The Travis County Medical Society (TCMS) was chartered in 1853, when Texas had been a state only eight years and construction of the State Capitol had just begun. On October 22, 1853, the Texas Medical Association officially organized the Travis Medical Society. Since that time, Travis County physicians have worked in partnership to address issues of public health, ethics, training, medical standards, and more. Today, TCMS has over 4,000 physician members. Physicians throughout Travis County rely on TCMS to lobby at the Capital for doctor and patient rights, provide resources to make the practice of medicine easier to navigate as well as providing up to the moment communication and educational opportunities.