May 10, 2025
One might not think music and organized medicine have much in common, but for Joi Smith of Tyler – the newly installed president of the Texas Medical Association Alliance (TMAA) – it has been the perfect marriage, both literally and figuratively. The community service and advocacy arm of TMA installed Ms. Smith as its newest president Saturday during TexMed, the association’s annual conference, held this year in San Antonio.
The alliance comprises physicians, spouses and partners of physicians, resident physicians, and medical students. A member of the alliance since 2002, Ms. Smith says the alliance’s mission statement drives her lengthy involvement with the group.
“The mission holds the key: to connect and support physician families and build a healthy Texas through outreach and advocacy,” said Ms. Smith.
After years as an active member of the Smith County Medical Society Alliance in Tyler, she joined the TMAA board in 2019. She soon took on leadership roles: Ms. Smith served on the state group’s Nominating Committee and as a resource liaison, vice president of membership, and recording secretary. In 2024, she helped TMAA develop its vision and mission statement, and strategic plan.
Ms. Smith was also president of her county alliance in 2019-22 – serving three terms – and last year co-chaired the chapter’s 90th anniversary celebration.
She embraced her identity as part of a medical family right after her marriage to her spouse, emergency medicine physician Gary E. Smith, MD. She met Dr. Smith while he was in his last semester of medical school and he signed up to take a course she was teaching, Beginning Piano for Adults. When he failed to attend the second class, however, Ms. Smith was not impressed. “‘Just like a doctor,’ I thought.”
Nonetheless, Dr. Smith managed to earn an “A” from his instructor, and soon the two were engaged to be married. Since then, their four-decade partnership has been “this wonderful music-medicine marriage and relationship,” Ms. Smith said.
As president of the TMA Alliance, she is committed to continuing the work of building healthy communities. TMA outreach programs will be high on her agenda: initiatives such as Hard Hats for Little Heads – which provides free helmets for children to use in biking and other wheeled activities – and her personal favorite, Texas BookShare – which puts health-related books into the hands of children.
Another area of focus will be on the advocacy role alliance members play. The group is a key player in promoting the TMA legislative agenda and keeping physician and alliance members informed about issues that affect Texas physicians and patients. “As alliance members, we advocate with one voice for our physician spouses,” Smith said.
Her enthusiasm for the work of the alliance is as strong as ever, even after decades of service to the organization.
“Of course, what brings me back, year after year, are the amazing members of the Family of Medicine,” Ms. Smith said.
In addition to her alliance work, Ms. Smith makes time for her deep love of music. She has played with symphonies and is a board member of the Texas Association for Symphony Orchestras. She has also been an artistic advisor for symphony boards.
The Texas Medical Association Alliance (TMAA) is a group of individuals passionate about protecting the future of medicine through community service and legislative advocacy. The TMA Alliance – consisting of physician spouses, physicians, residents, and medical students – provides advocacy, a community of support, mentorship, and lasting friendship in the Family of Medicine.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 59,000 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
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