinical Meeting (ACM) for ACOG is scheduled fro May 5 to 9 in San Diego, California.
The Annual Section Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Florida Obstetric and Gynecologic Society August 24 through 26 on the beautiful and scenic west coast at the Naples Grand.