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Q&A: Stethoscopes and Telescopes - 02/21/2020

Ever since he was a boy, Temple family physician John Manning, MD, has been fascinated by space. Now, Dr. Manning is also an amateur photographer. About 10 years ago, he merged his interests in photography and space into his latest obsession: astrophotography.

Doctor on the Set: Surgical Resident Thrives in Hollywood - 02/18/2020

About two years ago, Michael Metzner, MD, took a break from his San Antonio surgical residency program for what was supposed to be a year-long gig in the bright lights of Hollywood. He hasn’t come back. He says he will … just not quite yet.

Beyond Burnout: Docs Decry Moral Injury From Financial Pressures of Health Care - 02/14/2020

A growing number of physicians, nurses, social workers and other clinicians are using the phrase “moral injury” to describe their inner struggles at work. The term comes from war: It was first used to explain why military veterans were not responding to standard treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Save the Date: Help Improve the Overall Health of Physicians - 01/31/2020

How is medicine encouraging organizational changes? How is medicine supporting the need for mental and emotional quality-of-life resources in academic medical centers? These questions and more will be addressed during the second-annual Texas Medical Association Physician Health and Wellness Exchange in October.

Improve Your Work-Life Balance with These Simple Steps - 01/14/2020

You’re a busy physician, so you might not always have time to take care of yourself as well as your patients. But taking care of yourself doesn’t just mean focusing on your physical well-being. Your mental, financial, and emotional fitness need to be looked after as well. The Texas Medical Association’s Committee on Physician Health and Wellness can help you assess your work-life balance and determine your core values.

Q&A: Physician Podcaster Jeffrey Jarvis, MD - 01/02/2020

A love of teaching is what propelled Jeffrey Jarvis, MD, into his latest undertaking: hosting a nationally distributed podcast.

Best of Both Worlds: Surgical Resident, Grey’s Anatomy Consultant Blends the Arts and Medicine - 12/17/2019

San Antonio surgical resident Michael Metzner, MD, blends his passions for the arts and medicine as a Grey’s Anatomy consultant.

Social Media A Vital Tool for Influencing Policy, Panel Says - 12/13/2019

Social media has become indispensable for politicians to reach voters, but it's also a crucial way for voters – like physicians – to influence decision-makers and public opinion, a panel of state representatives and social media consultants said at the Texas Medical Association's Advocacy Retreat on Saturday.

Don’t Let it Happen to You: Practice Fined Over Social Media - 12/09/2019

As more people go online to research products and services, online reputation management has become increasingly relevant for physicians.Because of the HIPAA Privacy Rule, physicians cannot respond to online reviews in any way that reveals PHI. Even if a patient discloses their own personal information in a review, physicians cannot respond with the same level of disclosure.

Searching for a Better Online Reputation - 08/02/2019

What people see on the internet can bring in — or drive away — patients. But most physicians are not trained in either communications or digital technology, and so have little understanding of the financial impact of search engines, social media, and review sites.

Profile: Beekeeper John Haley, MD - 08/02/2019

When Garland ophthalmologist John Haley, MD, is not wearing a white coat taking care of patients, you might find him in a beekeeper’s suit tending to his six beehives.

Protect Your Practice’s Social Media Accounts - 05/30/2019

Social media is a terrific way to reach out and stay in contact with your patients. However, the risks created by social media cannot be ignored. Controlling access to your social media accounts is just the first step in ensuring their security.

Battling Burnout - 04/25/2019

The state most susceptible to burnout is Texas, which registered the lowest morale rate in the Physicians Foundation’s “2016 Survey of America’s Physicians.” Pockets of organized medicine are stepping up to address burnout, to give physicians a place to talk about their problems and grievances, and to rekindle their professional fire.

TMA Twitter Academy - 04/09/2019

Want to get started using social media, especially Twitter, for health care advocacy? Here's the place to start: Four basic lessons from the TMA Twitter Academy, lists of Twitter users to follow, and links to Twitter tools and apps.

Help TMA Understand How You Use Social Media - 03/13/2019

The Texas Medical Association is interested in knowing how you use social media and is asking you to take a short survey before Friday, March 15.

There's Still Time To Register For the Physician Health and Wellness Exchange - 02/21/2019

If you would like to learn how to create and promote a culture of wellness for yourself as well as for students, residents, fellows, and your physician colleagues, there is still time to register for the inaugural Physician Health and Wellness Exchange in Houston early next month.

Love Yourself and Your Patients With FREE CME This Month - 02/11/2019

Love is in the air this month, and the Texas Medical Association is reminding physicians to practice some self-care, too. Use the TMA Education Center to catch up on your continuing medical education (CME) credits, and prioritize your personal wellness, along with that of your patients.

Remembering medicine's tailwinds - 02/07/2019

With all these negative things that we physicians face on a daily basis, it is very easy to forget about what is actually going quite well. For some examples, I’d like to present my “Top 5 Medicine Tailwinds.”

Five Ideas for Abstract Submission at the PHW Exchange Poster Session - 01/31/2019

The Texas Medical Association Physician Health and Wellness Exchange in February will feature a poster session highlighting the TMA Health and Wellness initiative in academic medicine. The poster session is an opportunity for medical students, residents, and academic medicine faculty members to collaborate on ideas that will help identify best practices for wellness and resilience in academic medical centers.  

Wellness: Make It Your No. 1 Goal in 2019 - 01/17/2019

If you would like to learn how to institute self-help programs at your facility, or if you would like to understand ways to improve your well-being, join TMA and the Baylor College of Medicine at the inaugural Physician Health and Wellness Exchange on Saturday, March 2, in Houston.

Muslim Surgeon Keeps Leadership Post in Tarrant County GOP - 01/11/2019

Southlake trauma surgeon Shahid Shafi, MD, will retain his position as vice chairman of the Tarrant County Republican Party after a failed attempt to vote him out of the position because he is Muslim.

Americans Rank Physicians No. 2 in Honesty and Ethics, Again - 12/21/2018

Health care professions hold down the three top spots in the Gallup Poll’s 2018 annual ranking for honesty and ethical standards. Nursing came in first — for the 17th consecutive year — followed by physicians and pharmacists.

Why You Should Take a Sabbatical (And How to Make the Most of It) - 11/20/2018

There are different ways to get away, and how we go about it may depend on where we are in life. During the routine work year, breaks can come in all shapes and sizes, from the afternoon off to a three-day weekend, or a more substantial week or more off for a vacation. These standard breaks rejuvenate us and help us stay focused when we are back at work. A sabbatical is something altogether different

Seven Reasons to Attend the Physician Health and Wellness Exchange - 10/31/2018

If you’re interested in exploring how to improve physician health and wellness, here are seven reasons why you should attend the Texas Medical Association Physician Health and Wellness Exchange, scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Houston.

Stepping Away From Your Clinical Career? Key Points to Keep In Mind About Re-Entry - 10/17/2018

It is common for physicians to leave clinical practice for some period during their career and then seek to reenter clinical practice. Physicians who are considering a nonclinical career should keep the following key points in mind.