Fonds F010 - Hamilton Academy of Medicine (HAM)

The Hamilton Academy of Medicine (HAM) is a local voluntary professional association and a territorial branch society of District 4 of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA). Its role is to strengthen the camaraderie among the physicians and surgeons of Hamilton and the surrounding region and to offer them opportunities to engage with scientific, political, and social developments impacting the medical profession.

A precursor of HAM, the Hamilton Medical and Surgical Society, was established on February 3, 1863. Its principal function was to host the annual election of the six doctors who would have hospital privileges. After this function was lost, and confronted with disputes among its members, on October 24, 1899, it was decided to abandon this organization and begin again.

On November 7, 1899, a new association, the Hamilton Medical Society (HMS), was established. Prior to WWI, its members met once a month from September to May to listen to presentations by fellow members or guest speakers. From 1906, they held an annual clinical day, which consisted of presentations at one of the hospitals followed by a dinner.

Following WWI, in 1919, HMS affiliated with the OMA, one of the first local medical societies to do so, and adopted a new constitution that was in line with that of OMA. This greatly expanded its purpose. While its focused remained on education, it began to organize social events such as picnics and golf tournaments.

In 1919, as a result of its affiliation with OMA, the HMS established an Executive, made up of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive was responsible for policy and for arranging the annual program. Another notable change was the introduction of standing and special committees to handle social and political issues of particular concern to doctors as they arose.

In 1931, HMS changed its name to the Hamilton Academy of Medicine (HAM) and opened its first permanent headquarters in the newly built Medical Arts Building at 1 Young Street in downtown Hamilton. To legally incorporate, it applied for and was issued letters patent on February 25, 1932. In addition, HAM's constitution and bylaws were revised. A Council was introduced, made up of the Executive, OMA Delegate, and the Chairs of current standing and special committees. The Council, which met quarterly, became responsible for policy and planning.

In 1934, the first Section—subgroup of members of a particular medical or surgical specialty—of HAM, the Section of General Practice (later renamed Section of Family Medicine), was established. It would be joined by sixteen others over the following decades.

In 1936, HAM relocated its headquarters to 286 Victoria Avenue North, the building which had formerly housed the Babies’ Dispensary Guild, a municipal property leased to the Hamilton General Hospital. Rent was a nominal $1 plus free use of its library by the Hospital. This remained its headquarters until 1990, when it sold its library to the Hospital and returned to the Medical Arts Building, its current home.