Nov. 3, 2015
A resident physician and
a medical student at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston School
of Medicine (UTMB School of Medicine) recently were appointed to serve one-year
terms on the Texas Medical Association Foundation (TMAF) Board of Trustees. TMAF is the
philanthropic arm of TMA,
the nation’s largest state medical society.
Mani Akhtari, MD, a radiation oncology resident, was appointed to a second one-year
term on the board as a representative of the TMA
Resident and Fellow Section. He is an active member of the American
College of Radiation Oncology, the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the
American College of Radiology, and the American Radium Society.
Dr. Akhtari received his
bachelor of arts in biology from The University Texas at Austin, where he
graduated magna cum laude. He completed medical school at the University of
California, San Diego School of Medicine. Residency is specialized training
physicians receive before practicing medicine independently. He is completing
his radiation oncology residency.
Matthew L. Edwards, a
fourth-year medical student, was appointed to a one-year term as a
representative of the TMA Medical
Student Section
(TMA-MSS). Mr. Edwards has been involved in organized medicine since receiving
the TMA Minority
Scholarship
in 2012. He has served as a member of the TMA-MSS Executive Council, the TMA
Council on Socioeconomics, and the American Medical Association-MSS Minority
Issues Committee. He also has represented the TMA-MSS in the TMA House of
Delegates and volunteered at the TMAF annual gala. Mr. Edwards graduated magna
cum laude from Princeton University and received a graduate certificate in
public health from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School
of Public Health.
“The volunteer and leadership experience of
these board members will benefit our grantmaking, as well as our fundraising
efforts,” said TMAF President Deborah A. Fuller, MD, of Dallas.
TMAF supports statewide
and local initiatives that focus on prevention and healthier lifestyles.
Long-standing programs include TMA’s Be Wise — ImmunizeSM program to provide vaccinations and increase
awareness and Hard Hats for Little
Heads bicycle helmet giveaway
program. TMA Foundation also supports other health improvement programs and a
new TMA initiative, Walk With a Doc Texas, part of a national grassroots movement
devoted to encouraging healthy physical activity. In 2015, more
than $500,000 in TMAF grants support 36 health initiatives to create a Healthy Now and Healthy Future.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation,
representing more than 48,000 physician and medical student members. It is
located in Austin and has 110 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: Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512)
656-7320; email: brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org
Marcus Cooper (512)
370-1382; cell: (512) 650-5336; email: marcus.cooper[at]texmed[dot]org
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