September 12, 2020
Thirty-nine Houston-area physicians have begun terms of service in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions, while caring for patients and managing medicine’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
TMA’s House of Delegates policymaking body met virtually on Saturday to ratify the last of this year’s TMA elections and appointments. The pandemic forced TMA to alter its governance and meeting processes. Physician leaders have used virtual meetings and special governance provisions this year to elect or appoint physicians and medical students to one or more of TMA’s 25 boards, councils, and committees. The physicians are responsible for studying health care-related issues and making recommendations on important health care policy affecting Texas patients and their physicians.
TMA also elected area physicians to represent Texas doctors in the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates, and selected members of TMA’s Board of Councilors.
Except where noted, the physicians are members of the Harris County Medical Society.
Galveston
Kevin Hood McKinney, MD, endocrinologist in practice for 23 years; elected to TMA’s Council on Medical Education. He is a member of the Galveston County Medical Society.
Houston
Amelia Averyt, MD, internal medicine-pediatrics specialist in practice for two years; appointed to TMA’s Committee on Child and Adolescent Health.
Jennifer L. Bercaw-Pratt, MD, obstetrician-gynecologist in practice for 12 years; reappointed as consultant to TMA’s Committee on Child and Adolescent Health.
Lindsay K. Botsford, MD, family physician in practice for 10 years; elected to TMA’s Council on Health Care Quality.
Charles E. Cowles Jr., MD, anesthesiologist in practice for 13 years; appointed chair of TMA’s Council on Medical Education.
Rakhi C. Dimino, MD, obstetrician-gynecologist in practice for 14 years; appointed to TMA’s Committee on Reproductive, Women’s, and Perinatal Health.
Larry C. Driver, MD, pain medicine specialist in practice for 36 years; reappointed chair of TMA’s Committee on Continuing Education and reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Cancer.
Lewis E. Foxhall, MD, family physician in practice for 41 years; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Cancer.
William S. Gilmer, MD, neurologist in practice for 32 years; appointed chair of TMA’s Council on Constitution and Bylaws, and reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Council on Science and Public Health.
Charleta Guillory, MD, neonatologist-perinatologist in practice for 41 years; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Reproductive, Women’s, and Perinatal Health.
James S. Guo, MD, anesthesiologist in practice for 24 years; elected to TMA’s Council on Socioeconomics, and reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Council on Health Service Organizations.
Lawrence M. Hanrahan, MD, a health care consultant; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Council on Medical Education.
C. Mary Healy, MD, pediatric infectious disease specialist in practice for 12 years; elected to TMA’s Council on Science and Public Health, and reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Infectious Diseases.
Hattie E. Henderson, MD, family physician and geriatrician in practice for 17 years; elected to TMA’s Council on Science and Public Health.
Robert E. Jackson, MD, internist in practice for 36 years; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Medical Home and Primary Care.
Christine E. Koerner, MD, pediatrician in practice for 33 years; elected to TMA’s Council on Medical Education.
Russell W.H. Kridel, MD, plastic surgeon in practice for 41 years; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Council on Legislation.
Ana L. Leech, MD, a family physician in practice for 11 years; confirmed as vice councilor for District 9 on TMA’s Board of Councilors.
Patrick M. Lynch, MD, gastroenterologist in practice for 32 years; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Cancer.
Michael S. MacKelvie, DO, neonatologist-perinatologist in practice for 47 years; appointed to TMA’s Committee on Medical Home and Primary Care.
Kenneth L. Mattox, MD, thoracic surgeon in practice for 49 years; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Emergency Medical Services and Trauma.
Carla F. Ortique, MD, obstetrician-gynecologist in practice for 30 years; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Reproductive, Women’s, and Perinatal Health.
Bradford S. Patt, MD, otolaryngologist in practice for 27 years; appointed as an advisor to TMA’s Council on Legislation.
Eddie L. Patton Jr., MD, a neurologist in practice for nine years; elected alternate delegate to the Texas Delegation to the AMA House of Delegates.
George H. Perkins, MD, radiation oncologist in practice for 19 years; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Council on Health Care Quality.
Steven M. Petak, MD, endocrinologist in practice for 38 years; elected District 9 councilor on TMA’s Board of Councilors, and reelected chair of the board. Dr. Petak previously served as vice councilor for District 9.
Lois M. Ramondetta, MD, gynecological oncologist in practice for 22 years; reelected to TMA’s Council on Science and Public Health, and reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Cancer.
Tara L. Sagabiel, MD, radiologist in practice for 16 years; reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Continuing Medical Education.
James M. Saucedo, MD, orthopedic surgeon in practice for nine years; reelected to TMA’s Council on Health Promotion.
Gary J. Sheppard, MD, internist in practice for 26 years; elected to TMA’s Council on Socioeconomics.
Michael E. Speer, MD, neonatologist-perinatologist in practice for 47 years; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Reproductive, Women’s, and Perinatal Health.
Irvin Sulapas, MD, family physician in practice for six years; reelected to TMA’s Council on Medical Education.
Georgia A. Thomas, MD, occupational medicine physician in practice for 42 years; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Physician Health and Wellness.
Dexter G. Turnquest, MD, general surgeon in practice for 25 years; elected to TMA’s Council on Constitution and Bylaws.
Pasadena
Victor A. Simms, MD, internist in practice for 19 years; reelected to TMA’s Council on Legislation.
Seabrook
David C. Nickeson, MD, pulmonologist in practice for 38 years; elected councilor for District 8 on TMA’s Board of Councilors. He is a member of the Galveston County Medical Society.
Sugarland
Sonia Chauhan, MD, pediatrician in practice for 15 years; reappointed as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Reproductive, Women’s, and Perinatal Health.
Anne Marie Ponce De Leon, MD, family physician in practice for 19 years; reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Medical Home and Primary Care.
Sapna Singh, MD, pediatrician in practice for 15 years; appointed to TMA’s Committee on Membership.
Drs. Chauhan and Singh are members of the Fort Bend County Medical Society.
Read the descriptions and charges of each TMA board, council, and committee, and of the Texas Delegation to the AMA.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 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.
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Contact: Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320
Marcus Cooper (512) 370-1382; cell: (512) 650-5336
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