April 17, 2026
The Texas Medical Association Alliance (TMAA) has installed Ms. Lydia Soldano of Austin as the organization’s new president.
Ms. Soldano focused on three themes as TMAA, the community service and advocacy arm of TMA, installed her Friday during ALLMED, TMAA’s annual conference held in conjunction with TMA’s TexMed conference.
“I'm honored to step into this role to advance the legacy of advocacy, outreach, and fellowship set by those before me,” she said.
Ms. Soldano has been a member of the alliance since shortly after she and her husband, pathologist Anthony Soldano, MD, moved to Austin in 2007. At the time, the former educator had one goal in mind: to meet like-minded individuals who shared her passion for community service.
“I found an amazing group of people that had the same shared experiences,” she said of her alliance colleagues.
The TMA Alliance comprises spouses and partners of physicians, along with physicians, resident physicians, and medical students.
Ms. Soldano has forged a path through TMAA and organized medicine, having held 14 separate alliance leadership positions while making time to earn a master’s degree in education.
As TMAA’s newest president, she aims to use that expansive experience to further the organization’s advocacy and community outreach goals, while still leaving room to grow.
“I’m bringing my experience to the table, but I know I’m going to learn a few things from this presidency,” she said.
Ms. Soldano says her membership in her local alliance chapter – the Travis County Medical Alliance – created a “home base” for her to channel her energy for community engagement. When she eventually became president of the local alliance, she encouraged other alliance members to approach community events with the same enthusiasm.
For example, Ms. Soldano promoted her “favorite” TMA outreach program, Hard Hats for Little Heads, a bicycle helmet giveaway program to help reduce head injury among Texas children. She personally oversaw the distribution of helmets to many children around Austin, and some who received the program’s free helmets and safety education were her former students.
As she enters her TMAA presidency, she hopes to expand and increase the visibility of the program and other outreach opportunities.
While community service has always been a pillar in Ms. Soldano’s life, she says she’s not as experienced with medical advocacy. That will change.
“During my presidency, advocacy will be tantamount,” she said, since the Texas Legislature will convene during the last part of her one-year term. “One of my goals is to encourage first-time visitors to come to First Tuesdays at the Capitol, and even if it’s scary, let them know we can do this together.” First Tuesdays, a program the alliance initiated in 2003, are TMA/TMAA advocacy days held during the legislative session.
During her term, the new president aspires to inspire advocacy for health care and medical issues, encourage participation in TMA outreach programs like Hard Hats, grow alliance membership, and increase more members to connect via alliance events.
She looks forward to serving in the legacy of her predecessors.
“I'm excited to continue their work by further serving with compassion and respect, fostering deeper connections among our medical families, and working to build healthier communities across Texas,” Ms. Soldano said.
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 60,000 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 has been to improve the health of all Texans.
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Contact: Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320
Swathi Narayanan (512) 370-1382; cell: (408) 987-1318
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