May 3, 2014
Wichita Falls board-certified pathologist Susan M. Strate, MD, was
reelected today to a third term as vice speaker of the Texas Medical
Association (TMA) House of Delegates, the association’s policymaking body.
Dr. Strate is president and
chief executive officer of Texoma Independent Physicians. She provides
pathology and laboratory services at several community and small rural
hospitals, and the Wichita County Public Health District.
After being reelected, Dr.
Strate said, “In this time of great change in the health care system, it is
more important than ever physicians take a lead role in shaping sound, patient-focused
health care policy. The TMA House of Delegates will continue to advocate for
the best care possible for our patients.”
Dr. Strate has served as a voice
for Texas physicians on many occasions, including testifying before the Texas
Legislature to improve access to care for Texans and to ensure patients received
accurate information from their health insurance companies.
Gov. Rick Perry appointed Dr. Strate to the Texas
Institute of Health Care Quality and Efficiency Board of Directors in 2012,
where she works with other state leaders to improve the state’s health care
policy on how care is delivered to Texas patients.
She is a past president of the
TMA Foundation (TMAF), the association’s philanthropic arm, and a member of
TMAF’s Leadership Society. Dr. Strate also chaired the TMA Council on
Socioeconomics; Patient-Physician Advocacy Committee; and TEXPAC, the TMA
Political Action Committee. She has served as a delegate to the TMA House of
Delegates since 1990.
Locally, Dr. Strate served as
president of the Wichita-Archer-Baylor-Clay-Knox County Medical Society in 1996
and received the society’s Distinguished Service Award in 2010. She currently
serves as vice chair of the Texoma Health Information Exchange Board and is a
member of the Health Coalition of Wichita County.
Dr. Strate is a
graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical School and completed her
residency at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. She has
practiced medicine for more than 30 years.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 47,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 112 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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Contact: Pam Udall (512) 370-1382; cell: (512) 413-6807; email: pam.udall[at]texmed[dot]org
Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320; email: brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org
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