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years later, in June, 1831, the Oakland County Medical Society was organized as the second county medical society in the Territory. They were followed by Wayne County in 1849. The parent, Michigan State Medical Society, was organized in 1866.
The development of state medical societies in time led to the development of state licensing and professional oversight. Over time, some of the initial regulatory roles of county and state societies have been assumed by state medical boards, the Joint Commission, the Federation of State Medical Boards, and boards of medical specialties. The roles played by local, state, and national ‘organized medicine’ have accordingly been reduced. The leadership and operational structure of the organizations, however, while they have been modified to some extent by allowing representation by various specialty societies, have not changed: delegates from local societies meet annually to debate and pass resolutions that determine policies to guide the decisions and directions taken by society leadership, which is chosen from among members of local societies, apportioned geographically. The MSMS Board was restructured last year to add a small number of at-large representatives from other constituencies, but in general the chief official means of communication up through the ranks has not changed.
County medical societies had other important roles. They were gathering places, which facilitated collegiality, friendships, and communication among the physician community at social and educational gatherings. In the modern electronic communication era, of course, there are a variety of ways to learn about and communicate with colleagues, and one can communicate directly with state and national entities as easily as with local ones.
What roles then do local and state societies play – or attempt to play -- today? To find out, one need only go to their respective web sites. Top billing at the MSMS web site displays what it has to offer: membership, advocacy, resources, insurance, events, and education.
The membership link brings up a historical video that informs viewers that MSMS was formed by 100 physicians 150 years ago, in 1866, and was instrumental in forming the state board of health 7 years later. Also on this site is making application for membership, which used to be managed locally. This new arrangement creates an awkward roadblock for local recruiting efforts since local societies can no longer enroll members, they can only refer them to the MSMS membership website.
Advocacy calls attention to MSMS positions on pending legislation, but without supporting detail about the bills themselves or links to those bills. (To be fair, it is not all that hard to find them on the state government
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Volume 73 • Number 3 Washtenaw County Medical Society BULLETIN 9