About the Society

Introduction | History | Council and Office Bearers | Membership

Introduction

As a doctor in the northeast of Scotland you are entitled to join the Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society. Download an application form

The activities of the Society include:

• Scientific meetings monthly from October to June.
• Working with the Dean, Postgraduate Dean and Postgraduate Medical Education Committee to use the Society's facilities for specialty meetings, training courses, support groups and cross specialty gatherings.
• Funding bursaries for student electives.
• Sponsoring the Scottish Medical Journal, which members receive.
• Securing the publication of relevant books, such as 'The Bicentennial History', 'The 250th Anniversary of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary', 'J J R McLeod, the Co-discoverer of Insulin', and 'City Hospital Aberdeen'.
• Promoting Historical and Epidemiological Research through use of the Society Library.
• Providing access to portraits, artifacts and documents which form a unique record of local, national and international medical developments.
• Assistance for doctors disabled by illness including help to families where necessary via Society bequests.
• Promoting communication across the medical community through a formal and informal calendar of events, including the Annual Founders' Commemoration Dinner, Burns Supper and golf competition.
• Linking with the Highland Medical Society and the, Glasgow and Edinburgh Medico-Chirurgical Societies.

The Society is based in premises on the Foresterhill site where it has an office, meeting hall, Council Chamber and library. Both the Council Chamber and Hall are available for hire to members and other relevant organisations. The Hall comfortably seats 80 plus people and is well equipped, whilst the Chamber is set out in board room style for smaller numbers. Booking and further details from the Med-Chi Office – medchi.admin@abdn.ac.uk.

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History

On the 14th December, 1789, the Aberdeen Medical Society was founded by a group of medical students, of which James McGrigor and James Robertson were the leaders. There had existed previously in Aberdeen two medical student societies, one in 1768, and the other in 1786 but both had withered and died, a fate which did not befall the 1789 foundation. Over the years this Society gradually established itself and was strengthened by the addition of medical practitioners and honorary members. The name of the Society was changed to the 'Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society' in 1811.

James McGrigor, a founder of the Society in 1789

From the earliest days it had been the desire of members that the Society should have its own meeting place. A subscription list was opened in 1812 with the object of acquiring sufficient money to enable the Society to build a Medical Hall. The building in King Street was completed in 1820 to the plans of Archibald Simpson, the distinguished Aberdeen architect at a cost of more than £3,000.

The Library of the Society instituted in 1791 grew rapidly and contained many rare and valuable books. In 1967 the major portion of the library's old and rare medical books was sold, and later the Hall in King Street was sold. The proceeds enabled the Society to build its new Hall on the Foresterhill site, to which the Society moved in 1973.

Over the years the Society has played an important and influential role in the medical life of Aberdeen. It gave advice to the citizens through the Town Council on combating cholera and typhus; it instituted the training and certification of midwives in the city in 1827; it urged in 1867 the necessity of providing a fever hospital; it commented on medical education on many occasions. In 1920 the Society held a special meeting to discuss the question of hospital accommodation for Aberdeen and district. At this meeting Professor Matthew Hay outlined his scheme for co-ordinating the Aberdeen Hospitals and clinical University Departments on a common site. This resulted in the modern hospital and medical school complex at Foresterhill.

In 1989 the Society celebrated its Bicentenary with the publication of a book 'The Bicentennial History' edited by the late Dr. G. P. Milne, an exhibition in the Aberdeen Art Gallery, a Scientific Meeting and a Banquet.

The Society commissioned a definitive history of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to coincide with its 250th Anniversary. 'Aberdeen Royal Infirmary The People's Hospital of the North-East' edited by Dr I D Levack and Professor H A F Dudley was published in 1992.

NEW The Heritage of the Med-Chi by Mr A Adam and Professor J D Hutchison.- published in November 2007

A collection of the portraits and medical artefacts in the possession of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Aberdeen.  For further information about this book and how to order your copy please go to the Library section and click on the link at the bottom of the page.

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Council and Officer Bearers

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Membership

• Download an application form

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This page last modified: Saturday, 04-Oct-2008 12:37:40 BST

The Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society
Medical School | Foresterhill | Aberdeen AB25 2ZD
Telephone: 01224 552737 | Fax: 01224 550637 | Email: medchi.admin@abdn.ac.uk