PULSE 9/20/2024: MSSNY Presents the Alliance with the Medical Society of the State of New York (AMSSNY) with Certificates of Appreciation

On July 24, 2024, the Alliance with the Medical Society of the State of New York (AMSSNY) Board of Directors voted to dissolve the organization due to diminished membership.

At the September 19, 2024 MSSNY Council meeting, MSSNY President Dr. Jerome Cohen presented Certificates of Appreciation to AMSSNY co-presidents Joan Cincotta, Barbara Ellman, and Helena Mirza in recognition of their contributions to the organization over many years.

Below is a history of the organization written by Joan Cincotta, Barbara Ellman, and Helena Mirza.

A History of the Alliance of the Medical Society of the State of New York

The State Alliance was founded in 1936 as the Woman’s Auxiliary (to the Medical Society of the State of New York).  It was founded the same year as the AMA Auxiliary.  It was perceived as a social and fraternal supplement to the Medical Society, but it did not take long for it to prove its worth in initiating and supporting community health projects, raising funds for medical education, influencing health care legislation and helping physicians provide the best medical care as they cared for the people of New York State.

In 1936, six counties—Albany, Queens (formed in 1933), Kings, Cayuga, Nassau and Onondaga—sent twenty delegates to the first annual meeting, which was held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.  The following year, at the second annual meeting in Rochester, NY, eight more counties had been added to the roster—Suffolk, Saratoga, Madison, Orange, Schenectady, Rockland, Renssalaer and Columbia—bringing their membership to 900.

In 1938, Oswego County was added.  The state launched its first “letter writing” campaign urging members to write to their Assemblymen to protest the passage of a current bill.

In 1939, AMSSNY won the AMA Auxiliary membership trophy for having the greatest membership increase in the nation.  In 1940, Auxilians had local community special education programs and sent letters to Congress voicing their great concern about “socialized medicine”.

MSSNY made the decision to exempt physicians serving in the military and their spouses from paying dues during the war years.  And Auxilians took part in wartime priority projects such as the USO, the Red Cross, Defense Centers, War Relief and the Motor Corps.  They prepared bandages in their local areas.  No annual meetings were held during these years.

Post-war, a meeting was held in NYC.  Community health-related projects were re-started and emphasis was placed on increasing membership.  The official publication of the Auxiliary—Distaff—underwritten by MSSNY (until 1958), was mailed to members.  By 1948, membership reached 3,300.

In 1950, the Auxiliary participated in the New York State Fair for the first time and distributed health information to attendees.  Socialized medicine became an area of educational programs for physician spouses and the community.  Contributions to the AMA Education and Research Foundation were established as a statewide project.  By the mid-60s, over $17,000 was raised for AMA-ERF.  The classification of Member-at-Large was established.

By 1955, state membership increased to over 4,600 members due in part to increased legislative awareness.  The awarding of nursing scholarships totaled more than $10,000 and, within the next two years, it exceeded the $100,000 mark.

By the 1960s, the Auxiliary was encouraged to support AMPAC.  An international Health Activities Chairmanship was established, and shipments of drugs, medical books and monetary contributions were sent to underdeveloped countries.  Emphasis was placed on educating members and the public on the ever-increasing legislation of health care.  Auxiliaries supported local programs such as Meals on Wheels, as well as their local hospitals. 

During the late 60s, the Auxiliary undertook the task of educating an uninformed public re: the effects of Medicare.  Membership increased to 4,800 members and Auxilians continued to raise funds for AMA-ERF and for Project Hope.  Many counties had programs on smoking, drug abuse, crime prevention and a resolution to support the curtailment of violence on TV and in movies was passed.

In the early 70s, the Auxiliary restated its purpose with future emphasis to be placed on educational and charitable purposes.  New York County was organized and soon had the largest number of members in the state.  $71,000 was given to AMA-ERF.  Physicians’ Home received over $5,000 and scholarship and loans for health careers amounted to over $41,000.  In addition, 20,000 pounds of materials were sent to underdeveloped countries.

The county Auxiliaries were directed to make the public aware of the growing crisis in malpractice and liability insurance. And, after forty years as the Woman’s Auxiliary, the name was officially changed to the Auxiliary to the Medical Society of the State of New York.  The word “wives” was changed to “spouses” and male spouses (of female physicians) were encouraged to join.  AMSSNY became more involved in the political arena as organized medicine became a reality and more attention was given to health-related public issues.

Closing out the 70s, Chemung County joined the Auxiliary and was recognized by the AMAA.  AMSSNY would eventually have 27 counties across the state.  The New York Medical PAC was formed, and the Auxiliary was invited to join.  The Auxiliary undertook the publication and distribution of health-related pamphlets re: Child Abuse; Immunization; Adverse Drug Reactions.  They also educated people on Health Legislation.  “Shape Up For Life” with focus on pre-and-post natal care became a nationwide campaign stressing physical fitness, nutrition, stress management and immunization.  Up to this time, over $350,000 had been contributed to AMA-ERF and over $72,000 had been contributed to Physicians’ Home. 

As the 80s began, the Auxiliary embarked on an educational program to address the medical liability crisis and its effect on public health.  A physician stamp, designed to enhance the doctor’s image and reinforce “Your Doctor Cares” became a statewide effort.  Auxiliaries began to work in coalition with other agencies.  Mrs. Torrence Payne became president of the AMAA.  State and county Auxiliaries were called upon to develop programs pertaining to Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Drunk Driving and Crime Prevention.  A pamphlet was printed and distributed and received recognition from the Governor’s office.

In the early 90s, a nationwide campaign Against Family Violence began.  A series of children’s conflict resolution activity books was developed including Hands Are Not For Hitting, I Can Handle Bullies, I Can Choose, I Can Be Safe, Be A Winner/Shape Up For Life and I Can Be…  Millions of copies of these books were distributed by county Auxiliaries across the country.  Hands Are Not For Hitting placemats were also printed and distributed.

In 1994, the State Auxiliary voted to change its name to the Alliance with the Medical Society of the State of New York — AMSSNY.  This year was also the start of a nationwide initiative called SAVE — Stop America’s Violence Everywhere.  In 1995, the second Wednesday in October — Domestic Violence Awareness Month — was designated as the start of SAVE Today.  The following year, Save-A-Shelter was started with county Alliances teaming up with their medical societies to adopt shelters, rape crisis centers and transitional homes.  SAVE puzzles were distributed to various counties.  With the onset of school shootings, The SAVE Schools From Violence campaign began.  Members of AMSSNY appeared on NBC’s Today Show to talk about their anti-violence campaign.  The Alliance even got a “thanks” from President Clinton for its work.

After the attacks on September 11, 2001, the AMAA donated 10% of its proceeds from SAVE materials to the relief effort and donated more than $7,000 to the people who suffered from the disasters.  SAVE continued to focus on bullying and created guidelines for “bully-free” schools along with a bookmark “Talk to Your Kids About Bullying”.  2004 marked the 10th anniversary of SAVE and Alliances celebrated by launching canned food drives, holding essay contests for children on the importance of preventing violence and by giving out SAVE bookmarks on Halloween.

In 2006, the Alliance was given a $500,000 grant from the American Legacy Foundation in support of its Screen Out! program whose focus is on an “R” rating for all movies that depict smoking.  Another program counties embraced was the “Think, Don’t Drink!” campaign which concentrated its effort on the prom season when many young people die in automobile accidents where alcohol is often a contributing factor.  Here, florists were asked to enclose a business card with the “Think, Don’t Drink!” message in each boxed corsage purchase. 

In addition to all of this, throughout the years counties raised funds for local agencies and organizations, held Holiday Luncheons, membership dinners, mailed creative Holiday Cards and celebrated Doctor’s Day on an annual basis.  Many counties brought awareness to the AIDS epidemic by holding informational meetings and distributing written documentation to the public during the years of the AIDS crisis.  And, in 1995, several counties across the state held fundraisers for the victims of the Oklahoma bombing.  Proceeds went to Governor Keating’s Victim and Family Relief Fund which assisted the needs of the children who lost their parents in the tragedy.  Governor Keating sent a personal message to AMSSNY in thanks.

Over the years, the Alliance has always been primarily devoted to our physician spouses and their concerns and issues.  We donated $32,500 to MSSNYPAC during the period 2018-2024.  The Physicians Home received $15,478 from the Alliance during the period 2006-2023.  In addition, donations to the Physicians Home from Alliances in Broome, Jefferson, and Orange Counties have totaled $1,900.  The Alliance has contributed to the AMA Foundation with funds earmarked for the Dr. Duane and Joyce Cady Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship program.  We have attended MSSNY meetings, met with elected officials, and made ourselves available to assist MSSNY in any way that we could, and hope that our efforts have benefitted MSSNY and its members and hard-working staff.

It has been our extreme pleasure to work with you!

Sincerely,
Joan Cincotta, Barbara Ellman, Helena Mirza
AMSSNY Co-Presidents