May 2, 2014
Nine minority
students entering Texas medical schools this fall each will receive a $5,000
scholarship from the Texas Medical Association (TMA). Students were recognized at
TexMed, the association’s annual conference, in Fort Worth for their academic
achievement, commitment to community service, and deep desire to care for Texas’
increasingly diverse population.
The TMA
Educational Scholarship, Loan, and Awards Committee chose winners from a
competitive field of promising future physicians.
TMA created the
Minority Scholarship Program to help diversify the physician workforce to
fulfill the needs of Texas’ diverse population. The scholarship encourages
minority students to enter medicine by lightening their medical school financial
burden. Since 1999, TMA has awarded 92 scholarships totaling $460,000.
2014 TMA Minority Scholarship Recipients
Brittany Carter of Winnsboro graduated
from Rice University in Houston and plans to attend Texas A&M Health
Science Center College of Medicine to become a pediatrician. Her scholarship
was made possible by Charli and Jim Rohack, MD, Galveston; Susan M. Pike, MD,
and Harry T. Papaconstantinou, MD, Georgetown; Libby and Bruce Malone, MD,
Austin; Dallas County Medical Society (CMS); and physicians and their families.
Claudia Martinez of Houston graduated
from the University of Houston. She will attend The University of Texas Health
Science Center at Houston to become a pediatrician or neonatologist. Her
scholarship is funded by Gregory R. Johnson, MD, Pearland, and H-E-B.
Brian Mbah of Euless graduated from The
University of Texas at Austin and plans to attend The University of Texas
Medical Branch at Galveston. He plans to become a family physician caring for
patients in a low socio-economic urban area. C. Enrique Batres, MD, Sugarland,
and Mark J. Kubala, MD, Beaumont, funded Mr. Mbah’s scholarship.
Victoria Mitre of Spring is a graduate
of Texas A&M University. She will attend Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston to become an obstetrician-gynecologist. Ms. Mitre’s scholarship is
provided by donations from Sarah and Alan Losinger, Dallas; Pamela and Art
Klawitter, MD, Needville; the Khushalani Foundation; McLennan CMS; Harris
CMS/Houston Academy of Medicine; and physicians and their families.
Jo-Anna Palma of El Paso graduated from
St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and will study obstetrics-gynecology at Texas
Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in El
Paso. Her scholarship is funded with gifts from the Hidalgo-Starr and El Paso
CMSs.
Luz Rodriguez of Laredo graduated from
the Texas A&M International University in Laredo and will attend Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center-Lubbock. She plans to become a primary care
physician. Contributors to Ms. Rodriguez’s scholarship include the Nueces and
Travis CMSs; Sukie and Andre Desire, MD, Wichita Falls; and Rose D. Jackson,
Palestine, in memory of J. Don Jackson Sr., MD.
Maria Ruiz of Dallas graduated from The
University of Texas at Dallas and will attend The University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas to become a primary care physician. Her
scholarship was funded with a gift from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.
Grecia Sanchez of Houston graduated
from Texas A&M University and will attend The University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio. She will study to become an obstetrician-gynecologist.
Her scholarship is provided by Drs. Rajam and Somayaji Ramamurthy of San
Antonio and H-E-B.
Ruben Solis of Buda graduated from Texas
Tech University in Lubbock and will attend the University of North Texas Health
Science Center at Fort Worth. He plans to specialize in family medicine. Contributors
to Mr. Solis’ scholarship include Irvin Robinson, MD, Fort Worth, in memory of Libby
Robinson, and in honor of Gilbert Coats, DDS; Dana and Jaime Ronderos, MD, Frisco;
Tarrant CMS; and physicians and their families.
The TMA Minority Scholarship program is supported by the TMAFoundation, the philanthropic arm of TMA, thanks to generous major supporters
and gifts from physicians and their families. Visit TMA Foundation online to donate!
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. TMA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the
association and raises funds to support the public health and science priority
initiatives of TMA and the family of medicine.
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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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