The American Association of Medical Social Workers was formed in the words of its Constitution, "to serve as an organ of intercommunication among hospital social workers, to maintain and improve standards of social work in medical or psychiatric institutions and to stimulate its intensive and extensive development." The Eastern Canada Division was created in 1920, and comprised individuals and institutions in Québec, Ontario and the Maritimes. Meetings were open to all social workers, and in the Montréal branch, to social work students at McGill. Most of the membership was English-speaking and worked in hospitals or social agencies.