April 29, 2016
The Texas Medical Association (TMA) Medical Student Section (MSS) named Galveston
physician Ben G. Raimer, MD, the TMA C. Frank Webber, MD, Award honoree for
2016 for his “close mentorship and dedication to medical student involvement in
organized medicine.” Medical student leaders recognized Dr. Raimer today during
TexMed, TMA’s annual conference, in Dallas. The University of Texas Medical
Branch’s (UTMB’s) American
Medical Association (AMA)/TMA Medical Student Section Chapter nominated
the pediatrics professor for the award.
“I am truly overwhelmed with the generosity and accolades
from our UTMB students – students who give our whole campus energy as well as
hope for a better future for our patients,” said Dr. Raimer. He has worked with
medical students for nearly 10 years, sponsoring the local medical school
chapters to TMA and AMA. “Every year, the students just get better and
better with their devotion to community engagement and political astuteness
regarding health care. It is a joy to listen to their dreams and
aspirations and to see those aspirations become reality.
“I am seldom surprised, but in this case I certainly
was.”
The UTMB medical students’ nomination said
Dr. Raimer “has strongly advocated for UTMB and its medical students at the TMA
and in the Texas Legislature.” They also said he was “instrumental in UTMB’s
recovery following Hurricane Ike, working around the clock to help medical
students and residents get back on their feet and resume their training.”
UTMB’s recovery after Hurricane Ike was a community
effort, Dr. Raimer replied. “Everyone went that extra mile.” In general,
he said, his efforts stem from a passion for teaching medical students and his
innate drive to give his all. “I was taught by my parents to go the extra mile
and then another if necessary. I love my family, UTMB, and my profession,
and we fight for those things we love most,” he said. “I don’t work
alone. It takes a campus community.”
“Dr. Raimer represents the best Texas has to offer in a
physician,” said UTMB medical student Andrew Coskey. “Not only is he a
wonderful physician, but he also is a wonderful man who cares deeply about the
learning environment and health of the students at UTMB.”
Dr. Raimer is a tenured professor in the UTMB departments
of pediatrics, family medicine, and preventive medicine and community health.
Over the past three decades, he has held numerous academic and administrative
positions at the Galveston medical school, including senior vice president for
the Office of Health Policy and Legislative Affairs; vice president for the
UTMB Office of Community Outreach; chief physician executive and CEO of UTMB
Correctional Managed Care; medical director of the UTMB Primary Care Outpatient
Clinics; CEO for Community Health Services; and chief physician executive for
UT-MED (UTMB’s medical group practice). His students believe he utilizes his
service in these positions to help them grow into caring, involved physicians.
Students praised Dr. Raimer’s work last legislative
session to increase state funding for graduate medical education (GME) – enabling
more Texas medical students to stay in the state for their professional
training after graduating. They refer to him as a “passionate mentor for our
chapter [who] strongly encourages medical student involvement in health policy
and advocacy.” He has helped organize medical student trips to the state
Capitol for TMA’s “First Tuesdays at the Capitol” legislative lobbying days, and
arranges student meetings with legislators. “More than 50 students were able to experience the power of
organized medicine firsthand by advocating for UTMB and medicine more broadly
to their elected representatives,” said Aakash Batra, a UTMB TMA-MSS delegate
who made the trip.
“Seeing our students engage in discourse over issues like
GME, access to care, and health care quality with their personal state
representative or senator is an exciting scenario to witness. I am proud of all
of our students, but especially those who stand for such a purpose,” said Dr.
Raimer. “I love to mentor them and to discuss the future of medicine, personal
goals, and political issues.”
He said both he and his wife, Sharon Raimer, MD, believe “TMA,
AMA and our specialty societies are of ultimate importance in providing doctors
a voice in the political process,” without which “we can easily lose our
physician autonomy and the most sacred parts of our profession.”
A 22-year member of TMA, he represents the Texas
Pediatric Society as a delegate on TMA’s Interspecialty Society Committee, was
a member of TMA’s Council on Legislation and Council on Medical Education, and
is a member of the Galveston County Medical Society.
Few who know him are surprised that Dr. Raimer encourages
medical students to become leaders in TMA, AMA, and elsewhere. He said UTMB
wants all of its students to be prepared to lead in their community, state, and
nation when they graduate. “Our future lies in assuring that young physicians
remain engaged in not only the work of our profession but also in the advocacy
for their patients,” he said. “Hopefully, more of our graduates will show up in
the ranks of our legislature (we have three alumni there now)!”
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation,
representing more than 49,000 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 is to improve the health of all Texans.
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Contact: Brent Annear (512) 370-1381;
cell: (512) 656-7320; email: brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org
Marcus
Cooper (512) 370-1382; cell: (512) 650-5336; email: marcus.cooper[at]texmed[dot]org
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