RIMS is celebrating the 200th anniversary of its founding, and is commemorating this milestone with a series of events and observances that will leave a lasting legacy.

Watch for mailings and email updates throughout the year. We look forward to your participation and support.

“For 200 years, the Medical Society has provided an important forum for Rhode Island physicians. In its protective arms, physicians have been able to tackle many serious issues and emerge with a strong voice to protect the most vulnerable among us – our patients. It has also been a safe haven for our colleagues who are in need of help to deal with personal issues. Representing Rhode Island physicians on a national level has ensured our participation in policy decisions that affect the entire country and, indeed, the world.”
—Kathleen C. Hittner, MD from Medical Odysseys Preface
Read entire Preface

Medical Odysseys 

Authors' Reception, photos
December 15, 2011

Published in October 2011, this limited edition, 250-page illustrated book contains commentaries by Dr. Stanley Aronson and Dr. Joseph Friedman along with a series of new historical essays written for RIMS’ bicentennial by editor Mary Korr.
About the authors

Exhibit from RIMS collection 

Hay Exhibit, information and photos
December 15, 2011–January 23, 2012

For the first time in decades, select treasures from RIMS collection were on display in the Lownes Room at the Hay Library, where the entire collection is stored. Items in the collection date from the 16th century to the present.

conservation of throop portrait

Portrait, painter, and conservation
2011

The 1795 portrait of RIMS' first president, Amos Throop, in RIMS' possession since 1890, spent most of 2011 at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center in Massachusetts where it was cleaned, repaired, and restored to optimal condition.

Bicentennial Gala
Rosecliff, Newport

Saturday, April 21, 2012
Photos

A festive black tie evening of dinner and dancing at Rosecliff Mansion in Newport commemorated RIMS’ founding, which took place at the Old State House in Providence on April 22, 1812.

Commemorative
Video

Premiered Saturday, April 21, 2012
Watch video

This 24-minute video, Celebrating 200 Years of the Rhode Island Medical Society, was written and produced for the bicentennial.

RIMS Awards for medical studentS

May 2012

Beginning in May 2012, RIMS will present two prizes annually at the graduation of the Alpert Medical School at Brown. The Amos Throop Prize will be presented to a student who has demonstrated interest and engagement in public policy relating to health care, and the Herbert Rakatansky Prize to a student who has promoted the health and well-being of fellow medical students.

New England Lobster Bake in Newport

Friday, July 20, 2012
Watch for details

NORCAL will host a summer outing as special “thank you” to the scores of RIMS members who volunteer their time and talent. The event will be held on the scenic grounds of the Naval War College Museum on Coaster’s Harbor Island in Newport.

Neurobiology and Society symposium

Autumn 2012
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In the fall of 2012, in cooperation with the Brown Institute for Brain Science and the Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute, RIMS will sponsor a series of distinguished public lectures regarding ramifications of recent advances in neurobiology.

publication of New History of RIMS

2012
Watch for details

A new account of RIMS' history is under the pen of Newell Warde, PhD, the current executive director of the Society, for publication later in 2012. The last comprehensive history was published in 1966 following RIMS' sesquicentennial anniversary.