Grants Made to TMA

TMA's Minority Scholarship Program
Established in 1998, TMA's Minority Scholarship Program was designed as a unique means to fill a gap brought about by the Hopwood ruling barring public medical schools from considering race in financial aid decisions. This is particularly significant in Texas where there is a low population-to-physician ratio for the growing Hispanic and African American populations. In 2010, thanks to the support of significant donors to TMAF, $5,000 scholarships were awarded to incoming medical students at each of the nine Texas medical schools.

Read the program prospectus 

2013 Goal: To award a scholarship to a qualified student entering each of Texas' nine medical schools.

Funding Opportunity: TMAF must raise $53,000 to fund nine scholarships, promote the program and provide travel for the recipients.

To be considered for a scholarship contact Gail Schatte at TMA at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1600, e-mail gail.schatte@texmed.org or go to tmacares.org.

Be Wise - Immunize
Be Wise - Immunize is a public health initiative of Texas Medical Association (TMA), and was launched in 2004.  The program aims to improve Texas's childhood immunization rate from 77.3 percent to 90 percent.  The primary strategies used to increase statewide immunization rates are communication, education, and action. The primary strategies used to increase statewide immunization rates are communication, education, and action. Nearly 200,000 immunizations have been given at more than 700 clinics and events.

Read the program prospectus 

2013 Goal: Facilitate more than 32,634 immunizations, a five percent increase over the 2012 goal.

Funding Opportunity: Be Wise needs $63,000 to achieve the program goals for 2013.

For more information, e-mail the Be Wise Coordinator or call (512) 370-1470.

 H-E-B and TMF-Health Quality Institute helped launch TMA’s Be Wise—Immunize in 2004 with generous grants that have inspired others to grow and develop this important initiative over the years. TMAF thanks these Founding Partners for their continued commitment to a Health Now and their generous support for the 2011-2012 Be Wise Program. 

Be Wise — Immunize is a service mark of Texas Medical Association. 

Hard Hats for Little Heads 
The goal of Texas Medical Association's Hard Hats for Little Heads program is to preserve brain health by helping to prevent life-altering or fatal brain injuries in Texas children. Since the program's inception in 1994, more than 100,000 helmets have been given to children at no cost. The free helmets are given to children ages 14 and younger at community events such as bicycle safety rodeos and health fairs. These events are coordinated by county medical societies, Texas Medical Association (TMA) physicians, medical student chapters, and/or Texas Medical Association Alliance (TMAA) chapters.

Read the program prospectus 

2013 Goals: Increase helmet distribution five percent for a total of 21,000 helmets distributed. Sponsor 125 helmet giveaway events, a four percent increase.

Funding Opportunity: Hard Hats needs $124,000 to achieve the program goals for 2013.

Members of the TMA family can participate by sponsoring a helmet giveaway in their community. To find out how, contact Tammy Wishard, program coordinator, at hardhats@texmed.org or (512) 370-1470.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is a major underwriter of this program for 2010 and 2011! 

TMA's Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching
This TMA program was started in 1990 as a way for organized medicine to instill greater recognition for the value of science and of innovative teaching to inspire students to consider medicine and other science related fields of study. The program identifies three outstanding science teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels and recognizes them with a cash award as well as a grant for their school to further enhance its science curriculum.

Scientific literacy has declined in the U.S. since the 1970s.  According to the National Science Foundation's 2005 Science and Engineering Indicators/2008 report, 23 percent of Texas eight graders and 25 percent of fourth graders have achieved proficiency science compared to a US average of 27 percent.

TMA Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching is presented annually during TMA's TexMed meeting. Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Butler, Austin, for whom the program is named, are lifetime supporters through a permanent endowment the couple established at TMA Foundation in the late 1990s. Up to $25,000 in additional support is needed each year.

Read the program prospectus 

2012-2013 Goals: The science teaching awards program can achieve significant progress in the following ways:

• Increase awareness and appreciation of science as an essential part of education among teachers, principals, superintendents, and students.
• Motivate science teachers to strive for excellence in teaching and to seek new and innovative ways to educate students in science.
• Inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, and medicine.
• Reinforce to physicians the importance of science and its relevance in the practice of medicine.

 Hear how recent winners go the extra mile to ensure their students excel.

Funding Opportunity: The awards program needs $40,850 to operate in 2012-2013.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is a major underwriter of this program for 2010, 2011, and 2012! 

Parents, students, colleagues, and administrators are strongly encouraged to nominate teachers who exemplify excellence in any area of science.  Nominate more than one if you feel strongly about several teachers.  Self-nominations also are accepted and encouraged.  For more information or to nominate, call Gail Schatte at TMA at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1600, e-mail gail.schatte@texmed.org or go to tmacares.org.

Physician Oncology Education Program (POEP)
Cancer is the second leading cause of death for all Texas, yet very little education is provided to physicians that covers cancer prevention, screening and early detection, and symptom management.  Donations to POEP support the ongoing educational efforts of TMA's Physician Oncology Education Program (POEP).  Past projects include the ABC's of Childhood Cancer-POEP's first childhood cancer conference and the Annual "Cancer:  What Primary Care Physicians Need to Know" held during TMA's annual meeting.

2013 Goal: The 15th Annual "Cancer:  What Primary Care Physicians Need to Know" was offered during TMA's annual meeting with nearly 150 physicians from around Texas attending.

Funding Opportunity: TMAF must raise $14,000 to help support POEP.

To learn more about the program contact POEP staff at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1469, (512) 370-1469, or POEP. 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is a major underwriter of this program for 2010 and 2011!