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Origins
The Society was originally formed in 1893 by a group of doctors working
for Life Offices as the Life Assurance Medical Officers Association
(LAMOA), changing its name to The Assurance Medical Society in 1915.
The aims of the Society have changed little over the years. In the early
days the object was 'the discussion of the medical aspects of subjects
connected to life and other forms of insurance with a view to obtaining
increased information and greater unity of opinion'. Today the principal
aim is 'the education of medical practitioners, actuaries, insurance
underwriters and those associated professions on matters relating to
those diseases and medical complaints that affect life or other forms of
insurance'.
Learned Papers
The first paper was read to the society on March 28th 1894 by Dr George
Vivian Poore, a member of council, on the subject of the significance of
slight degrees of albuminuria and its relation to Life Assurance. A
lively discussion is reported to have followed (two days later
apparently). Dr Poore expressed the need to have the urine passed in the
presence of the examiner and the need to follow up cases rejected on
account of albuminuria: others advocated the use of microscopy ant the
value of having morning and evening specimens - so called functional
albuminuria was well described.
This was the pattern set for meetings of the Society over the years -
normally three times each year at the house of the Medical Society of
London where papers were read and discussed and subsequently being
included in the Transactions of The Society provided to all members.
Membership
Until the 1950's membership had been amongst doctors associated in some
way with Insurance Offices. As a result of the increasingly close
relationship with both actuaries and others involved with underwriting
and claims administration more non-medically qualified people became
members. Today the Chief or senior underwriter of subscribing offices is
welcome as full members. The Council, whilst being predominately medical
contains non-medically qualified persons and there have been two
presidents of the Society who were not doctors.
Meetings and Symposia
The society has moved away from being regarded as solely a learned
society in the past decade or so. Joint full day meetings have taken
place with the Institute of Actuaries and The Royal College of
Physicians with further meetings planned. Meetings have been organised
on a full day basis in several of the principal towns and cities in the
United Kingdom in order to forge closer links with provincial members,
as well as memorable visits made to Dublin and Paris.
Education: Diplomas
Working with the Chartered Insurance Institute (the principle examining
body for the insurance industry) the Society has created a Diploma in
Life Underwriting. Students must pass, in addition to other specific
examinations, a paper on Life and Disability Underwriting. T he syllabus
is produced and maintained, the questions set, and the papers marked by
The Society. Students who pass the examinations may apply for the
Diploma, which is granted provided there is relevant wok experience. Work is currently well advanced to create a further Diploma for those
involved in the management of disability and other related claims.
Other Activities
Amongst other activities the Society has Membership of the continuing
Care Conference (CCC) which keeps it in touch with the challenges
associated with the long term care of the elderly.
The Society is involved with the national Diploma in Disability
Assessment Medicine (DIDAM) for which the examining bodies are the
Faculty of Occupational Medicine and The Royal College of Physicians.
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