Plans for the formation of the Wisconsin Surgical Society began in June, 1946 when twelve Wisconsin surgeons met in Milwaukee to organize a new statewide surgical association. Prior to its founding, there existed the Wisconsin Academy of Surgery, a loosely organized surgical organization which had evolved from the earlier Milwaukee Society for Clinical Surgery. In order to form the new group the Academy's members voted to disband, and its officers and council became the nucleus of the new society. At an organizational meeting in September 1946, 51 founding members formed the Wisconsin Surgical Society. Dr. F. Gregory Connell was elected the first president.
The Society attempted to bring together surgeons from all sections of the state in order to cultivate and improve the surgical services patients received and to promote closer professional and social relations among the state's surgeons. In its efforts to improve surgery, the Society encouraged members to present papers at semi-annual scientific meetings during which surgical experiences could be shared and critiqued. In addition the Society promulgated a code of ethics. In a serious effort to encourage ethical behavior among its members in 1959 the Society voted to audit members' records from the standpoint of ethical practices. In this way the Society hoped to prevent such practices as the direct payment of assistants by surgeons and charging a reduced fee if the referring doctor assisted in the operation. Through the Society's efforts, practices such as fee splitting and itinerant surgery were reduced. At this writing (1980), the Society has over 225 active members.
