Early efforts to organize Alabama’s physicians were spearheaded by the Alabama Medical Society of Selma; meeting late in 1846, they passed a resolution urging a state gathering of physicians.
Selma hosted the first regular meeting of the Association in 1848 - the same year that ten members represented Alabama at the Baltimore meeting of the recently formed American Medical Association.
The Association was formally incorporated in 1850 by the General Assembly; members were to be known as Fellows of the Association. The Association was pretty much dormant from 1855-1868 during the Civil War.
Foremost in leadership to revive and create a strong centralized organization was Jerome Cochran, MD. Through his persistent efforts, the Constitution was completely rewritten and the Association reorganized to achieve this goal. His plan was adopted in 1873 and much of it is still found in the current Constitution and Bylaws of the Association.
By 1888, all county medical societies had been chartered by the Association.