LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Medical Society of the County of
Schenectady upon the occasion of celebrating its 200th Anniversary

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in acknowledging
significant milestones in the distinguished histories of its esteemed
entities; and
WHEREAS, The Medical Society of the County of Schenectady will be
honored upon the occasion of celebrating its 200th Anniversary by the
Foundation for Ellis Medicine during the Winter Gala for Ellis Medicine
to be held at the Glen Sanders Mansion on January 23, 2010; and
WHEREAS, The Society was formed in 1810, following the 1806 passage of
New York State legislation "incorporating Medical Societies for the
purpose of regulating the practice of physic and surgery in the State";
and
WHEREAS, It was the 36th medical society in New York State; and
WHEREAS, The Society's first meeting was held at the County Courthouse
on June 10, 1810; the charter was signed by 34 members and Dr. Archibald
Adams was elected as its first President; and
WHEREAS, A period of internal dissension caused the Society to tempo-
rarily dissolve, but it was reorganized in January of 1870; and
WHEREAS, In 1897, the Society was instrumental in the change of the
Schenectady water supply from the Mohawk River and private wells to
Rotterdam wells; this change is believed to have dramatically decreased
the number of typhoid cases; and
WHEREAS, The Society supervised cow and milk inspections for about 30
years in the early 1900s, bringing milk samples to Ellis Hospital for
safety testing; and
WHEREAS, During World War I, the Society provided free medical care to
the families of Schenectady natives who were serving their country; and
WHEREAS, In 1933, during the Great Depression, the Society provided
free inpatient and outpatient medical visits at Ellis Hospital; and
WHEREAS, The Society, with the help of Dr. Robert Breault, established
its Philanthropic Trust Fund, which continues today, for County resi-
dents in medical school; and
WHEREAS, In 1984, Dr. Richard Lange and the Society worked to estab-
lish the Mohawk Valley Physicians Health Plan, a health insurance group
owned and operated by physicians; today it is known as MVP Health Care,
a privately run organization with significant physician input; and
WHEREAS, The Society supported Dr. Arnold Ritterband in a community-
wide effort to curb the ill effects of smoking and second-hand smoke;
and
WHEREAS, In 2003, the Schenectady Free Health Clinic was established
for disadvantaged members of the community; the Society supported this
effort, led by Drs. Arnold Ritterband, Robert Pletman, and Clifford
Tepper; and
WHEREAS, The Medical Society of the County of Schenectady has a long
and distinguished history as a leader in public health issues; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in joining with the
Foundation for Ellis Medicine in recognizing the Society upon this
significant milestone; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Medical Society of the County of Schenectady upon its 200th
Anniversary; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Bruce Barach, President of the Medical Society of the
County of Schenectady.