HIstory - 1952

The second conference of the Minnesota association was held in Alexandria 1952 with Mr. C.L. (Kelly) Martinson serving as Chairman.

Donald Denneson succeeded his father Edward Denneson as Administrator of the Austin Clinic in 1952.  Edward Denneson continued on as collection manager in that organization for a number of years.

The Gorman Clinic in St. Paul, the Owatonna Clinic and Surgical Consultants in Edina were founded in 1952.

The 26th Annual Conference of NACM was held September 28-October1, 1952, in Chicago with Harold Heberlein of the Jackson Clinic in Madison, Wis., presiding as President.  One hundred ninety-four members were registered at that conference.

Ed Stevens in his "History of MGMA" notes a substantial growth of activities between conferences.  He credits most of this to the more formal organization structures with committees and assigned responsibilities so that various association activities can be moving forward outside the stimulus of the annual conferences.

Representatives from the American Association of Medical Clinics (AAMC), Dr. Griep of the Wellborne Clinic in Evansville and Dr. Jordan, Executive Secretary, got a warm reception at the NACM conference.

Concern was expressed at the conference about the American College of Clinic Administrators in West Virginia which had organized itself in 1951.  This association did not have any official relationship to the National Association of Clinic Managers.

On April 19, 1952, the first regional NACM institute was held at Wichita under the direction of Burdell Baker, Administrator of the Wichita Clinic.  This was sponsored by the Southern Section and enjoyed an attendance of about 75 people.

The proceedings of the 26th Annual Conference indicate that the total membership at that time was 254.  By state, we have these leaders indicated:  California with 35; Illinois 24; Texas 16 and Minnesota 14.

Minnesota's good friend Ed Gerloff of Sioux Falls tells us that this was his first MGMA conference:  "Howard Winholtz, Bob Newell and Dick Anderson ‘took me' by train to Chicago.  The board members were dressed in tuxedos for the banquet--very impressive.  Mr. Heberlain was president."