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El Paso Physician Named TMA Health Hero - 09/19/2024

Joseph H. Segapeli, MD, an El Paso pediatrician, was named a Health Hero Saturday by the Texas Medical Association (TMA) for his commitment to improving the health of his community. Dr. Segapeli was honored with the third annual award last week during TexMed, TMA’s annual conference, in Dallas.

Talk to Patients About: Varicella - 09/19/2024

The varicella-zoster virus  does double-duty: It can cause chickenpox when you’re young and reactivate later in life as a painful, blistery rash called shingles. Well, there’s a vaccine for each disease.

Talk to Patients About: Rubella - 09/19/2024

The virus that causes rubella often appears deceptively mild — so mild in fact that one-quarter to half of people infected with it will have no symptoms at all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccination is the best protection.

CMS Ups Seasonal Flu Vaccine Payment - 09/09/2024

On Aug. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services increased payments to physicians for influenza vaccines and updated which codes physicians should use when billing for the service during the 2024-25 flu season.

New TMA Podcast Spotlights Timely Health Care Issues - 09/02/2024

The Texas Medical Association Council on Health Promotion has launched a podcast series to inform and educate the public on some of TMA’s public health priorities, as well as community outreach programs the council oversees.

Class Care: School-Based Health Centers Deliver Care to At-Risk Youth - 08/27/2024

School-based health centers in Texas deliver physical and behavioral care to at-risk youth.

Learn How to Beat the Heat with TMA Health Beat - 08/16/2024

Texans are no strangers to extreme temperatures, but underestimating the dangers posed by the heat can have serious consequences.

COVID-19 Cases Up Again; What You Should Know - 08/14/2024

COVID-19 cases are up again, with case numbers in Texas and nearby states leading the way, according to two public health measurements.

Science: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism; Physicians Fight to Reassure, Immunize - 08/09/2024

Physicians repeat it over and over: Vaccines like the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine do not cause autism; they are safe and effective. Yet the decades-old false claim that vaccines do cause autism has convinced millions of parents not to give their children potentially lifesaving shots and could lead more to opt out, according to Texas physicians.

CDC: Drinking Raw Milk Doesn’t Protect Against Avian Flu - 08/07/2024

The spread of the A(H5N1) virus, or avian flu, has forced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to warn people away from drinking raw milk contaminated with the virus as a way to acquire antibodies against the disease. The unsupported practice significantly increases risk of illness. Read more.

Krishna Memorial Scholarship Invests in University of Texas’ Future Physicians - 08/06/2024

For two out of three U.S. allopathic medical students, matriculating can come with up to a $300,000 price tag, burdening future physicians with financial woes that can encroach on their education.

Talk to Patients About: Flu - 07/31/2024

Flu is serious, and the vaccine can prevent or minimize the illness.

Physicians: The Rising Number of Older Patients Requires Expertise on Aging, but Barriers Exist - 07/29/2024

As forecasters predict the number of people aged 65 and older in Texas will more than triple by 2050, doctors say the population will need more specialized physicians to meet the patients’ unique needs.

Maternal Health Problems in Central Texas Underscore Statewide Crisis - 07/22/2024

Central Texas has significant maternal health challenges, including the highest rate of maternal death among black women, in part because of barriers to health care coverage and because resources are underused, according to a report by the nonprofit Texans Care for Children.

TMA Grants to Help Your Practice Improve Local Vaccination Rates - 07/16/2024

Apply for a grant. Vaccines Defend What Matters (formerly Be Wise – Immunize) is TMA’s integrated, multimedia public health education and advocacy effort to overcome vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccination rates in Texas. 

It’s Hot! Stay Hydrated and Remain Vigilant to Avoid Heat Exhaustion or Worse, Doctors Say - 07/01/2024

Texans are no strangers to hot temperatures, but physicians are warning Texans about the dangers of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. “As the temperatures rise and the heat index surges, we see more people in the emergency department suffering from heat-related illnesses,” said Hilary Fairbrother, MD, an emergency medicine physician and chair of the Texas Medical Association’s Committee on Emergency Medical Services and Trauma.

Mitigating Medical Student Debt: TMA Assistance Programs Help Next Generation - 06/20/2024

As medical school debt numbers continue to burden graduating medical school students, TMA, TMA Foundation, and TMA Alliance members remain involved in setting up assistance programs to help the next generation of Texas physicians succeed.

Leading Through Change: TMA’s Impact on Public Health Evident at State Level - 06/04/2024

Texas Medicine had the opportunity to interview five DSHS commissioners who have served as the top brass in Texas Public Health over the past 30 years, working closely with TMA along the way. At the same time, these leaders have leveraged their roles and expertise to inform and influence medicine in the state.

TMA Special Funds Foundation Builds New Medical Student Scholarship After $1.1 Million Donation - 06/04/2024

Another batch of medical students will be encouraged to return to their hometowns to practice medicine thanks to a $1.1 million gift the Texas Medical Association’s Special Funds Foundation recently received – its largest individual donation – to establish a new medical student scholarship for Tarrant, Johnson, and Parker County students.

LSC Bestows Scholarships to Four Future Physicians Dedicated to the Medically Underserved - 05/21/2024

The Lone Star Caucus, comprised of smaller, nonmetro county medical societies, awards scholarships annually. Meet this year’s winners, recognized for their outstanding achievements and leadership skills. Read more.

Physicians Sound Alarm to Curb Rising Congenital Syphilis Rates - 05/16/2024

Texas physicians are raising the alarm as cases of congenital syphilis, a dangerous illness for fetuses and newborn babies, are surging. Texas has the fourth highest congenital syphilis case rate in the nation, with cases skyrocketing 148% from 2017 to 2022, according to Texas Department of State Health Services data.

Delegates Emphasize Women’s, Reproductive Health Ahead of Legislative Session - 05/15/2024

Continuing its mission to improve the health of mothers and babies in Texas, along with addressing ongoing sexual health and opioid crises, TMA passed and strengthened policy to shape the association’s advocacy come legislative session.

J.T. “Lamar” McNew Award - 05/14/2024

Read about the history and winners of the J.T. “Lamar” McNew Award.

The Great Masquerader: Congenital Syphilis Plagues Texas - 05/06/2024

Since beginning her career at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in 2017 as the infectious disease medical officer, Jennifer Shuford, MD, has been closely monitoring syphilis.

Drivers Ed: Texas Program Empowers Residents to Address Nonmedical Drivers of Health - 05/06/2024

Spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio developed a residency training program focused on nonmedical factors, related screening tools, and community resources that can help patients in need.