Next April, the Texas Medical Association Foundation’s gala will again bolster the longstanding efforts of Texas physicians to advance a healthier Texas.
Three Corpus Christi couples, all leaders in medicine, will lead the charge to break past fundraising records when the event arrives on the sunny shores of TexMed 2026.
Jacob Moore, MD, an ophthalmologist and his wife, Sunshine, member of the TMA Foundation (TMAF) Board of Trustees; Jerry Hunsaker, MD, ophthalmologist and his wife Keely, a dentist and past TMA Alliance president; and Mary Dale Peterson, MD, anesthesiologist, and Rafael Coutin, MD, cardiologist, will guide the 33rd annual event, attempting to raise more than last year’s gala-record amount, just over $518,000.
“We’re honored to serve as co-chairs of the TMA Foundation gala – an inspiring evening of fellowship and philanthropy,” Dr. Coutin said. “This event supports the TMA Foundation’s vital missions to improve community health and empower students to pursue their dreams of becoming physicians.”
This year’s gala, Beach Party, will transport guests to a night of coastal fun and celebration, a silent auction, and live local music. The gala will take place Friday, April 17, from 6:30 to 10:30 pm at the Omni Corpus Christi.
Each year, funds raised through sponsorships, ticket sales, and auction items help support a variety of TMA outreach programs aligned with the association’s mission to improve the health of all Texans.
Dr. Moore is a past president of the Nueces County Medical Society (NCMS) and a current NCMS delegate to TMA. Mrs. Moore has served on the finance committee of the TMAF board since 2019 and is a past president of the TMA Alliance (TMAA). She also represents TMAF on TMA’s Council on Health Promotion, which oversees TMA’s outreach programs.
Dr. Hunsaker is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Ophthalmological Society for his lifelong dedication to patients. He is a former TEXPAC chair and serves as a NCMS delegate to TMA. Mrs. Hunsaker is a winner of the June Bratcher Award for her political advocacy with TMAA and TMA and is also a past president of TMAA.
Dr. Peterson is a past president of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists and American Society of Anesthesiologists and a current TMA delegate. Dr. Coutin is a TMA alternate delegate and serves as a fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
Sponsorships for the gala are available at various recognition levels ranging from $3,250 for a table of eight to $50,000 for the exclusive presenting sponsorship. Individual tickets are on sale and start at $350.
To learn more and purchase tickets or sponsorship, visit the gala webpage or contact TMAF at (800) 880-1330, ext. 1664, or (512) 370-1664.