The idea of the Lehigh County Medical Society Alliance (originally Auxiliary) was sparked on January 14, 1919, during a banquet at Hotel Allen for LCMS members and their wives. At the time, discussions were in place for building a home for the medical society, which led to the proposal of organizing a women’s auxiliary to assist in raising money for a building fund. Under the first president, Mrs. Martin J. Backenstoe and later leadership, the LCMSA not only helped raise funds for the society’s home, but contributed thousands of dollars to charitable organizations throughout Lehigh County. Their first donation, for example, was $20 each to Sacred Heart and Allentown Hospitals in 1925. Other charity drives included an annual Christmas tree decorating event and a Dorney Park picnic, among many others.
As the first auxiliary in the state of Pennsylvania, the LCMSA quickly inspired the formation of others auxiliaries – the Pennsylvania Medical Society Alliance in 1924, and the American Medical Society Alliance in 1922. Communication with these larger societies helped the LCMS Alliance flourish.
The Alliance's Goals
To actively support and further the interests of the Lehigh County Medical Society in their programs for the advances of medicine and public health
To cultivate friendly relationships and promote mutual understanding among physicians and their families
To support the Lehigh County Medical Auxiliary’s Scholarship and Educational Fund
Lehigh County Medical Society Auxiliary's Scholarship and Educational Fund, Inc.
LeCoMASE was incorporated as a sub-organization of the LCMSA in the late 1960's to help student from the Lehigh County meet the cost of earning an M.D. degree. The fund was grew from its precursor, the Nurse's Scholarship program, which the LCMSA first awarded in 1922. In 1971, the fund awarded its first educational loans to medical students. Since that time, LeCoMASE has provided over half a million dollars in interest-free loans to Lehigh County residents attending medical school. In 2009, LeCoMASE began its partnership with the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society to enable it to award even more scholarships, furthering its goal of providing affordable medical education to aspiring doctors from Lehigh County.
"LeCoMASE is delighted to offer this medical student scholarship and to support local students. The scholarship is a wonderful way to help Lehigh County students offset the enormous financial costs of attending medical school. We are pleased to collaborate with the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society to provide this opportunity."
-Charlene Trimpi
Executive Secretary and
LeCoMASE Fund Committee chair
The first page of Connections, a publication of The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society (the organization that is partnered with LeCoMASE).
Historical information in this summary was based on "A History of the Auxiliary to the Lehigh County Medical Society," produced in 1994 on the occasion of the LCMSA's 75th anniversary, and written by Emma S. Richards Bausch.
Lehigh County Medical Society
Mission Statement: The purpose of this society shall be to unite physicians to speak with one voice at the local, state and national level to influence health policy, thereby achieving the highest standard of healthcare for our community.
