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Contaminant Containment: Countering Foodborne Illness Outbreaks Takes Physician Awareness and Prompt Reporting - 06/26/2025

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates each year some 48 million people get sick from a foodborne illness, more than 127,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die.

'The Canary in the Coal Mine': Wastewater Testing Advances Improve Physician and Public Readiness for Outbreaks - 06/23/2025

Houston is home to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Wastewater Surveillance System of Excellence.

The Essence of Outreach: TMA Health Beat Broadens Its Audience to Advocate More Effectively for Physicians - 06/23/2025

Louise Bethea, MD, sometimes encounters resistance in persuading her patients with asthma to adhere to their daily medication regimen. It’s a problem she attributes, in part, to low health care literacy.

Corpus Christi Physician to Host Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 06/18/2025

Corpus Christi residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Jacqueline Reyes-Diaz, MD, of Nueces County Medical Society for the launch of their second monthly Walk with a Doc Texas event.

Huntsville Physician to Host City’s First Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 06/04/2025

Huntsville residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Kerolos Youssef, MD, of the Sam Houston Regional Education Consortium (SHREC) for the city’s first Walk with a Doc Texas event.

Mineral Wells Physician to Host First Anniversary Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 06/04/2025

Palo Pinto, Jack, and Parker County residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Shivum Agarwal, MD, for Mineral Wells’ first anniversary Walk with a Doc Texas event.

U.S., Texas Child Flu Deaths Increase Amid a Grim Season - 06/04/2025

Texas has recorded 15 pediatric flu deaths so far for the 2024-2025 flu season. That number is significantly higher than last year, when no child deaths associated with flu occurred in the state. Physicians continue to advocate immunization as the best defense.

Whooping Cough Spikes in Texas Among Measles Outbreak - 04/30/2025

The Texas Department of State Health Services so far has reported 1,060 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, outpacing the rate seen in 2024. Tdap and DTaP immunizations are crucial, including for pregnant mothers.

Whooping Cough Cases Far Outpacing Last Year’s as Measles Illnesses Continue to Spread - 04/30/2025

Amid the worst measles outbreak Texas has seen in over 30 years; pertussis cases are spiking as well. Through mid-April, 1,060 cases of pertussis occurred in the state, while 1,928 cases were reported in all of 2024, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - 04/09/2025

The impact of adverse childhood events (ACEs) can be lasting and costly on patient health and medical outcomes. In the United States, more than 20% of adults report experiencing three ACEs during their youth, potentially increasing the risk of negative, chronic health consequences and challenges such as alcoholism, depression, unemployment, heart disease and substance abuse, among many others.

Division of Population Health and Medical Education - 04/03/2025

The Division of Population Health and Medical Education focuses on public health, scientific, and patient safety issues throughout the state, emphasizing areas in which high-quality medical care and scientific expertise can benefit all Texans. In addition the division maintains close relationships with academic medicine and monitors physician workforce trends.

McAllen Physician to Host Her First Walk with a Doc Texas Event - 04/01/2025

McAllen residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Heidi Pareja, MD, for her first Walk with a Doc Texas event in partnership with the Family Medicine Residency Program of the South Texas Health System GME Consortium, and the Family Health Center of Mission.

Walk with a Doc Turns 20, Creates Lasting Community Changes - 04/01/2025

Walk with a Doc is celebrating its 20th anniversary by challenging physicians and their patients to walk for at least 20 minutes every day in April – and two Dallas physicians are celebrating a one-year anniversary of their own.

Texas Physicians Explain Herd Immunity Needed to Fight Contagious-Disease Hotspots - 03/26/2025

A community with enough vaccinated people can protect each other from the spread of contagious disease. Herd immunity – also known as community immunity – protects those who are not immune and those who cannot or choose not to get vaccinated.

Earn CME and Hear Practical Measles Guidance as Outbreak Expands - 03/21/2025

As the West Texas outbreak shows little sign of slowing, TMA and DSHS present an update and strategies for combating measles in a CME-qualifying webinar.

Use These Four Steps With Irate Patients - 03/19/2025

When faced with a highly emotional patient, your first task is to lower the emotional level of the patient so you can negotiate a reasonable solution. Use these four steps to accomplish that.

Measles Outbreak Hits 124 Cases, One Death; Exposed Unvaccinated People Urged to Get Vaccinated - 02/26/2025

As measles cases continue to spread in and around Gaines County in West Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said one unvaccinated child has died of the highly contagious disease. The number of measles cases has grown to 124 people as of Feb. 25, the vast majority of whom are unvaccinated. DSHS urges any unvaccinated person who was exposed to measles to get vaccinated quickly.

Physicians Ask Lawmakers to Make Social Media Safer for Children, Prevent Data Mining - 02/03/2025

The Texas Medical Association and Texas Pediatric Society told a committee of the Texas Legislature about the importance of developing policies that promote healthy technology use for young people and restrict data mining of minors’ information.

Doctor’s Orders to ‘Eat Healthy’ Bolstered by Updated FDA Metrics - 01/23/2025

The Food and Drug Administration’s new approach to deeming foods healthy affirms nutrition science and longstanding TMA policy. While serious obstacles to healthful eating remain, the new guidelines may provide a way to discuss dietary principles like portion sizes and balanced eating with patients.

Advancing Health Equity: Karen Batory’s 35-year TMA Career Shaped Public Health for the Association - 01/20/2025

Karen Batory’s extensive, 35-year career at TMA shaped public health for both the association and the state

Taking Steps Together: Walk with a Doc Texas Improves Health and Communities - 01/15/2025

Walk with a Doc Texas improves health and builds communities for patients and physicians alike.

Physicians: Carbon Monoxide Exposure Can be Deadly, Cause Permanent Organ Damage - 12/17/2024

More than a million people are still without power in Houston and Southeast Texas after Hurricane Beryl hit the Texas Gulf Coast on Monday, but their temporary solution could harm them. As people without electricity turn to alternate energy resources, physicians are reminding Texans about the dangers of carbon monoxide exposure.

As School is Starting, Are Your Child’s Immunizations Updated? - 12/17/2024

As kids are returning to school, physicians have an important reminder for parents: Make sure your children are up to date on all immunizations.

Multistage, Collaborative Review of State Trauma Rules Yields a Win for Medicine - 12/04/2024

A monthslong, multidisciplinary effort by a consortium of stakeholders in trauma and emergency medical services, including TMA, has borne fruit in trauma care rules that extend physician involvement and prioritize common sense in the trauma facility designation process.

I Never Knew TMA: Has Local Community Health and Outreach Programs - 11/27/2024

The Texas Medical Association’s community outreach programs offer a rewarding alternative for physicians to connect with their patients in ways that can have a big impact even beyond the office.