AAOGF History
The American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society evolved from a merger in 1981 of the American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, an organization founded in 1888, and the American Gynecological Society, founded in 1876. The goals of both organizations were similar, being to enhance knowledge in the field, encourage transmission of current knowledge, and the recruitment of talented individuals to Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Foundation (AAOGF) was incorporated in 1929, to serve as a mechanism to support the annual Joseph Price Oration and then to establish an annual Prize Award for a manuscript presented at the meeting. The resources of the Foundation have been enhanced significantly by bequests from the estates of Dr. James Kennedy in 1966, Dr. Walter Dannreuther in 1969, Dr. J. Bay Jacobs in 1989 and Dr. Henry L. Darner in 1996.
To accomplish the mission, the primary focus of the AAOGF is the support of research training scholarships for individuals pursuing an academic career in the specialty. The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Educational Foundation has very generously contributed over the years to the support of the scholarship program, and currently participates with the AAOGF in jointly funding one new scholar per year.
The Foundation for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (Foundation for SMFM) has offered scholarships to MaternalFetal Medicine trainees since 1992. In 2002, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the AAOGF agreed to jointly sponsor a scholarship to be awarded to an Obstetrician Gynecologist who has training and a commitment to performing research in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The scholarships are specifically designated in recognition of the source of support for the various scholarships.