Boards, Councils, Committees, and Sections

If you are interested in joining a council or committee, e-mail Connie Webster, or use TMA's leadership nomination form. To learn more about other leadership opportunities, please visit here.

Many councils and committees hold business meetings in conjunction with TMA Conferences. At the discretion of the chair, these groups may invite other TMA members and guests to attend their meeting. The chair may also determine whether a guest can participate in the meeting. Guests may be required to leave if the council or committee goes into an executive session for closed deliberation. If you are not a member of these groups, please ensure you have spoken with the appropriate chair or TMA staff to request or confirm attendance. Meetings of TMA boards are limited to the members of those boards.


Boards

Board of Councilors
Consists of one councilor and vice councilor from each of 15 districts. Addresses questions of medical ethics, and issues charters for and supervises component county medical societies.

Alisa M. Berger, MD, Chair
Wellborn, Texas 
Staff: Kelly Walla, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1348 

Board of Trustees
Made up of nine at-large members, six TMA officers who serve ex officio, one resident/fellow, one young physician, and one medical student. Manages business and financial affairs of the association, implements policies of the House of Delegates, establishes interim policy of the association between meetings of the House of Delegates, and monitors program activities of association councils and committees.

Keith A. Bourgeois, MD, Chair
Houston, Texas
Staff: Michael J. Darrouzet, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1301
Staff: Connie Webster(800) 880-1300, ext. 1302 

TEXPAC
Contributes financial and nonfinancial resources to candidates for public office, specifically the Texas Legislature, Texas Supreme Court, U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Senate. Engages in political education for TMA, TEXPAC, and TMA Alliance members, encouraging involvement in the political arena on behalf of Texas medicine.

Jimmy Widmer, MD, Chair
Temple, Texas
Staff: Christine Mojezati, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1361


Councils

Please contact your council, committee, or section staff for copies of meeting minutes.  

Constitution and Bylaws
Oversees fact-finding and serves as advisory body on matters pertaining to the TMA Constitution and Bylaws. Handles long-range organizational planning.

Dexter Turnquest, MD, Chair
Houston, Texas
Staff: Eamon Reilly, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1337

Health Care Quality
Establishes policy on the topics of quality improvement, patient safety, performance-based measurement, and value-based payment mechanisms. Advocates to both payers and policymakers for fairness, standardization, and investment in quality improvement for clinical practice. Creates education, tools, and resources for physicians to understand and evaluate potential revenue (and/or penalties) in performance measurement programs based on evidence-based medicine.

Ajay K. Gupta, MD, Chair
Austin, Texas 
Staff: Karen Batory, (800) 880-1300,  ext. 1405
Kathryn Clarke, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1400

Health Promotion
Plans and oversees programs and activities that enable TMA, the TMA Alliance, and the TMA Foundation to improve the health of all Texans. 

Li-Yu Mitchell, MD, Chair
Tyler, Texas
Staff: Pam Udall, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1380

Health Service Organizations
Studies, recommends, and initiates activities related to the organization and services of facilities used in the continuum of health care service delivery. Represents TMA in its relationships with organizations and agencies concerned with the problems of aging and long-term care.

Mina K. Sinacori, MD, Chair
Houston, Texas
Staff: Kelly Flanagan (800) 880-1300, ext. 1345

Legislation
Develops and implements legislative policies at state and national levels.

Tilden L. Childs, III, MD, Chair
Fort Worth, Texas
Staff: Clayton Stewart (800) 880-1300, ext. 1365
Dave Wilhelm, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1352

Medical Education
Coordinates TMA’s medical education activities, monitors state and federal legislation, studies physician workforce, accredits continuing medical education activities, and monitors physician licensure and credentialing. Includes the Subcommittee for Academic Physicians.

Kevin Hood McKinney, MD, Chair
Galveston, Texas
Staff: Marcia Collins, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1375 

Member Experience
Plans and oversees programs to recognize and heighten TMA members’ experience and engagement throughout the association, and better align TMA’s offerings with the needs and wants of members. Guides coordinated development of relevant and timely member benefits, programs, and services for key interest groups and segments of TMA membership.

Shanna M. Combs, MD, Chair
Fort Worth, Texas
Staff: Sylvia Salazar, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1433
Morgan Cotham, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1339

Science and Public Health
Advances the scientific basis of medical practice, develops policy on high-priority public health and medical science issues, advances TMA’s leadership in medical science and public health advocacy, provides physicians with evidence-based public health and scientific information, and communicates TMA policy and expertise on public health and medical science.  

Benjamin C. Lee, MD, Chair
Dallas, Texas 
Staff: Christina Ly, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1341

Socioeconomics
Studies, recommends, and engages in activities related to the socioeconomic aspects of medical care and regulations. Recommends policy related to physician practice viability and payment, health care coverage, information technology, and delivery system reform. Promotes quality outcomes in the patient-patient relationship by helping members practice efficiently in managed care and other rapidly changing settings. Monitors impact of managed care on the medical environment. Maintains relationships with entities allied with TMA in promoting high-quality services to Texans. 

Gary J. Sheppard, MD, Chair
Houston, Texas
Staff: Robert Bennett, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1409
 Leslie Jones, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1417


Committees

Please contact your council, committee, or section staff for copies of meeting minutes. 

Behavioral Health
The Committee on Behavioral Health (CBH) is dedicated to researching, developing, and maintaining association policy on behavioral health, including support for initiatives to improve access to behavioral health care. Work of the committee fall under topics such as suicide prevention, adverse childhood experiences, substance use disorders, maternal and perinatal mental health, and multidisciplinary integrated models that enhance physician workflow and ability to deliver effective behavioral health interventions to diverse patient populations. 

Celia B. Neavel, MD, Co-Chair
Austin, Texas
 
Leslie Harold Secrest, MD, Co-Chair
Dallas, Texas
Staff: Kaavya Venkat(800) 880-1300, ext. 1462

Cancer

Supervises activities of TMA related to cancer, and inaugurates and promotes education among physicians and the public for control of cancer.

Mammen A. Sam, MD, Chair
Pearland, Texas
Staff: Erin Thompson(800) 880-1300, ext. 1342

Child and Adolescent Health
Promotes policies to encourage the development of healthy youth, including those with disabilities, and provides liaison with organizations concerned with health services for children and adolescents.

Lauren K. Gambill, MD, Chair
Austin, Texas
Staff: Kaavya Venkat, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1462

Continuing Education
Monitors and studies CME trends and issues and recommends CME policy; promotes high-quality CME programs for Texas physicians; reviews and evaluates physician CME needs; monitors planning, development, evaluation, and designation of credit hours for all TMA activities carrying AMA PRA Category 1TM credit; maintains CME program standards; and administers TMA’s accreditation and joint sponsorship programs.

Scott Paul Krall, MD, Chair
Corpus Christi, Texas
Staff: Casey Harrison, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1446
Paige Green, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1447

Emergency Medical Services and Trauma
Works in the formulation, initiation, and maintenance of community plans for emergency medical services leading to statewide coverage, and educates physicians on providing medical care in disaster situations.

Hilary E. Fairbrother, MD Chair
Houston, Texas
Staff: Kathryn Clarke(800) 880-1300, ext. 1400

Health Information Technology
Promotes the safe and effective use of technology that supports practice efficiency, quality improvement activities, and management of population health. Monitors state and federal laws, regulations, and programs impacting physician and patient use of technology. Develops association policy related to health technology and collaborates with other professional organizations and governmental agencies. Advocates and oversees development of health information technology education and resources for physician members of the association.

Manish M. Naik, MD, Chair
Austin, Texas
Staff: Shannon Vogel, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1411
Leslie Jones, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1414

Infectious Diseases
Educates the profession and public on the prevalence, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases, including HIV, COVID-19, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases. Monitors legislation regarding infectious diseases.

Trish Marie Perl, MD, Chair
Dallas, Texas
Staff: Christina Ly, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1341
Rachel Hauser, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1412

Interspecialty Society
Provides a forum for members and specialty societies to share information and present matters that may require assistance or action from TMA. Disseminates information and makes recommendations about legal, legislative, socioeconomic, and professional issues referred by the association or outside entities.

Jack W. Pierce, MD, Chair  
Austin, Texas
Staff: Laura Weiss, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1520

Medicaid, CHIP, and the Uninsured
Researches and formulates association policy proposals on Medicaid, CHIP, the uninsured, and other safety-net programs. Identifies and develops TMA regulatory, legislative, and budget recommendations relating to Medicaid, CHIP, and uninsured. Monitors implementation of state and federal regulatory and legislative initiatives related to these programs. Actively works with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Medicaid managed care organizations in the design and implementation of physician-friendly value-based payment initiatives and population health measures to address social determinants of health. Collaborates with provider associations, consumer groups, and Medicaid and CHIP health plans.

Maria C. Scranton, MD, Chair
Round Rock, Texas
Staff: Robert Bennett(800) 880-1300, ext. 1409

Medical Home and Primary Care
Promotes the medical home and integration of primary care, community care, and public health.

Angela M. Guerra, MD, Chair
Baytown, Texas
Staff: Kim Harmon(800) 880-1300, ext. 1416
Robert Bennett(800) 880-1300, ext. 1409

Patient-Physician Advocacy
Advocates for patients and physicians in areas related to quality and utilization of medical care, including peer review. Recommends regulatory, legal, and legislative approaches to ensure high standards of care are available to all.

Spencer H. Su, MD, Chair
Houston, Texas
Staff: Kelly Walla, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1348

Physician Distribution and Health Care Access
Analyzes physician, nursing, and allied health workforce and its impact on access; and promotes careers in medicine and the health professions.

Stephen E. Whitney, MD, Chair
Missouri City, Texas
Staff: Marcia Collins, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1375

Physician Health and Wellness
Promotes healthy lifestyles in Texas to medical students, residents, and physicians. Provides advocacy and support for and education on physician wellness. Promotes prevention of potentially impairing conditions.

Toi B. Harris, MD,  Chair
Houston, Texas
Staff: Casey Harrison(800) 880-1300, ext. 1446
Sue Mullen(800) 880-1300, ext. 1608


Reproductive, Women's, and Perinatal Health
Reviews laws, regulations, and activities that impact reproductive, women’s, and perinatal health in the state and fosters coordination on issues common to these areas.

Rakhi C. Dimino, MD, Chair
Houston, Texas
Staff:  Erin Thompson(800) 880-1300, ext. 1342

Rural Health
Works toward the improvement of rural health; and reviews and comments on laws, regulations, and activities that impact medicine in rural areas.

Jason R. McKnight, MD, Chair
Bryan, Texas
Staff: Robert Bennett(800) 880-1300, ext. 1409


Sections 

Please contact your council, committee, or section staff for copies of meeting minutes.

International Medical Graduate
Identifies socioeconomic, legislative, and other factors affecting practice opportunities, training, and licensure for international medical graduates; and develops recommendations for addressing specific concerns.

Jenny Thomas Jacob, MD, Chair
Round Rock, Texas
Staff: Karen Kollar, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1448

LGBTQ Health Section
Addresses issues of interest to LGBTQ medical students, resident and fellows, and physicians. The section’s charge is to (1) study and advance the scientific basis for the care of LGBTQ patients; (2) develop policy and resources on LGBTQ health and advance the association as a leader in providing physicians with evidence-based scientific information on the care of LGBTQ patients; (3) address the unique issues in practice management, billing, and maintaining medical records in the care of LBGTQ patients; (4) communicate association policy and expertise on LGBTQ health; and (5) educate policymakers and advocate for policies addressing the medical spectrum of gender identity to improve access to quality health care.  Any TMA physician member may become a member of the section.

Kelly Bennett, MD, Chair
Lubbock, Texas
Staff: Melanie Fossett(800) 880-1300, ext. 1443

Medical Student
Serves as a forum for medical students at each of the allopathic and osteopathic schools in Texas to participate in the TMA and AMA policy-making processes and on boards, councils, and committees. Encourages development of student leaders and programs in medical student chapters throughout Texas.

Tanooha Veeramachaneni, Chair
UT Southwestern Medical School
Dallas, Texas
Staff: Karen Kollar(800) 880-1300, ext. 1448

Resident and Fellow
Serves as an advocate for physicians and patients through resident physician involvement in the creation of TMA and AMA policies. Establishes and implements improved standards in health care and provides a communication resource and structure that enables residents to address their unique needs and issues.

Pruthali Kulkarni, DO, Chair
Katy, Texas
Staff: Karen Kollar(800) 880-1300, ext. 1448

Women Physicians
Provides a means to strengthen female physicians' engagement and representation in organized medicine through the development of relevant policy, programming, and services. TMA members identifying as female are automatically included in the section, but it is open to all TMA member physicians. 

Shanna Marie Combs, MD, Chair
Fort Worth, Texas
Staff: Karen Kollar(800) 880-1300, ext. 1448   

Young Physician
Provides a means for physicians in their first eight years of practice to participate in activities and programs relevant to the physician entering practice. Provides input into TMA policy through direct access and representation in the House of Delegates. Awards scholarships to rural high school seniors excelling in science who plan to pursue careers in medicine or allied health.

Emma L. Dishner, MD, Chair
Dallas, Texas
Staff: Melanie Fossett, (800) 880-1300, ext. 1443 

Last Updated On

February 16, 2024

Originally Published On

March 23, 2010