TMA Leadership

The Texas Medical Association (TMA) installed Edinburg emergency internist E. Linda Villarreal, MD, as its 156th president. Dr. Villarreal was sworn in by a small gathering of the TMA Board of Trustees; departing TMA President Diana L. Fite, MD; and speakers of the TMA House of Delegates policymaking body during TexMed, TMA’s annual conference. Most attendees watched the conference virtually this year. She will lead America’s largest state medical society for one year.

In a speech concluding a historic and challenging term as American Medical Association president, Fort Worth allergist and immunologist Susan R. Bailey, MD, shared sympathetic and inspiring words for her colleagues as she reflected on a year defined by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

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.