May 21, 2019
TEXPAC, the political action committee of the Texas Medical Association (TMA), surprised Fort Worth obstetrician-gynecologist G. Sealy Massingill, MD, with the 2019 TEXPAC June Bratcher Award for Political Action, for outstanding support of a political campaign to help organized medicine.
TEXPAC members – TMA physicians, TMA Alliance advocacy group members, and TMA medical students – presented Dr. Massingill the award in a packed meeting room during TexMed, TMA’s annual conference, held this year in Dallas.
“[I’m] thrilled beyond measure; delighted,” said Dr. Massingill after receiving the surprise.
“[Dr.] Massingill tirelessly advocates for the family of medicine and Texas patients,” said Angela Donahue, a TEXPAC member and TMA Alliance past president, in nominating him for the award. “He is true to his conviction that the Texas Legislature should represent ALL Texans, and that as members of the Family of Medicine, we should commit to speaking for those who can’t speak for themselves.”
She described how Dr. Massingill helped local physicians foster a positive relationship with Senate District 10 challenger Beverly Powell during her race to unseat then-Sen. Konni Burton.
Senator Powell ultimately prevailed, in the 2018 election.
“Even better than getting the award was the chance this session to walk into SENATOR Beverly Powell’s office and say hello,” said Dr. Massingill.
“Dr. Massingill exemplifies the best of grassroots politics through hard work and persistence even in the face of long odds and great challenges,” said the Tarrant County Medical Society Board of Trustees, in endorsing him for the honor.
TEXPAC presents the June Bratcher Award for Political Action every two years to a physician or his or her spouse or partner who was an outstanding volunteer in a federal or state political campaign. TEXPAC modeled the award in 1987 after a similar American Medical Association (AMA) Political Action Committee award, naming it after the first recipient, Ms. June Bratcher of San Antonio. The honorees are members of the TMA Alliance, the medical association’s community service and advocacy arm, comprising physicians, and their spouses and partners.
Dr. Massingill also received the Young at Heart Award from the TMA Young Physician Section (YPS) during TexMed.
In addition to being a TMA Alliance member and a TEXPAC member, Dr. Massingill is a member of the Tarrant County Legislative Committee and has worked to support several political candidates.
The physician is a member of TMA’s Council of Science and Public Health and chairs its LGBTQ Health Workgroup. He served on the Board of Trustees of the TMA Foundation, TMA’s philanthropic arm, and was the group’s president. He has also participated in TMA’s Committee on Maternal and Perinatal Health and the TMA Committee on Continuing Education.
Dr. Massingill is active in other medical organizations as well, including the Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and as a member of AMA’s policymaking delegation for ACOG. He also is a member of the Board of Directors of the Tarrant County Medical Society and was the society’s president in 2012-13.
An obstetrician and gynecologist for more than 30 years, Dr. Massingill has trained more than 100 resident physicians while supervising more than 10,000 newborn deliveries at several hospitals throughout north Texas and elsewhere. He also worked at the Tarrant County Hospital District and is chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas.
Dr. Massingill received his medical degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and completed his internship at John Peter Smith Hospital. He is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 53,000 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.
TEXPAC speaks on behalf of nearly 53,000 Texas physicians and medical students, and nearly 5,000 alliance members. Organized in 1962, TEXPAC is one of the oldest political action committees in Texas. TEXPAC also is one of the largest bipartisan PACs in the state and ranks first in size among other state medical association PACs.
--30--
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
Connect with TMA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Check out MeAndMyDoctor.com for interesting and timely news on health care issues and policy.