Houston-Area Physicians Take TMA Leadership Roles (2012)

Several Houston-area physicians have accepted new leadership positions within the Texas Medical Association (TMA). TMA physicians and medical students who are appointed or elected to one of TMA’s 30 boards, councils, and committees are responsible for studying and recommending action on important issues affecting Texas patients and health care policy. 

Council elections and committee appointments: 

Houston: 

Eugene V. Boisaubin, MD, who has been practicing internal medicine for 38 years, was appointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Physician Health and Rehabilitation. The committee provides support and outreach related to the treatment and rehabilitation of physicians with impairments. 

Keith A. Bourgeois, MD, an ophthalmologist for 24 years, was re-elected to TMA’s Council on Legislation. The council develops and implements legislative policies at the state and national levels to improve medicine and patient care. 

Arthur W. Bracey Jr., MD, a pathologist in practice for 32 years, was reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Blood and Tissue Usage. The committee monitors transfusion medicine and tissue donation, processing, and transplantation. 

Lisa L. Ehrlich, MD, who has practiced internal medicine for 16 years, was re-elected to TMA’s Council on Health Care Quality. The council helps physicians establish policy to improve and measure health care quality and patient safety, and advocates for quality improvement.  

Saundra K. Gilfillan, DO, a child and adolescent psychiatrist practicing for 18 years, was appointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Child and Adolescent Health. The committee promotes policies to encourage the development of healthy young Texans. 

William S. Gilmer, MD, a neurologist for 24 years, was re-elected to TMA’s Council on Science and Public Health. This council develops policy on high-priority public health and medical science issues, provides physicians with evidence-based public health and scientific information, and communicates TMA policy on these issues. 

Charleta Guillory, MD, a neonatologist-perinatalogist in practice for 33 years, was reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Maternal and Perinatal Health. The committee reviews laws, regulations, and activities that affect the health of newborn babies and their mothers. 

Lawrence M. Hanrahan, MD, MBA, a physician practicing for 19 years, was appointed as a consultant to TMA’s Council on Medical Education. The council coordinates TMA’s medical education activities, studies the physician workforce, accredits continuing medical education activities, and monitors physician licensure and credentialing. 

C. Mary Healy, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist for four years, was appointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Maternal and Perinatal Health. 

Shkelzen Hoxhaj, MD, who has practiced five years as an emergency physician, was appointed chair of TMA’s Committee on Emergency Medical Services and Trauma. The committee works to create and maintain local and statewide plans for emergency medical services, and educates Texas physicians about plans to provide medical care in disaster situations. 

Robert E. Jackson, MD, who has practiced internal medicine for 28 years, was appointed chair of TMA’s Committee on Physician Distribution and Health Care Access. The committee analyzes the physician, nursing, and allied health workforce and its impact on health care access, and promotes careers in medicine and the health professions. 

Christine E. Koerner, MD, a pediatrician in practice for 25 years, was appointed chair of TMA’s Committee on Continuing Education. The committee monitors and studies trends and issues in continuing medical education and recommends TMA policy on the subject. 

Russell W.H. Kridel, MD, a plastic surgeon for 33 years, was appointed as a consultant to TMA’s Council on Legislation. 

Aurelio Matamoros, MD, a radiologist in practice for 29 years, was appointed to TMA’s Committee on Continuing Education. 

Kenneth L. Mattox, MD, a thoracic surgeon practicing for 41 years, was elected to TMA’s Council on Health Service Organizations. The council makes recommendations and takes action related to all patient-care facilities, including emergency departments; ambulatory surgery centers; hospitals; and skilled nursing, long-term care, assisted living, hospice, home care, and other treatment facilities. 

Jaideep H. Mehta, MD, who has been practicing anesthesiology for one year, was appointed to TMA’s Committee on Patient-Physician Advocacy. The committee assesses the quality of medical care in Texas and recommends regulatory, legislative, and legal approaches to assure the highest standard of quality medical care is available for all Texans. 

Ira Robert Nemeth, MD, an emergency physician practicing for seven years, was reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Emergency Medical Services and Trauma. 

Carla Ortique, MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist practicing for 22 years, was appointed chair of TMA’s Committee on Maternal and Perinatal Health.  

Bradford S. Patt, MD, an otolaryngologist in practice for 19 years, was reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Professional Liability. The committee follows current trends, conducts educational campaigns, and works with TMA members to preserve medical liability reform. 

Evan G. Pivalizza, MD, an anesthesiologist practicing for 15 years, was appointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Blood and Tissue Usage. 

Meredith A. Reyes, MD, who has practiced pathology for five years, was reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Blood and Tissue Usage.  

Susan Norton Rossmann, MD, a pathologist practicing for 18 years, was re-elected to TMA’s Council on Science and Public Health.  

George D. Santos, MD, a psychiatrist in practice for 21 years, was re-elected to TMA’s Council on Health Service Organizations. 

Charlotte Stelly-Steitz, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist practicing for 23 years, was reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Child and Adolescent Health. 

Georgia Thomas, MD, an occupational medicine specialist in practice for 34 years, was appointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Physician Health and Rehabilitation.  

Crystal C. Wright, MD, who has been practicing anesthesiology for five years, was elected to TMA’s Council on Medical Education. 

Bellaire: 

Arlo F. Weltge, MD, MPH, an emergency physician in practice for 31 years, was elected to TMA’s Council on Constitution and Bylaws. The council serves as an advisory body on matters pertaining to the TMA constitution and bylaws, and handles long-range organizational planning. He also was appointed as a consultant to TMA’s Council on Legislation.   Friendswood: 

Harry L. Faust, DO, a psychiatrist practicing for 35 years, was appointed chair of TMA’s Committee on Physician Health and Rehabilitation. 

Pasadena: 

Charles E. Cowles Jr., MD, an anesthesiologist in practice for five years, was appointed to TMA’s Committee on Membership. The committee guides TMA’s and county medical societies’ membership recruitment and retention programs.  

Kimberly Monday, MD, a neurologist in practice for 15 years, was elected to TMA’s Council on Socioeconomics. The council makes recommendations related to the socioeconomic aspects of medical care and regulations.   

All of the above physicians are members of the Harris County Medical Society (CMS). 

Sugar Land: 

Neil Ashok Gandhi, MD, an emergency physician in practice for two years, was appointed to TMA’s Committee on Emergency Medical Services and Trauma. He is a member of the Fort Bend CMS. 

Troy T. Fiesinger, MD, a family physician practicing for 13 years, was elected to TMA’s Council on Medical Education. He is a member of the Harris CMS. 

Texas City: 

Mary Josephine Godinich, MD, a nephrologist in practice for 19 years, was appointed to TMA’s Committee on Membership. She is a member of the Galveston CMS. 

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 46,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans. 

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Sept. 11, 2012