About the Physician Oncology Education Program


  Our Mission | Our Focus | Our History | Our Members | Our Staff


Our Mission

To provide Texas physicians, physicians-in-training, and those in training to become physicians (e.g., medical and undergraduate students) with the knowledge and skills necessary to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality through collaboration among the public, private, and volunteer sectors of the state.

Our Focus

The POEP strives to educate primary care physicians about the state-of-the-art and science in cancer prevention, screening, early detection, and control, including the physician role in educating patients about behavior modification to facilitate the primary prevention and early detection of cancer.

Our History

TMA formed the POEP in 1987 to carry out the recommendations of the Texas Cancer Plan regarding physician education.  The POEP is funded in large part by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and is directed by a steering committee of experts interested in and knowledgeable about all facets of cancer prevention and control.  The POEP has provided more than 100,000 Texas physicians and other professionals with cancer prevention and screening training since its creation.

Our Members

Institutional appointments to the POEP include:

Lewis E. Foxhall, MD -- CHAIR
Texas Academy of Family Physicians

Catherine A. Ronaghan, MD, FACS -- VICE CHAIR
American College of Surgeons - North Texas Chapter

Michael Ahearn, PhD
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Amy Brackeen, MD
Texas Dermatological Society

Catherine Berry, APRN-BC
Texas Association of Nurse Practitioners

Stephen S. Clark, MD
American College of Surgeons – South Texas Chapter

Vincent Fonseca, MD, MPH
Texas Department of State Health Services

Edward V. Hannigan, MD
Texas Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists

Philip Huang, MD, MPH
Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services
Texas Comprehensive Cancer Coalition

Thelma C. Hurd, MD
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

A. Marilyn Leitch, MD
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas

Ray O. Lundy, MD
American Cancer Society

Lonzetta L. Newman, MD, FACP
Texas Academy of Internal Medicine

Ray D. Page, D.O., PhD
Texas Osteopathic Medical Association
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth

Barbara Pence, PhD
Texas Tech University Health Science Center

Todd Pickard, PA
Texas Academy of Physician Assistants

Amelie Ramirez, DrPH
Redes En Acción

Michael Redwine, MD
The University of Texas Medical School at Houston

Catherine A. Ronaghan, MD, FACS
American College of Surgeons – North Texas

Christopher Ruud, PhD
Texas A&M University System College of Medicine

Paul Thomas, MD
Texas Pediatric Society

Karen Torges
American Cancer Society – High Plains Division

Courtney M. Townsend, MD
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Armin D. Weinberg, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine

Our Staff

Contact POEP staff if you have any questions about the program, including possible future collaborative efforts.

Stephanie Gonzalez, MHA
Project Manager

Leslie Jones
Senior Program Coordinator (Programs and Speakers’ Bureau) 

Laura Wells
Program Coordinator (Special Projects)

Cassandra Sanchez
Project Coordinator

Contact the POEP staff at the above e-mail addresses or at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1469, (512) 370-1469, or POEP.  POEP also can be reached at 401 West 15th St., Austin, TX 78701; Fax: (512) 370-1693.

Last Published: 10/8/2009

Print this page



  TMA: 401 West 15th Street, Austin TX 78701   Ph: (800) 880-1300, (512) 370-1300 
Copyright 1999-2009 Texas Medical Association  All Rights Reserved
    TMA Contacts    How to Find It   Tell Us What You Think
TMA Web site Privacy Statement    RSS Feeds   Font Size: A A