May 2, 2014
Aspiring physicians presented San
Antonio physician K. Ashok Kumar, MD, the 2014
C. Frank Webber, MD, Award for his commitment to teaching medical students and
mentoring them to become leaders in organized medicine. Dr. Kumar was
recognized by the Texas Medical Association (TMA) Medical Student Section today during
TMA’s annual conference in Fort Worth.
“It is a great honor and privilege to
receive this recognition from the TMA Medical Student Section,” said Dr. Kumar.
“I enjoy working with students and residents who make time in their busy
schedules at medical school to participate in leadership activities within
medicine and in their communities.”
Dr. Kumar is professor and vice chair of
medical student education in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). He also
is director of the Family Medicine Clerkship.
Dr. Kumar “sows
seeds of leadership starting in medical school and continuing through residency
and into the early years of medical practice,” said nominating medical student
Daniel Ayala, president of the UTHSCSA TMA chapter. “I
have heard [Dr. Kumar] say ‘students are the future of medicine, our
organization, and our country,’ ” added Mr. Ayala.
Dr. Kumar serves as faculty adviser for
the UTHSCSA TMA chapter and the Family Medicine Interest Group, and also helps Frontera
de Salud, a medical-student-run volunteer organization committed to bringing
health care to the underserved.
He shares a passion for helping others,
said Mr. Ayala, by linking students to community groups that help underinsured
or underserved people. The students have helped San Antonio’s Haven for Hope, a
homeless shelter, and have given away bicycle helmets at local events through TMA’s Hard Hats
for Little Heads
bicycle helmet giveaway program.
Dr. Kumar also works to involve students
in organized medicine. As president of the Bexar County Medical Society, he
paves the way for students to serve on committees and is forming a local Young
Physician Section. And as past president of the Texas Academy of Family
Physicians and chair of the Commission on Membership at the American Academy of
Family Physicians, Dr. Kumar eliminated membership dues for students so more
could join.
Dr. Kumar is a board-certified family physician
and is a graduate of Osmania Medical College in India. He completed a residency
in general surgery at Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a residency
in family medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. He joined the
faculty of UTHSCSA in 2004 as a professor in the May Department of Family and
Community Medicine.
Created in 1987, the C. Frank
Webber, MD, Award is named after the late Texas family physician and educator
C. Frank Webber, MD, former dean of The University of Texas Medical School at
Houston. Dr. Webber’s efforts prompted the development of the strong student
organization within TMA.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 47,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 112 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.
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Contact: Pam Udall (512) 370-1382; cell: (512) 413-6807; email: pam.udall[at]texmed[dot]org
Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320; email: brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org
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