May 5, 2017
Baylor
College of Medicine (Baylor) has
been named the Texas Medical Association Medical
Student Section
(TMA-MSS) chapter of the year. Physicians presented the award today during
TexMed, TMA’s annual conference, in Houston.
The annual Chapter of the Year Award, which TMA began
in 1998, recognizes the TMA-MSS chapter that excels in furthering the Medical Student
Section’s goals and policies for a better Texas. The award recognizes
leadership, dedication, and service to TMA and the American Medical Association
(AMA).
The Baylor
chapter’s membership grew significantly during the past year. Under the
direction of the executive board, the chapter offered volunteer opportunities
with local science fairs and local Boy Scout troops to entice members to
participate. The chapter also hosted TMA President Don R. Read, MD, a Dallas
surgeon, at its October 2016 meeting. Dr. Read discussed the importance of
politics in medicine, and gave an overview of the presidential candidates.
“The Baylor TMA
chapter has been transformed over the past year,” said Andres Espinoza,
immediate past president of the chapter. “The executive board developed policy resolutions,
such as one on concussion protocols, to take to the TMA House of Delegates, the
organization’s policymaking body. And all of the executive board members of the
Baylor chapter were appointed to serve on a TMA board, council, or committee.”
The chapter
also collected more than $20,000 worth of medical supplies for charity, said
Mr. Espinosa. TMA praised the medical students for convincing Texas Medical
Center hospitals to donate the supplies to Blueprints
for Pangea, a nonprofit
organization.
The TMA-MSS
Executive Council, composed of medical student leaders, nominates chapters for
the award.
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.
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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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