Before graduating from medical school this year, Magdalena Anchondo, MD, still had lingering questions about residency programs, specialties, and practice types.
She reached out to the Texas Medical Association for help and was introduced to a physician mentor eager to guide her on her medical journey: Dallas obstetrician-gynecologist Deborah Fuller, MD.
“It’s wonderful the way TMA can facilitate these mentorship opportunities, even indirectly,” said Dr. Fuller, a member of TMA’s Council on Legislation. “It really does build relationships. I continue to communicate with each of my mentees, just to see how their medical journeys are going.”
Over months of text conversations, phone calls, and coffee meetups, it became clear to Dr. Anchondo that her choice to pursue OB-gyn was the right one. With Dr. Fuller’s encouragement and support, she matched into an OB-gyn program.
“After talking about our different paths to medicine, I learned about Dr. Fuller’s long-term commitment to women’s health care,” Dr. Anchondo told Texas Medicine Today. “Ultimately, that helped me solidify why OB-gyn was the specialty for me. I had the same desire to care for women – and seeing that goal put into practice deeply inspired me.”
TMA facilitates networking in a variety of ways.
For example, TMA’s Medical Student Section hosts a Specialty Showcase each year during TexMed, connecting medical students with TMA member physicians who share their unique experiences across specialties and practice types.
Students, residents, and physicians may also find peer guides through other section activities, county medical society events, or, like Dr. Anchondo did, by simply reaching out.
Between 2025 and 2026, Dr. Fuller gave Dr. Anchondo information about obstetrics-gynecology and its subspecialties, provided insight into practice settings, reviewed her U.S. Medical Licensing Examination test scores, and helped edit her resume and applications to residency programs.
Through her relationship with Dr. Fuller, Dr. Anchondo also learned about TMA, from its role as an advocate to the ways physicians can get involved through boards, councils, committees, and sections.
“It was encouraging to find out, as a physician, you can wear other hats, and that we’re able to advocate for our patients and fellow physicians,” Dr. Anchondo said.
Want more opportunities to network with physicians? Get involved in
TMA’s member sections.
Alisa Pierce
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1469