June 8, 2023
People in underserved communities in Dallas and Galveston will have greater access to vaccines, dental care, and chronic disease management, thanks to the Texas Medical Association Foundation’s (TMAF’s) John P. McGovern Champion of Health Awards for 2023.
The awards honor exceptional projects that address urgent public health needs. The top award winner is Jubilee Park Community Clinic and Health & Wellness Program in Dallas, which won the $7,500 top prize. The two programs that tied for second place – Brother Bill's Helping Hand Student-Run Free Clinic in Dallas and The Luke Society, Inc. street clinic in Galveston – each received $3,000. The funds support the winning programs’ efforts to help their communities.
The three honorees received their awards during TexMed, TMA’s annual conference held in Fort Worth this year.
TMAF Champion of Health Top Award: Jubilee Park Community Clinic and Health & Wellness Program (Dallas)
The clinic serves residents of three of the five poorest ZIP codes in Dallas, which experience high rates of chronic disease. The program provides free health and wellness programs, and a mental health counseling clinic.
“Thank you for this incredible honor,” said Marissa Castro Mikoy, president and chief executive officer of Jubilee Park Community Clinic. “It is the mission of a lifetime to be part of a project like Jubilee Park Community Clinic and to walk with our resilient community to achieve health equity for Southeast Dallas.”
This clinic provides residents not just free medical and dental care but also several programs to improve individuals’ overall well-being. More than 200 volunteers distribute food, cultivate a community garden, teach exercise and cooking classes, and coach youth sports.
The organizers’ mission is to be a catalyst for community revitalization and enrichment in Southeast Dallas.
Second Place Award (Tie): Brother Bill's Helping Hand Student-Run Free Clinic (Dallas)
The clinic helps expand health care access to people in uninsured and underserved communities in Dallas through primary and preventive health services such as vaccine education and administration, women's health screening, and chronic disease management.
More than 150 medical students and 20 physician volunteers from UT Southwestern Medical School’s TMA Medical Student Section chapter help run the clinic.
“We are honored to have been selected as the secondary winner of the TMAF’s John P. McGovern Champion of Health Award,” said Maishara Muquith, co-founder and chief executive director of the clinic. “We will continue to promote health equity in underserved communities, empower vulnerable patients, and develop future physicians who are dedicated to life-long service with the support of the TMAF.”
Second Place Award (Tie): The Luke Society, Inc. street clinic (Galveston)
The Luke Society Clinic provides medical care to underinsured people in Galveston, holding a Saturday morning street clinic in a church parking lot every week.
The clinic treats patients with hypertension, infections, and asthma. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists provide the care with the help of medical and nursing students.
They see about 40 patients each Saturday morning, regardless of the weather. There is no charge for the care provided, and patients also receive necessary medications.
“The Luke Society is honored to be recognized by the TMAF John P. McGovern Champion of Health Award for our work to continue our mission to provide medical and spiritual care to the underinsured and uninsured in Galveston while supporting the education of students in the health profession,” said Sam Mathis, MD, a member of The Luke Society’s Board of Directors.
TMAF named its Champion of Health award after the late John P. McGovern, MD, a philanthropist, scholar, and noted allergist who founded the John P. McGovern Foundation in Houston. Dr. McGovern established a permanent endowment at TMAF, which supports this award.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 57,000 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.
The TMA Foundation raises funds to support the population health, science, and quality-of-care priority initiatives of TMA and the Family of Medicine.
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Contact: Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320; email: brent.annear@texmed.org
Swathi Narayanan (512) 370-1382; cell: (408) 987-1318; email: swathi.narayanan@texmed.org