TMA Leadership

The Texas Medical Association (TMA) installed Houston emergency physician Diana L. Fite, MD, as its 155th president. She took office in a ceremony before a live and online gathering of the organization’s Board of Trustees and outgoing president David C. Fleeger, MD. The TMA House of Delegates policymaking body elected Dr. Fite last year to serve as president-elect for one year before assuming the presidency today. She will lead America’s largest state medical society for one year.

Susan Rudd Bailey, MD, is American physicians’ new leader in the battles against COVID-19 and outside interference in patient care. The Fort Worth allergist took the oath of office as president of the American Medical Association on Sunday, becoming the sixth Texas physician to lead the organization.

After 151 years of all-male leadership at the American Medical Association, a family physician from Texas broke through the glass ceiling on June 17, 1998.

TMA’s History of Medicine Committee presents an online exhibit featuring portraits and short biographical sketches of all TMA presidents beginning with the organization of the State Medical Association of Texas in 1853. Read the biographies in the notes section below each slide. And, check out the page of interesting facts about TMA presidents. This online exhibit is a work in progress; we will add more biographies during the year.

The TMA Leadership College (TMALC) was established in 2010 as part of TMA's effort to ensure strong and sustainable physician leadership with organized medicine. TMALC graduates serve as thought leaders who can close the divide among clinicians and health care policymakers, and as trusted leaders within their local communities.

Rock-solid support among TMA faithful isn't uncommon. Indeed, frustrated by changes in health care, many Texas doctors and their office staffs view the organization as a white-hatted cowboy battling valiantly on their behalf.