June 2019
As the Texas Medical Association Alliance celebrates its 101st year, I am reminded of the tremendous changes the profession of medicine has undergone in that time. Over the past century, we have seen great progress in medicine, and huge changes in how physicians care for patients and run their practices.
A post-WWII America witnessed the explosion of hospitals across the country, shifting the experience of illness and dying from homes to clinical settings. More recently, the experience of ageing has shifted from multigenerational homes, where it has taken place for millennia, to senior living centers and nursing homes. The Alliance, too, has changed. Our leadership, organization, and membership have all progressed over the years to ensure our relevancy. Change is certainly inevitable!
However, one constant is the role the Alliance plays in the medical family – in our communities, and at the Capitol. We continue to work to ensure medicine-friendly legislators are elected, to empower grassroots efforts through First Tuesdays at the Capitol, and to improve our communities. This year alone, we have given away more than 325,000 bicycle helmets, vaccinated thousands of Texas children, walked with our communities, and raised thousands of dollars for medical profession scholarships. And, that’s just the short list of activities we do to improve the health of all Texans. WOW!
This year, the Alliance is excited to launch three new programs: (1) First Tuesdays in the District, where we bring our award-winning advocacy program into each district; (2) a new opioid outreach program to combat opioid addiction and abuse; and (3) Healing Spaces, an educational program series that provides professional development for our members.
The Alliance stands for medicine today, just as proudly as it did 101 years ago. We are here to ensure our medical family thrives and survives in this historically dynamic health care landscape. Come along with us!
Yours in the Family of Medicine,
Lisa Queralt, RN, MSN
TMA Alliance President
Watch Lisa’s installation speech before the TMA House of Delegates.
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ALLMED 2019 Highlights
The TMA Alliance had a stellar ALLMED conference in Dallas, May 15-18, starting with a Big Dallas welcome reception and past presidents’ dinner at the historic Aldredge House, and a beginner Tai Chi session on Thursday morning. We heard from Curtis Webster, founder of Dads Married to Doctors, and enjoyed an afternoon of robust county roundtable discussion on membership and marketing.
Sunshine Moore, immediate past president, launched TMAA’s Opioid Outreach Initiative on Friday with an educational symposium featuring three truly exceptional speakers. Carlos F. Tirado, MD, MPH, president of the Texas Society of Addiction Medicine; Susán Hoemke, mother, public speaker, and author of Healing Scarred Hearts; and Mark Kinzly, co-founder of Texas Overdose Naloxone Initiative and member of the Harm Reduction Coalition Board of Directors all spoke on their firsthand experiences with opiates, addiction, recovery, and loss. Everyone in attendance received a toolkit containing materials to spread awareness about the opioid addiction in their communities. The toolkits included informational brochures, two types of drug disposal systems, and a copy of Ms. Hoemke’s book.
Ms. Moore, who led the Alliance through a year of transition with grace and optimism, shared her experience as TMAA president before the TMA House of Delegates, and swore in Lisa Queralt as the incoming TMAA president.
It was a fantastic three days.
Mark your calendar for ALLMED 2020, April 30-May 1 in Fort Worth. Remember – ALLMED is open to all Alliance members and is filled with valuable programming and exciting opportunities to meet and connect with Alliance members from across the state. We hope you’ll join us in Fort Worth next year!
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TMAA Recognizes Award Winners
A long-standing highlight of ALLMED is the annual TMAA awards celebration, where counties are honored for their outstanding work in membership, advocacy, and community health efforts. This year, President Sunshine Moore presented 10 awards, including two sets of co-winner counties and an honorable mention. Visit our website to learn more and see a complete list of winners.
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County Alliance Spotlight
One of TMAA's greatest strengths is the powerful support, dedication, and initiative of our county chapters. Starting this month, we will feature a different county alliance in each Monthly Memo and share information about its programs, initiatives, history, leadership, and more. For June, we are shining our spotlight on our fantastic hosts at ALLMED, the Dallas County Medical Society Alliance & Foundation (DCMSAF).
Founded in 1917, DCMSAF was the very first women’s county medical auxiliary in the country – making it not only the oldest county chapter but also older than the TMA Alliance itself! Guided by a group of outstanding leaders, DCMSAF is a vital part of the Dallas community, spearheading TMA programs such as Hard Hats for Little Heads, as well as a number of local projects.
Twice a year, in May and August, DCMSAF coordinates a Community Health Fair. Last month's event took place on May 14 and 17 and provided free physicals for middle and high school students at North Dallas High School and feeder middle schools, The physicals, a UIL requirement, enabled low-income and homeless students to participate in school sports. Approximately 110 middle and high school athletes received physicals over the two days of the event. Members who were not physicians organized the mini clinic and assisted students with paperwork. Students with conditions discovered during the physicals were counseled and provided with resources for medical treatment. The next Community Health Fair, a larger "Back to School" event, is scheduled for August 17.
The Aldredge House, DCMSAF’s home base, was built in 1917 and soon purchased by George and Rena Munger Aldredge, who lived in the house for more than 50 years. When the house’s future became uncertain, alliance members spent three long years fighting to preserve it and have it granted historical status. Now designated a Texas Historic Landmark, the Aldredge House is the site of alliance monthly meetings and various other alliance events. DCMSAF also regularly schedules educational tours, receptions, and lectures at the venue.
Learn more about DCMSAF and the Aldredge House.
Around the State
Members of Lubbock County Medical Society Alliance (LCMSA) did a double dose of good on May 3. In the morning, alliance members participated in a health fair at Harwell Elementary, handing out Be Wise – ImmunizeSM information and giving bicycle helmets to each class as a door prize. In the afternoon, another crew of volunteers partnered with South Plains Immunization Network to give pneumococcal vaccines to Meals on Wheels clients.
LCMSA members also participated at a health fair at Safety City in Lubbock on May 11, giving away approximately 50 bicycle helmets.
The
Bell County Medical Alliance Scholarship Committee awarded two health scholarships to graduating seniors last month. Isabella Auker of Belton High School and Emily Jarolik of Troy High School both were active in extracurricular and community service activities, in addition to excelling in their academic endeavors, and both will begin studying nursing at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor this fall.
Be Wise – Immunize is a service mark of the Texas Medical Association.
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Legislative Update
TMA finished the 2019 legislative session with a long list of wins. A big thanks goes out to members who attended First Tuesdays at the Capitol, responded to TMA action alerts, and personally reached out to your legislators. See which bills are headed to the governor’s desk.
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Don't Let Your Alliance Membership Lapse!
TMAA sent out an email on Thursday, May 30, to members who have not yet renewed their dues for 2019. The email contained an auto-login link to pay dues on the website – recipients need only click the link, enter payment information, and submit.
A physical invoice will be mailed this week to any remaining unpaid members.
Choose from three simple options to renew:
- Use the TMAA website. Simply click the “Renew” button, then fill out the username (email address) and password (seven characters). If you don’t remember your password, use the “forgot password” button to receive a link to create a new one.
- Call Sasha, TMAA program manager, at (512) 370-1525. She is happy to renew your membership over the phone, and it will take fewer than five minutes.
- Send in a completed membership form with a check made out to Texas Medical Association Alliance.
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Party of Medicine Nets Members, Donations
At the end of May, Jenny and John Shepherd, MD, of San Antonio hosted the Alliance’s first Party of Medicine reception. The Shepherds invited friends and colleagues to their home for a relaxing evening of networking and sharing personal stories. Attendees learned briefly about TMA’s advocacy efforts and why they are important. By the end of the evening, TMAA had more members, and TEXPAC had raised more than $7,000. More importantly, everyone left knowing TMA, TMAA, and TEXPAC are working hard to make a healthier Texas for patients and the physicians who care for them! It was a great event.
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