The Texas Medical Association (TMA) is celebrating outstanding physicians and medical students from across the state with awards for their contributions to their sections of the association’s membership, patients in their community, and advocacy.
TMA recognized the honorees during TexMed, the association’s annual conference held in Corpus Christi this year.
This year’s honorees (listed alphabetically by city):
Austin: Huseng Vefali, MD
The TMA International Medical Graduate Section has awarded Austin cardiologist Huseng Vefali, MD, the 2026 Outstanding Physician Award for notable service to his community. In addition to caring for his patients, Dr. Vefali actively supports initiatives helping young people who aspire to become physicians. He supports health care scholarship recipients, mentors high school seniors and premedical students at the University of Texas at Austin, and cares for medically underserved patients in Bastrop and Seguin. He also volunteers his time to care for Austin’s indigent patient population in clinical and hospital settings.
Dr. Vefali is a delegate of the Travis County Medical Society.
Galveston: TMA Medical Student Section
The TMA Medical Student Section selected students at the UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine located in Galveston as the 2026 Chapter of the Year from among all Texas medical schools. The chapter mobilized over 100 medical students to participate in TMA’s advocacy efforts, developed advocacy toolkits to support student engagement, and led voter education initiatives to strengthen civic participation. In addition to the students’ advocacy efforts, the chapter also hosted TMA outreach programs like Hard Hats for Little Heads, distributing free bike helmets to children in their community.
Houston: Hilary Fairbrother, MD
Medical students selected Houston emergency physician Hilary Fairbrother, MD, as winner of its 2026 C. Frank Webber, MD, Award, recognizing her for outstanding service to the section and its members. “Dr. Fairbrother leads with a rare combination of intellectual rigor and genuine care for students. I have seen firsthand how deeply she invests in the student experience,” said one of the students who nominated her for the award. She also described the physician’s support of their student section chapter and her dedication to advising students about effective advocacy strategies regarding complex health policy issues. Dr. Fairbrother is a member of the Harris County Medical Society.
Houston: Sanjay Neerukonda
The section also selected Houston medical student Sanjay Neerukonda as the 2026 Student of the Year. The fourth-year MD-PhD student at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth represents the medical student section on TMA’s Council on Medical Education. A nominator said Mr. Neerukonda “consistently makes time to mentor and support new students,” adding that he is “universally respected and admired because he leads with integrity, kindness, and genuine care.” Fellow students call him a highly engaged and reliable contributor to the policymaking process at the local, state, regional, and national levels.
Pearland: Mammen Sam, MD
Mammen Sam, MD, a hospitalist in Pearland, won the 2026 Young Physician Section (YPS) Young at Heart Award for encouraging young physicians to pursue leadership and involvement in organized medicine. A colleague who nominated him said, “Over the years, he has guided YPS members to speak ... for members and patients who may not have a voice.” Fellow doctors say he mentors young physicians – many of whom ask him for guidance – in topics like health care advocacy and policy proposals. A TMA Council on Legislation member, he is a past chair of TMA’s Committee on Cancer. Dr. Sam also is a former president of the Brazoria County Medical Society.
TMA also awarded its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, to Georgetown pediatrician and former Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John W. Hellerstedt, MD.
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TMA Contacts: Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320; email: brent.annear@texmed.org
Swathi Narayanan (512) 370-1382; cell: (408) 987-1318; email: swathi.narayanan@texmed.org
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