2006 Accomplishments and Initiatives for 2007

REPORT OF TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION

TMAF Report 1-A-07
Subject: 2006 Accomplishments and Initiatives for 2007
Presented by: Susan M. Strate, MD, President


2006 Accomplishments

TMA Foundation ended 2006 having hosted the second most successful gala in its history, attracting hundreds of new donors, bringing back donors who had not given to TMAF in recent years, and funding high impact TMA, TMAA, and county society and alliance public health and science initiatives. Highlights from the year include:

  • Raised an estimated $628,000 in cash and pledged donations;
  • Nearly 900 individuals donated to TMAF, including 289 new donors, with an average gift of $271;
  • Raised a record $36,825 for the TMA Minority Scholarship Program, providing one $5,000 scholarship to a student at each of the eight Texas medical schools;
  • Eight corporations and/or foundations made gifts to TMAF in support of specific TMA/TMAA projects in the amount of $123,300;
  • Awarded more than $333,000 in grants to TMA and family of medicine health improvement projects-
    • nearly $270,000 in grants fully funded five TMA health improvement projects including Be Wise - Immunize which helped to catapult Texas from 41st to 24th in childhood immunization rates;
    • more than $55,000 in grants to eight county medical society and alliance initiatives were made through TMAF's Medical Community Grant program which makes matching grants of up to $7,500 available to TMA's county medial societies and alliance and medical student chapters each year. (see Attachment A)
  • For the first time, fully funded the staffing position for Be Wise - Immunize and continued to support a half-time position to manage the TMA Hard Hats for Little Heads program;
  • Established a TMA Resident Physician Section position on the TMAF Board of Trustees; A. Clay Cessna, DO, San Antonio, now fills this position;
  • Raised nearly $280,000 through the 13th annual gala chaired by Dr. and Mrs. A. Tomas Garcia III, Houston; major sponsors included H-E-B, Texas Medical Liability Trust, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, HCA Affiliated Hospitals and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas;
  • Grew the Major Donor Program (cumulative gifts of $10,000 or more from individuals) with 10 persons reaching the major donor level in 2006, bringing the total to 112; six individuals moved up to the $25,000 level in 2006; major donors are recognized on donor walls installed on the tenth floor of the TMA building outside the May Owen Conference Room;
  • Held a board strategic focus retreat in January resulting in numerous actions items, among them (a) meeting with TMA and TMAA leadership to increase effectiveness and efficiency in shared goals; (b) develop stronger partnership with related organizations such as county and specialty societies; (c) increase recognition of significant external donors; and (d) develop a new brochure around the acronym PASSIONATE to engage more persons in the mission of TMAF;
  • Through referrals from the TMAF president, built on the momentum of the January 2006 retreat with actions in the following areas: (a) a review of financial goals including investment strategies and enhancing presentation of financial information in the annual report to appeal to the sophisticated donor; (b) achieve additional cost effectiveness and efficiencies in operations; (c) assess TMAF's grant-writing program with the goal of increasing donations from corporate and foundation donors; (d) increase visibility of TMAF among TMA and TMAA members; (e) increase diversity on the board; and (f) enhance all grant-related forms including the application and report from grantees with emphasis on measurable outcomes that can be reported to donors;
  • Applauded improvements to the TMA Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching through its partnership with the Science Teachers Association of Texas, which will result in greater recognition to outstanding science teachers around the state;
  • Filled six positions on the TMAF Board-(a) physician positions: Dennis Factor, MD, and Deborah A. Fuller, MD, both of Dallas and Catherine L. Scholl, MD, Austin; (b) alliance position: Mary Meyers, Lake Jackson; (c) public positions: John Ehrle, Houston and Susan Leshnower, Odessa; and (d) medical student position: Ashley Holder.

Plans for 2007

Capitalizing on the momentum generated by the board's January 2006 strategic retreat and achievements of 2006, the foundation is poised to:

  • Carry out an ambitious fundraising plan to raise at least $450,000 to support TMA's Minority Scholarship Program, Hard Hats for Little Heads, Be Wise - immunize, the Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching, and other programs;
  • Expand efforts to raise funds from grant writing to corporations and foundations; in 2006, 61.5 percent of funds raised were derived from corporate and foundation donors;
  • Monitor its new investment strategy which is designed to enhance grant making and based on this performance, consider additional short and long term financial goals to meet the mission of TMAF;
  • Seek underwriting for selected efforts including the TMAF newsletter and annual report;
  • Participate on the new TMA Council on Health Promotion and work to enhance the ability of programs to provide meaningful results that can be reported back to donors;
  • Undertake an assessment of fundraising efforts and achievements and a study of  new strategies to increase fundraising income and grow the operating fund of TMAF;
  • Increase emphasis on the measurable results of the programs funded by TMAF grants; this will include educating applicants to incorporate quantifiable goals and additional evaluation techniques into their programs;
  • Launch its tenth TMAF Medical Community Grant Program which invites TMA county medical societies and alliance and medical student chapters to apply for a matching grant of up to $7,500 for a community public health or science program.

 

ATTACHMENT A

TMA Foundation Grants Made in 2006

In 2006, the TMA Foundation Board of Trustees approved the following grants in support of TMA's public health and science priorities.

TMA's Be Wise - Immunize : Be Wise - Immunize is a public health initiative of Texas Medical Association (TMA), and was launched in 2004.  The program aims to improve Texas's childhood immunization rate from 76.8 percent to 90 percent.  The primary strategies used to increase statewide immunization rates are communication, education, and action. TMA has developed tools for each strategy, allowing TMA physicians, medical students and TMA Alliance to promote immunizations in their communities as safe, effective, and necessary. The program remains flexible by providing a menu of activities so that volunteers can participate at a range of levels.

TMA's Hard Hats for Little Heads : The goal of Texas Medical Association's Hard Hats for Little Heads program is to help prevent life-altering or fatal brain injuries in Texas children. Since the program's inception in 1994, more than 25,000 helmets have been given to children across the state. Free helmets are given to children ages 14 and younger at community events such as bicycle safety rodeos and health fairs. These events are coordinated by county medical societies, Texas Medical Association (TMA) physicians, medical student chapters, and/or Texas Medical Association Alliance (TMAA) chapters. TMA provides a match of up to 50 free helmets per event. TMA physicians also are present at each event to educate parents and their children about the importance of wearing a helmet when bicycling, inline skating, skateboarding, or riding a scooter.

TMA's Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching : The Council on Scientific Affairs is committed to coordinating this statewide activity which recognizes and rewards outstanding science teachers in elementary, junior high and senior high schools. Recent program revisions will result in a collaborative relationship between organized medicine and the largest and most well known primary and the Science Teachers Association of Texas.

TMA's Minority Scholarship Program : Established in 1998, TMA's Minority Scholarship Program was designed as a unique means to fill a gap brought about by the Hopwood ruling barring public medical schools from offering minority-specific scholarships. This is particularly significant in Texas where not enough minority physicians serve medically underserved populations. In Texas, the minority groups underrepresented with regard to population-to-physician ratios are Hispanic, African-American, and Native American. In 2006, thanks to the support of TMAF, five $5,000 scholarships were awarded to incoming medical students at Texas medical schools.

TMA's Physician Oncology Education Program : Cancer is the second leading cause of death for all Texas, and very little education is provided to physicians that covers cancer prevention, screening and early detection, and symptom management.  Funds would be used to support the ongoing educational efforts of TMA's Physician Oncology Education Program (POEP).  The grant from the TMAF covers the ABC's of Childhood Cancer-POEP's first childhood cancer conference and the 9th Annual "Cancer:  What Primary Care Physicians Need to Know" to be held during TMA's annual meeting in April 2007.

In September, the TMA Foundation Board of Trustees approved the following grants under its 2006 Medical Community Grants Program.

Be Active Rio Grande Valleywith Safety, Nutrition, and Exercise, Cameron-Willacy County Medical Alliance, Northern Chapter : The objective of this project is to have children leave with more education and knowledge of diabetes, obesity, and physical fitness to influence positive lifestyle changes, while having fun. The project is planned to include not only Harlingen, but also the entire Rio Grande Valley. The program will incorporate elements from both Zerobesity and Hard Hats for Little Heads.

Flu Shots for Kids, Potter-Randall County Medical Alliance : This project will provide no or low cost flu vaccines to children at the greatest risk for complications due to influenza during October and November 2006. This is an expansion of a relationship started in May of 2005, with the City of Amarillo Department of Public Health (COADPH), the Caring for Children Foundation and the TMA Be Wise - Immunize program through the Potter-Randall County Medical Alliance and Potter-Randall County Medical Society to provide immunizations to three under-immunized neighborhoods in Potter and Randall counties as well as other clinics and health fairs that arose throughout the year. This partnership has allowed the COADPH to work with community organizations, the Texas Tech School of Pharmacy, and the West Texas A&M School of Nursing, to provide immunizations to the community and practical experience to students in a "real world" environment.

Health Circus, Texas A&M HSC-COM TMA Student Chapter : Health Circus is a medical student-run, traveling health fair that provides essential medical services to the residents of the Brazos Valley region. It provides immunizations for children, well child checks, as well as blood pressure and diabetes checks from adults.  Health Circus was developed in 2002 by medical students at TAMUSHSC-COM to assist those that are without insurance or access to primary and dental care.

IMMUNINEZIP 2006-2007, Bexar CountyMedical Society : The goal of Immuninezip 2006-2007 is to produce 30-second English and Spanish television commercials. The hope is to enlist a well-known San Antonio Spurs basketball player as the spokesman for the commercials. The script will stress the importance of immunization for children that have not started kindergarten and especially children under the age of two. The BCBS Care Van will be featured as an easy access site for immunization.

Teddy Bear Check-up, Harris CMS Alliance/The Health Museum : The Museum's Teddy Bear Check-up aims to promote general health and wellness while using a fun interactive experience at the Museum to educate and aid in curbing childhood obesity. Visitors can bring their teddy bear, doll, or favorite friend to the Museum for a check-up. Museum educators and volunteers from the Harris County Medical Society Alliance will review the health of the visitor's favorite friend, check vital stats, and provide nutritional and educational tips.

Immunization Project , Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance Foundation, Inc : TCMS Alliance Foundation is now a member of the existing Immunization Collaboration of Tarrant County (ICTC) and is involved in three projects with ICTC.  The ICTC's purpose is to provide a collaboration of agencies and organizations, public and private, committed to providing the systematic eradication of childhood, vaccine-preventable diseases in Tarrant County.  The three projects are: 1) the alliance will provide funding and volunteers for ICTC to continue or expand community immunization events in spring and summer of 2007 for more than 5,000 children in Tarrant County; 2) the alliance will work with ICTC to promote a consistent message in community education on immunizations by utilizing Be Wise - Immunize; 3) the alliance will assist in finding funding and volunteers to ICTC for a new project to raise immunization rates of children 0-24 months through three targeted zip code projects of immunization outreach and education.

Run for Your Life, Smith County Medical Society Alliance : The purpose of Run for Your Life is to make young people in Tyler more aware of exercise and good nutrition in order to prevent childhood obesity and decrease the amount of diseases that obese children (later obese adults) will get: heart attacks, hypertension, stroke, adult onset diabetes, heart and kidney failure, and blindness. The alliance conducted this program last year, and due to its popularity and timeliness as a public health concern, the alliance wants to bring Run for Your Life, a program to promote fitness and healthy food choices, back to the 6th graders of Tyler's public schools in 2006. The plan is to add fitness experts and PTA involvement in the three week project culminating in a health fair at the schools.

TMAA/BCBS/Care Van Immunization Initiative, Taylor-Jones-Haskell County Medical Society Alliance : This project is a continuation of what the alliance did in 2006; a two-tiered effort that promotes healthy families through childhood immunizations and draws attention to obesity awareness and education. The proposed outcome of this project is more than 1500 children and adolescents will be immunized over the course of the year while 400 students in 4th and 5th grades will continue to receive training in nutrition and exercise to combat childhood obesity. This is double the number immunized in 2006.

 

TMA House of Delegates: TexMed 2007

Last Updated On

July 07, 2010

Originally Published On

March 23, 2010

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