Geneva’s Medical Societies
Dr. Ethelbert Padgham was a charter member of the Geneva Academy of Medicine.
In 1904, Geneva physicians organized the Geneva Medical Society with the object being to meet regularly and discuss interests in their profession. Not only did physicians meet to hear papers or lectures, they also participated in civic duties when advising the Geneva Common Council on matters related to health. Discussions on water quality and filtration, election of a coroner, and advice on how to stop tuberculosis were just a few topics that the society members would be involved in.
By the mid-1910s, a Geneva Dental Society had formed in the same spirit. Local dentists from Geneva and surrounding towns met regularly, usually once a month, to present papers or listen to lectures on a specific topic.
Superintendent AJ Merrell reported in 1921 that about 78 children would not otherwise have their teeth cared for because their parents couldn’t afford it. Immediately, several dentists in Geneva volunteered their Saturday mornings to host a dental clinic in each of Geneva’s elementary schools, both public and parochial. Additionally, they would continue to provide care for the remaining school year. The school district provided a portable dental unit to assist them.
The Geneva Medical Society continued meeting until about the late 1910s. Likely this was because of the growing Geneva Medical & Surgical Hospital who started providing education for participating physicians during their staff meetings.
A dental clinic in 1957 hosted in the Geneva Civic Center.
The physicians enjoyed the education so much, however, that they voted in April 1925 to split their scientific sessions from their staff meetings. Instead, the formation of the Geneva Academy of Medicine would provide the physicians of the city and surrounding territory with a program once every month. This would also provide a “social feature” to their meetings; hearing a lecture and then enjoying a dinner while talking with other attendees on a more relaxed level. Meetings could attract around 100 physicians!
That same year, the Geneva Dental Society and Canandaigua Dental Society reportedly merged to form the Ontario County Dental Society. Despite the report, I found that the Geneva Dental Society continued to provide services under the Geneva name. In the 1930s, the Geneva Children’s Camp Fund, Inc., which provided vacations for “needy children,” made arrangements with the Geneva Dental Society to provide a free dental clinic. This partnership likely happened because Geneva dentist Dr. William Young was a member of the fund.
By the 1940s, the Geneva Academy of Medicine and the Geneva Dental Society were holding joint meetings fairly regularly. From various advertisements, it was likely that their memberships were declining. One dental society advertisement in 1943 said they had lost 9 dentists from the original 15 members and asked for patience from Genevans because they were so busy.
Dr. Hildegard Hirsch was the first woman to be elected president of the Geneva Academy of Medicine.
Despite the losses, the dental society continued to provide free dental clinics when needed. Over 500 children were able to get their teeth x-rayed in 1957 thanks to three dentists who worked several days after school to provide their services.
Geneva was a regular host to the American College of Surgeons annual meeting. Over 400 doctors were expected in 1969 when the Geneva Academy of Medicine was cosponsoring the conference. In the 1970s, the Dental Society promoted participation of students in a fluoride program. With parent permission, students in grade 5 would participate in the study conducted by the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester.
The Academy of Medicine continued its work into the 1980s while the Dental Society was dissolved in favor of the Ontario County Dental Society which still exists today.
This article was brought to you in part by our supporters. Be our partner in telling Geneva’s stories by becoming a Historic Geneva supporter.