Dozens of Austin-Area Physicians Start Serving in TMA Leadership Positions

September 12, 2020

Twenty-seven Austin-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, all the physicians are members of the Travis County Medical Society.

Austin

Jeffrey M. Apple, MD, vascular surgeon in practice for 19 years; reconfirmed as vice counselor for District 7 on TMA’s Board of Councilors.

Charles W. Bailey Jr., MD, plastic surgery and legal medicine specialist for 48 years; reappointed consultant to TMA’s Committee on Physician Health and Wellness.

Michelle A. Berger, MD, ophthalmologist in practice for 35 years; reelected delegate to the Texas Delegation to the AMA House of Delegates.

Lu Ann L. Bundrant, MD, internist in practice for 21 years; reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Continuing Education.

Robert K. Cowan, MD, obstetrician and gynecologist in practice for 25 years; reelected to TMA’s Council on Legislation.

Kimberly C. Avila Edwards, MD, pediatrician in practice for 18 years; appointed chair of TMA’s Committee on Child and Adolescent Health.

James R. Eskew, MD, otolaryngologist in practice for 38 years; reelected counselor for District 7 on TMA’s Board of Councilors. 

Lauren K. Gambill, MD, pediatrician in practice for five years; appointed to TMA’s Committee on Child and Adolescent Health.

Manda L. Hall, MD, allergist and immunologist in practice for 16 years; reappointed consultant to TMA’s Committee on Reproductive, Women’s and Perinatal Health.

John W. Hellerstedt, MD, pediatrician and medical management specialist for 39 years; reappointed consultant to TMA’s Council on Science and Public Health, and appointed to TMA’s Committee on Continuing Education.

Lucas Jacomides, MD, urologist in practice for 17 years; elected to TMA’s Council on Practice Management.

Thomas J. Kim, MD, psychiatrist and internist in practice for 10 years; reappointed consultant to TMA’s Committee on Health Information Technology.

Donald K. Murphey, MD, pediatric infectious diseases and infectious diseases specialist in practice for 31 years; reappointed consultant to TMA’s Committee on Child and Adolescent Health.

Manish M. Naik, MD, internist in practice for 24 years; reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Health Information Technology.

Stephen J. Pont, MD, pediatrician and public health/general preventive medicine specialist for 17 years; appointed consultant to TMA’s Committee on Child and Adolescent Health.

Holli T. Sadler, MD, internist in practice for eight years; reelected to TMA’s Council on Health Service Organizations.

Arathi A. Shah, MD, pediatrician in practice for nine years; reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Membership.

Shaina M. Sheppard, MD, adult cardiothoracic anesthesiologist in practice for nine years; reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Physician Health and Wellness.

Jennifer A. Shuford, MD, infectious diseases specialist and internist in practice for 17 years; reappointed consultant to TMA’s Committee on Infectious Diseases.

Lynn N. Stewart, MD, family physician in practice for 14 years; appointed chair of TMA’s Committee on Cancer.

Erica W. Swegler, MD, family physician in practice for 26 years; appointed to TMA’s Committee on Physician Distribution and Health Care Access.

Elizabeth Truong, MD, psychiatrist in practice for eight years; reelected to TMA’s Council on Practice Management Services.

Athira Unnikrishnan, MD, internist and hematologist/oncologist in practice for six years; reappointed to TMA’s Committee on Cancer.

Christopher M. Ziebell, MD, emergency physician in practice for 27 years; reelected to TMA’s Council on Science and Public Health.

Round Rock

Matthew Ryan McGlennon, DO, resident physician in internal medicine, elected alternate delegate to represent the TMA Resident and Fellow Section on the Texas Delegation to the AMA House of Delegates.

Tina J. Philip, DO, family physician in practice for 11 years; reelected to TMA’s Council on Socioeconomics.

Susan M. Pike, MD, a plastic and cosmetic surgeon in practice for 17 years; reappointed consultant to TMA’s Council on Health Promotion.

Drs. Pike and McGlennon are members of the Williamson County Medical Society.

 

Descriptions of the board, delegation, councils and committees:

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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Last Updated On

September 12, 2020

Originally Published On

September 12, 2020

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