50-Year Club History
The 50-Year Club was established in 1984 as a social group for TMA members who graduated from medical school 50 years ago or more. The club's main activity was a dinner/dance during the annual TexMed conference. In addition, club members were committed to ensuring the success of the next generation of physicians and showed that commitment by supporting TMA's scholarship and loan programs.
From 1986-1996, the club made an annual contribution to TMA's Medical Student Loan Fund. From 1997-2004, the club made an annual contribution to the
Young Physicians Section (YPS) Rural Scholarship Fund. Thanks to the donations from the 50-Year Club, the Young Physician Section was able to increase
its scholarships from one to three.
The YPS honored the 50-Year Club in 1998 with its Young at
Heart Award, presented to a physician or group of physicians who have provided exceptional guidance and support to young physicians.
The club voted in 2004 to redirect its contribution to establish the TMA 50-Year Club Scholarship for medical students with outstanding academic progress and financial need. The first scholarship was awarded in 2005.
In 2018, the club's membership overwhelmingly
voted to end its dinner/dance and increase funding for the 50-Year Club Scholarship, which opened the door to the creation of the 50-Year Club Fund in 2020. Gifts to the 50-Year Club are now charitable following the Board of Trustees' approval of the 50-Year Club Fund for the purpose of supporting medical student scholarships in Texas.
Applicant criteria for the scholarship are:
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Be in the second, third, or fourth year of medical school study;
- Display outstanding academic progress in medical school; and
- Exhibit financial need.
Indeed, the 50-Year Club’s commitment to the education of the next
generation of physicians continues. If you know Texas medical student applicants worthy of the scholarship, encourage them to apply.
And if you want to support the scholarship, email 50-Year Club or login to the donate webpage.
Resources
Past Presidents
Member Essays
Last Updated On
January 13, 2021
Originally Published On
March 23, 2010