May 5, 2017
Twelve minority
students entering Texas medical schools this fall each will benefit from a $10,000
scholarship from the Texas Medical
Association (TMA). TMA
awarded the scholarships to the students today in Houston at TexMed, the
association’s annual conference. Physicians selected the students for their
academic achievement, commitment to community service, and desire to care for
Texas’ increasingly diverse population.
TMA created the Diversity in Medicine Scholarship Program in 1998 to help diversify the physician workforce
to meet the health care needs of Texans.
The TMA
Educational Scholarship, Loan, and Awards Committee chose one recipient for
each Texas medical school from a competitive field of promising future
physicians. This year’s field includes the University of the Incarnate Word
School of Osteopathic Medicine, which will open in 2017. The TMA
Foundation (TMAF), the
association’s philanthropic arm, funds the program.
The scholarship
encourages minority students to attend medical school by lessening the financial
burden of their postgraduate education, which averages more than $175,000. TMA
has awarded 124 scholarships totaling $735,000 since the program’s inception,
thanks to generous gifts from TMAF donor physicians and their families, major
supporters, and others.
2017 TMA Diversity in Medicine Scholarship Winners
Dekoiya Burton of Houston
graduated from Boston University and will attend The University of Texas
(UT) at Austin Dell Medical School. He plans to specialize in neurology, with
the goal of practicing in an urban clinic that has rural satellite clinics. Mr.
Burton’s scholarship is provided by the TMA Foundation Trust Fund of Roberto J.
Bayardo, MD, and Agniela (Annie) M. Bayardo, of Houston, and the Travis County
Medical Society (CMS).
Alexander Cantu of Edinburg
is a UT Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) graduate. He plans to study family
medicine at the UT Medical Branch School of Medicine in Galveston. Mr. Cantu’s
scholarship is provided by Dr. and Mrs. Bayardo; the TMAF Patrick Y. Leung, MD,
Minority Scholarship Endowment, established by Patrick Leung, MD, and Mrs.
Nancy Leung of Midland; and Mark J. Kubala, MD, of Beaumont.
Giselle Castillo of Mission will receive her bachelor’s degree from UT San Antonio later this month. She
will attend UT Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine to
study pediatrics, and plans to return to her hometown to practice. Dr. and Mrs.
Bayardo, and Drs. Rajam and Somayaji Ramamurthy of San Antonio provided the
scholarship for Ms. Castillo.
Sandrine Defeu of Katy
earned degrees from University of Dschang in Cameroon and Texas Tech
University in Lubbock, as well as a master’s degree in public health from Texas
A&M University. She will study at Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center (TTUHSC) Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at El Paso and intends to
practice pediatrics in a small Texas community. Ms. Defeu’s scholarship is
provided by Dr. and Mrs. Bayardo and C. Enrique Batres, MD, of Sugar Land.
Giuiseppe (Allan) Fonseca of Webster received his bachelor’s degree from UT Houston, and a master of science in
medical science degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center
at Fort Worth (UNTHSC). He will study internal medicine at UTRGV School of
Medicine and plans to practice in an underserved area. Dr. and Mrs. Bayardo,
Hidalgo-Starr CMS, and Nueces CMS provided Mr. Fonseca’s scholarship.
Lucia Guerrero of El
Paso will graduate from UT Austin later this month and attend Baylor
College of Medicine. She plans to become a surgeon. Ms. Guerrero’s scholarship
is provided by Dr. and Mrs. Bayardo and Harris CMS/Houston Academy of Medicine.
Victor Hinojosa of
Brownsville is a UTRGV graduate. He will study emergency medicine or
pediatrics at UNTHSC Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and intends to return
to the Rio Grande Valley to practice. Dr. and Mrs. Bayardo; Tarrant CMS; and
Irvin Robinson, MD, of Fort Worth provided Mr. Hinojosa’s scholarship.
Yajaira Jimenez of Brownsville will graduate later this month from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. She
will study surgery at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
Ms. Jimenez’ scholarship is provided by Dr. and Mrs. Bayardo and Jefferson CMS.
Tailour Roberson of Frisco
graduated from UT Austin and will attend McGovern
Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center
at Houston. She plans to study neurology. Dr.
and Mrs. Bayardo; Mary Dale Peterson, MD, and Rafael Coutin, MD, both of Corpus
Christi; and Gregory E. Johnson, MD, of Houston provided the scholarship for
Ms. Roberson.
Artraeu Simms of Garland received his undergraduate degree from
the University of Houston and a master of science in medical science degree at
Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. He will study internal medicine at the
University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine. Mr. Simms’
scholarship is provided by Dr.
and Mrs. Bayardo and H-E-B.
Selvin Villeda of Royse City is a graduate of Abilene
Christian University. He will attend TTUHSC in Lubbock and plans to practice in
West Texas. Dr.
and Mrs. Bayardo and Khushalani Foundation provided the scholarship for Mr.
Villeda.
Adrienne Walker of Duncanville
graduated from the University of Chicago and will attend UT Southwestern
Medical School in Dallas. She intends to study cardiology or cardiothoracic
surgery and later practice in underserved communities in Dallas. Ms. Walker’s
scholarship is provided by Dr. and Mrs. Bayardo; Dallas CMS; and Charles B.
Mullins, MD, of Austin.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation,
representing more than 50,000 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. TMA
Foundation raises funds to support the public health
and science priority initiatives of TMA and the Family of Medicine.
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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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