Minority Medical Students Receive Scholarships from TMA

For Immediate Release
May 17, 2012 

Contact: Pam Udall  
phone: (512) 370-1382
cell: (512) 413-6807  

Brent Annear
phone: (512) 370-1381
cell: (512) 656-7320 

  Click here to follow TMA on TwitterOr visit TMA on Facebook.  

DALLAS - Nine minority students entering Texas medical schools each received a $5,000 scholarship from the Texas Medical Association (TMA). Students were recognized for their academic achievement, commitment to community service, and health care experience Friday, May 18, at TMA’s annual TexMed conference in Dallas.

The TMA Educational Scholarship, Loan, and Awards Committee chose winners from a competitive field of promising future physicians entering medical school this fall.

TMA created the Minority Scholarship Program to help diversify the physician workforce to fulfill the needs of Texas’ increasingly diverse population. The scholarship encourages minority students to enter medicine by lightening the financial burden of medical school. Since 1999, TMA has awarded 74 scholarships, totaling $370,000, to minority medical students.

2012 TMA Minority Scholarship Recipients:

Brianna Désiré of Wichita Falls graduated from Columbia University. She will attend The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. In her application she stated that she wants to care for patients in medically underserved communities in Texas and help prevent diseases exacerbated by poor access to medical care. Ms. Désiré’s scholarship is provided by contributions from Harris County Medical Society/Houston Academy of Medicine; Dana and Jamie Ronderos, MD, Frisco; Irvin Robinson, MD, Fort Worth, in memory of his wife, Libby P. Robinson; and physicians and their families.

Matthew Edwards of Dallas graduated from Princeton University. He will attend The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Mr. Edwards plans to dedicate his career in medicine to advocating for the elderly and medically underserved patients, and eliminating health care disparities. Mr. Edwards’ scholarship is provided by donations from Catherine L. Scholl, MD, Austin, and Betty and Mark J. Kubala, MD, Beaumont.

Keren Elías of Dallas graduated from Southern Methodist University. She will begin her medical study at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Ms. Elías plans to be a pediatrician and improve the health of Texans through medical research, teaching, and patient care. Her scholarship is provided by a gift from Cecilia and Tim Norwood, MD, Dallas.

Hunter Fuentes of Mineral Wells is a U.S. Navy veteran and graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. He will go to medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. Mr. Fuentes plans to be a primary care physician at a small hospital or clinic in rural Texas and improve the quality of health care for small-town Texans. His scholarship is provided by a gift from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.

Rogelio García of Eagle Pass graduates in May from The University of Texas at Austin. He will attend Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. Mr. García plans to practice pediatrics in his hometown of Eagle Pass where he hopes to prevent diseases through patient education and care. Mr. García’s scholarship is provided by Bell County Medical Society, and Charli and Jim Rohack, MD, Bryan.

Armstrong Ibe of Mansfield graduates in May from The University of Miami and will attend Baylor College of Medicine. Mr. Ibe hopes to be a neurosurgeon in the Houston area and help patients afflicted with rare and life-threatening conditions. Mr. Ibe’s scholarship was provided through gifts from Wendell D. Daniels, MD, Longview; McLennan County Medical Society; Susan M. Pike, MD and Harry T. Papaconstantinou, MD, Georgetown; and Khushalani Foundation, Humble, in memory of George Nunez Sr.

Victoria Nunez of El Paso graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and will attend Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in El Paso where she also will receive a Master of Public Health. She plans to be a family physician and educate families about healthy lifestyle choices to stop the obesity epidemic and prevent obesity-related diseases. The El Paso, Hidalgo-Starr, Midland, and Nueces county medical societies, and Alan and Sarah Losinger, Dallas, funded Ms. Nunez’ scholarship.

Stephanie Annor of Houston graduated from St. Mary’s University. She will attend The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Ms. Annor plans to become an obstetrician-gynecologist and care for underserved women in Texas. Her scholarship is provided by a gift from H-E-B.

Jorge Restrepo of Miami graduated from Florida International University and will attend the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. He plans to practice internal medicine in Fort Worth or Houston. Mr. Restrepo’s scholarship was provided through gifts from the Dallas, Tarrant, and Travis county medical societies, and physicians and their families.

This year’s nine scholarships were made possible by a grant from the association’s philanthropic arm, the TMA Foundation, thanks to generous gifts from physicians, their families, and institutional and corporate supporters.
 
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 46,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

-- 30 --

Last Updated On

May 06, 2016

Originally Published On

May 21, 2012

Related Content

Scholarships