George Henry Simmons (1852–1937) was an English-born American physician, editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and general secretary of the American Medical Association (AMA).
Background
George Henry Simmons was born on January 2, 1852 at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, England, the third of four children of George Simmons, a farmer, and Sarah Louise (Clifford) Simmons. After the death of his parents while he was still young, he lived with his maternal grandfather, Richard Clifford (also a farmer), at Rye-Farm, Sezincote, England.
Education
In 1870, seeking greater opportunity, he came to the United States and settled in the Middle West, studying at Tabor College in Iowa, 1871-72, and at the University of Nebraska, 1875-76.
Deciding on a medical career, Simmons attended Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, where he received the M. D. degree in 1882.
He attended classes in Rush Medical College in Chicago, from which he received a second M. D. degree in 1892.
Career
He early displayed his journalistic abilities, becoming editor of the Nebraska Farmer, assistant city editor of the Nebraska State Journal, and field correspondent of the Omaha Republican and the Kansas City Journal.
In 1883-84 he did postgraduate work in Europe, during which time he attended some sessions at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin. He then returned to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he practised until 1899.
Simmons soon became active in medical organizational work, serving as secretary of the Nebraska State Medical Society, 1895-99, and also as secretary of the Western Surgical and Gynecological Society. In 1896 he established the Western Medical Review and became its editor.
In December 1898 Dr. John B. Hamilton, editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, died, and the board of trustees, after interviewing several candidates, selected Simmons to succeed him. They recommended also that the editor of the Journal should be the secretary of the association without additional compensation. Simmons assumed management of the headquarters office in Chicago on March 1, 1899.
Working closely with Dr. Joseph Nathaniel McCormack, chairman of the A. M. A. committee on organization, he set out to build up the A. M. A. by systematic visits to county and state medical societies, which he urged to affiliate with the national organization.
In 1901 the A. M. A. adopted a new constitution, and Simmons was appointed its general manager. Under his leadership the Journal and the headquarters office were put on a businesslike basis, and a firm foundation was created on which his successors were able to erect a large and efficient organization. As editor of the Journal Simmons campaigned for raising the standards of medical education and for eliminating the promotion of patent medicines and unscientific therapy. He published a directory of the entire medical profession and undertook the publication of several periodicals devoted to medical specialties.
He was also responsible for the inauguration of Hygeia, a popular journal, and the Quarterly Cumulative Index Medicus, an index of medical literature.
To advance medical education, the Journal began publishing annually special issues which contained full information regarding medical colleges and the results of examinations for licensure in the various states. Later, special issues were published giving similar statistics regarding all hospitals, internships, and residencies. This campaign of publicity, begun during the 1900's, contributed importantly to eliminating unqualified medical colleges.
To help bring about effective action in some of these fields, Simmons developed the practice of having special committees and councils set up within the A. M. A. covering such subjects as medical ethics, medical education, health and public instruction, and pharmacy and chemistry. These groups continuously studied the problems with which they were concerned and made their reports to the house of delegates of the A. M. A. , which then took official action.
Though he did little writing himself, he was an able editor as well as organizer. In 1908 Simmons was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps of the United States Army.
In 1917, when the United States entered the first World War, he served in Washington in the division of personnel and subsequently as chairman of the committee on publicity of the General Medical Board, under the Council of National Defense.
He retired in 1924 and moved to Hollywood, Florida. He died while visiting in Chicago, following an operation for diverticulitis, and was buried in Graceland Cemetery, Chicago.
Achievements
Membership
Simmons himself served as an ex officio member of all such councils and committees.
Personality
A reserved person without close friendships, Simmons was an indefatigable worker and read much in history and biography.
Connections
After an unhappy first marriage, he married Kate Vedder Monell; he had no children.