May 2, 2015
Kayla
Riggs of Austin, a second-year medical student at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston (UTHealth Medical
School), received
the Texas Medical
Association Medical Student Section (TMA-MSS) Student of the Year Award.
She received the award today at TexMed, TMA’s annual conference, in Austin.
“I am so honored to receive
this award,” Ms. Riggs said. “I believe it’s important for medical students to
be involved in organizations, like TMA, that help shape the practice of
medicine and prepare us for our careers as physicians.”
Since 1998,
TMA-MSS has recognized an outstanding student member who excels in furthering
the section’s goals and policies to improve Texas’ health care system. The
chapter aims to engage students in organized medicine by encouraging their
involvement in local county medical societies, TMA, and the American Medical
Association (AMA).
Ms. Riggs joined TMA prior to
entering medical school and became president of the school’s TMA chapter during
her first year at UTHealth. As chapter president, Ms. Riggs added 90 students
to the chapter’s membership.
Under her leadership, the
chapter also hosted more community service events, including two health fairs
at a church in Southwest Houston. The students also developed a relationship
with TroubleShooters, a Harris Health childhood immunization program. Her
efforts helped UTHealth earn recognition as this year’s TMA-MSS Chapter of the
Year, also presented during TexMed.
Ms. Riggs remains active with the student
chapter. In February, she organized fellow students to travel to Austin with
the Harris County Medical Society for TMA’s First Tuesdays at the Capitol
event, a TMA-member lobby day. And she joined other UTHealth students
fitting helmets on kids from the Houston Texans YMCA, in preparation for the
Kids Triathlon.
In addition, she is the TMA-MSS
representative on the TMA Board of Councilors, the organization’s ethical
policymaking panel.
Ms. Riggs, an Austin native,
graduated in 2013 from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor in
business administration degree. She is a member of the UTHealth Class of
2017.
TMA is the largest
state medical society in the nation, representing more than 48,000 physician
and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 110 component
county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to
improve the health of all Texans.
-- 30 --
Contact: Steve Levine (512) 370-1380; Cell: (512) 750-0971; e-mail: steve.levine[at]texmed[dot]org
Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; Cell: (512) 656-7320;
e-mail: brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org