TMA Scholarship Helps Medical Students Put Patient Care Goals First
By Tammy Wishard

stethoscope-books-50-year-scholarship

Thanks to the Texas Medical Association’s 50-Year Club Scholarship Fund, not only will the financial stresses of medical school be eased for Yuhong “Holy” Chou, but also, she says, she can focus on her passion “to bring healing to the pediatric population and their families.”

Ms. Chou is one of three Texas medical students to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the fund in recognition of their outstanding academic performance. 

The 50-Year Club Scholarship Fund, previously the 50-Year Club Scholarship, was established in 2020 to support TMA medical student scholarships in Texas. Through these scholarship programs, TMA’s 50-Year Club, made up of members who graduated from medical school 50 years ago or more, has awarded $30,000 to 38 Texas medical students since 2005.

The 2021 50-Year Club Scholarship winners are:

  • Ms. Chou, a fourth-year medical student at University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine;
  • Aryana Garza, a second-year medical student at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine; and
  • Malini Riddle, a third-year medical student at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine.

All three winners are TMA medical student members.

Without the aid of scholarships and other financial support, Ms. Garza, a first-generation college graduate, said her educational pursuits would not be possible. “As a scholarship recipient, I can now concentrate on what matters most: becoming the best physician I can be for my future patients.”

Ms. Riddle said she has funded her medical education solely through loans. “The 50-Year Club's generous award will help me fund my fourth year and reduce the financial obligations that come with the nationwide search for residency.

Ms. Riddle serves as the Foster School of Medicine’s TMA medical student chapter liaison to the El Paso County Medical Society and was chapter vice president in 2020.

Applications for the 2022 50-Year Club Scholarship Fund will open in July. Three scholarships are awarded annually.

The 50-Year Club Scholarship Fund is one of six scholarships TMA offers to qualified medical students. Contributions to the 50-Year Club Scholarship Fund are tax-deductible. To find out more, email Chris Johnson.

Last Updated On

March 25, 2022

Originally Published On

January 24, 2022

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50 Year Club | Scholarships

Tammy Wishard

Account Manager, Division of Communications and Marketing

(512) 370-1470
Tammy Wishard

Tammy Wishard is an account manager in TMA’s Marketing Department. She works with TMA’s Office of Trust Fund Administration and other departments to help communicate the broad range of services and resources TMA offers its members. She has a 25-plus-year history with TMA, where she started as a writer/editor. Tammy, a proud Iowa native, is a graduate of Abilene Christian University.

More stories by Tammy Wishard