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News | IMG Leadership | About the IMG Section | Resources | Links | Contact Us
IMG Mission: To Promote Diversity and Integration in Texas Medicine
Welcome to the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Section Web page! The IMG Section was created in 1997 to promote diversity and integration in Texas medicine and provide a direct means for IMGs to participate in the activities of TMA. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact the IMG Section coordinator at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1558.
In the News
IMG Doctor E-newsletter
Read the latest issue of International Medical Graduate Doctor, the section’s e-newsletter.
New! “Faces of Change” Traveling Banner Available for Display in Your Community
When the Texas Medical Association was founded in 1853, George Cupples, MD, of Scotland, became the first elected president. Foreign-born and foreign-educated physicians — now known as International Medical Graduates (IMGs) — have been making great contributions to Texas medicine ever since. Learn more about the history of IMGs.
The TMA History of Medicine Committee is proud to offer a beautiful new banner illustrating the lives of some of these IMG physicians. The banner (PDF) features IMGs from all continents and highlights reasons the physicians immigrated. If you are interested in obtaining a banner to display in your clinic or office, contact the TMA Knowledge Center at (800) 880-7955, ext. 1552.
IMG Leadership
The current IMG Governing Council is composed of the following members:
Chair: Udipi Prabhakar Rao, MD; Gastroenterology, Odessa
Vice-Chair: Kiran Shah, MD; OB/GYN, Texas City
Secretary: Natarajan Bala, MD; Gastroenterology, Houston
Delegate: Robina N. Poonawala, MD; Family Medicine, Austin
Alternate Delegate: Arnold Ravdel, MD; Orthopedic Surgery, Houston
Member at Large: Nalin Tolia, MD; Ophthalmology, Odessa
Member at Large: M. Antonieta Gonzalez, MD, MBA; Pediatrician, San Antonio
Resident and Fellow Section Representative: Farhan Masrur Khan, MD, Psychiatry, El Paso
Take a moment to meet the complete IMG Governing Council.
About the International Medical Graduate Section
All IMGs are invited to participate in the TMA IMG Section, which is devoted to the unique issues and concerns of all IMG physicians. A diverse group of physicians with a common vision, this section meets three times a year in conjunction with TMA conferences (winter and fall) and the annual meeting of the House of Delegates (spring).
The Texas Medical Association is one of only 11 state medical societies with a separate representational group for IMG physicians. If you graduated from a foreign medical school and are a TMA member, you are automatically a member of the TMA IMG Section. However, you may request that your name be removed from the membership roster by contacting the IMG Section coordinator at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1558.
The IMG Section promotes leadership development, policy formation, advocacy, and networking. Additionally, the section serves as a statewide communication and policy-making forum for addressing unique issues of particular interest to IMGs, such as:
- Working to monitor and improve the licensure and disciplinary process of the Texas Medical Board,
- Ensuring the viability of Texas and national J-1 visa program,
- Strengthening Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program,
- Analyzing IMG policy making at the state and national level, and
- Blending the perspective of IMGs and their patients into TMA physician practice solutions.
The IMG Section was created to:
- Provide a direct means for IMGs to participate in the activities of the TMA,
- Enhance TMA outreach,
- Promote communication and interchange among IMGs,
- Promote TMA membership growth,
- Enhance the ability of IMGs to provide their perspective to TMA and its House of Delegates, and
- Facilitate the development of information and educational activities on topics of interest to IMGs.
If you are not a TMA member, consider joining your colleagues in participating in the IMG Section. Become a TMA member today!
Read your colleagues' thoughts about why the IMG Section is important. For more information, contact the IMG Section coordinator at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1558.
Resources
If you would like to be added to the TMA IMG Section e-list, please email the IMG Section coordinator or contact at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1558.
Links
Find links to the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, Educational Testing Service, National Ethnic Medical Society Links, National Resident Matching Program, Texas Ethnic Medical Society Links, U.S. Medical Licensing Examination, and other IMG-related sources.
Contact Us
Do you have questions or issues that need to be resolved? Feel free to contact the IMG Section coordinator, and TMA staff will get back to you with assistance.
Last Published: 3/2/2010 Print this page
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