Initially meetings were held twice a year. In 1901 this was changed to one annual meeting held in November. The year 1918 was the exception with the meeting being canceled because of both World War I and the severe influenza epidemic. Meetings were two days in length through 1935. Thereafter, one day meetings have been held, usually scheduled for the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in November.
S.I.M.A. grew and physician membership was from the 29 southern-most counties of Illinois until 2009. At that time the Executive Board opened membership to the southern portion of central Illinois as we share similar practice situations. So, now we are representative of the southern-half of Illinois. (See the counties list.)
We are not competitive with The Illinois State Medical Society and in fact try to supplement the I.S.M.S.'s work. We presently do not engage in lobbying. The S.I.M.A. represents a variety of primary care and specialty physicians in rural, suburban, and urban practices.
Southern Illinois Physicians are welcome to attend our Annual Meeting and are invited to join our membership.
In January 1998 the Executive Board of the S.I.M.A. decided to make an Associate Membership status for Physician Assistants, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practicioners providing health care in our region.