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In Defense of Public Health: Peter Hotez, MD, on the Comeback of Preventable Diseases - 05/05/2021

Preventable diseases are back on the map, and Peter Hotez, MD, Texas’ most outspoken vaccine researcher, says physicians need to think globally to help stop the trend.

Physician and Alliance Leadership Needed - Join local school health advisory councils - 05/05/2021

Join your local school health advisory council (SHAC) to help improve community health and wellness. SHACs address all aspects of their school district’s school health program.

New Resource Helps Kids Manage COVID-19-Related Stresses - 05/05/2021

Texas physicians have unveiled a new tool to help parents support their children whose behavioral health is suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s upheaval.The Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) School Reopening Workgroup, the Texas Pediatric Society (TPS), and members of TMA’s Committee on Behavioral Health produced “Your Child’s Feelings Matter,” a resource in English and Spanish to help parents recognize and support their children’s reactions to school disruptions and other changes the pandemic has forced upon their young lives.

Help Kids Manage COVID-19-Related Stresses With This New TMA Resource - 05/04/2021

Texas physicians created a new tool to help parents support their children whose behavioral health is suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s upheaval.

A Healthy Knowledge: Improving Patients' Health Literacy - 05/01/2021

The more literate patients are about health matters, the easier it is for physicians to treat them.

The ABCs of Health: Physician Leadership on School Health Advisory Councils (SHACs) - 05/01/2021

Physician leadership on school health advisory councils, or SHACs, can improve local policies.

Talk to Patients About: Vaccines and Cancer - 04/01/2021

Vaccines are one of medicine’s best tools against cancer. The shots for human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B prevent a range of cancers and save thousands of lives each year. But anti-vaccine advocates have tried – incorrectly – to paint just the opposite picture in several ways.

Keeping Children Safe: Prevention a More Prevalent Approach to Address Child Abuse, Neglect - 04/01/2021

Physicians, especially pediatricians and family doctors, are trained to recognize signs of abuse and neglect and are legally obligated to report them. That is a vital approach for combatting the problem. However, physicians and other child abuse experts are turning more and more toward prevention.

Routine Screen: Regular Testing Needed to End HIV Epidemic - 04/01/2021

Testing is one of the best ways to combat HIV infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine testing for patients between the ages of 13 to 64. Yet, fewer than 40% of eligible people have ever had an HIV test, according to a 2019 CDC study.

TMA Supports Evidence-Based Care for LGBTQ Youth - 03/22/2021

The Texas Medical Association aggressively opposes any "potentially harmful, unproven therapies," such as conversion therapy, that are designed to change the sexual orientation of LGBTQ young people, TMA President David Fleeger, MD, said in prepared testimony to the Texas Medical Board on Friday.

Texas Physicians Urge Spring Break Safety Precautions - 03/16/2021

A spring break vacation might sound like a great idea after a year of pandemic-related stress, isolation, and social distancing, but Texas physicians say now is not the time to let our guard down. The Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) School Reopening Workgroup says regardless of what you do for spring break, traveling and gathering in large groups away from home still bring high risk for spreading or catching COVID-19.

Texas Physicians Urge Masking, Continued Vigilance in Schools to Fight COVID-19 - 03/11/2021

The Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) School Reopening Workgroup and the Texas Pediatric Society (TPS) are calling on Texans to remain vigilant and maintain proven preventive measures against COVID-19 as schools reopen, primarily urging school leadership to keep universal masking policies in place.

Walk Leaders: Attend the State of the Walk March 10 - 03/09/2021

Help plan the future of Walk With a Doc during a virtual “State of the Walk,” where founder David Sabgir, MD, will describe his vision for the national program for 2021 and beyond. The Zoom event is scheduled for 4:30 pm (CT) Wednesday, March 10.

Leading Innovation: Physician Entrepreneur Develops App to Engage Patients - 02/27/2021

In 2015, Austin cardiologist Manish Chauhan, MD, decided to finally act on an idea he’d been knocking around for a while – something to fill a void he’d witnessed when it came to engaging patients in their care.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) - 02/05/2021

Since the 1980s, pertussis cases in the United States have increased, especially among adolescents and adults. The best way to prevent pertussis infections among adolescents and adults is a Tdap booster.

DFW, Galveston Health Programs Receive TMA Foundation Health Awards - 02/02/2021

Thousands of underserved Texans in Dallas/Fort Worth and Galveston will have access to health care, locally grown food, and COVID-19 testing thanks to the three special health care nonprofits presented the Texas Medical Association Foundation’s (TMAF’s) John P. McGovern Champion of Health Awards for 2021. TMAF presented the awards to the honorees on Saturday at the TMA Winter Conference, held virtually from Austin.

TMA Praises Governor’s Telemedicine, Broadband, Vaccine Priorities - 02/02/2021

Statement by Texas Medical Association (TMA) President Diana L. Fite, MD, about the health care priorities Gov. Greg Abbott cited in his State of the State address.

Commentary: Hard Lessons Learned - 02/01/2021

Every pandemic is different, but I think there are some hard lessons we’ve learned during this process that we would be wise to take to heart. Below are what I consider three of the most important ones.

Commentary: This Is Not a Drill - 02/01/2021

On Jan. 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first case of novel coronavirus, later named “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” (SARS-CoV-2), in the U.S. At the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) we realized it was only a matter of time before the virus arrived in Texas. By Jan. 31, we activated the DSHS State Medical Operations Center to prepare for the coming crisis.

Support Essential Public Health Infrastructure - 01/30/2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has strained Texas’ already limited public health resources and transformed what were once cracks in our public health system into deep chasms.

TMA Foundation Distributes Grants to Help Improve Underserved Texans’ Health - 01/27/2021

Uninsured and underserved Texans across four metro areas will receive medical assistance thanks to $13,000 in Texas Medical Association Foundation (TMAF) grant funding awarded to up-and-coming physicians and local medical societies for health-focused initiatives.

President Biden Outlines Steps to Address COVID-19 Pandemic - 01/20/2021

In a series of executive orders released before taking office Tuesday, President Joseph Biden took several steps to address the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including issuing a mask challenge, re-engaging with the World Health Organization (WHO), and coordinating a unified national response.

Governor’s First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine a Confidence Boost for Texas - 12/22/2020

Please attribute this statement to Texas Public Health Coalition Chair Jason V. Terk, MD, in response to Gov. Abbott receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. “Every dose of COVID-19 vaccine administered brings Texas one step closer to the end of the pandemic. The Texas Public Health Coalition celebrates the news Gov. Greg Abbott received his first dose today and expresses appreciation for his personal leadership by example..."

TMA Applauds Governor Abbott for Getting COVID-19 Vaccine - 12/21/2020

“TMA thanks Governor Abbott for rolling up his sleeve to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. People need to see we can make Texas strong against the coronavirus if we all take these preventive measures to protect ourselves and others. The governor is leading by example by getting the shot..."

Division of Population Health and Medical Education - 12/14/2020

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.