In recognition of his nearly 50-year career spanning obstetrics-gynecology practice in Lake Dallas and 11 terms in Congress, the Texas Medical Association awarded U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-Lewisville), the 2024 Distinguished Service Award at its annual conference, TexMed, in Dallas on May 3.
Dr. Burgess attributed his political career to TMA, through which he ran in 2001 for his first elected office: alternate delegate in the Texas Delegation to the American Medical Association. Having “caught the bug,” he went on to run for Congress. With TMA’s support, he won a 2002 election to represent North Texas’ U.S. House District 26.
“This is a wonderful award, and I am really so appreciative of it, but none of this would have happened without the TMA,” he told attendees. “The TMA was there for me.”
And Dr. Burgess was there for Texas physicians. Since his 2003 swearing-in, he has risen through the ranks to become a senior member of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce and formerly chaired the committee’s Health Subcommittee. In these roles, he shepherded health-related legislation through the lawmaking process.
He also authored, sponsored, or backed more than 27 health-related laws, including the Medicare Provide Payment Modernization Act of 2015, which repealed the disastrous Sustainable Growth Rate formula that Medicare had used to calculate physician payment. With its passage, Dr. Burgess and TMA demonstrated the efficacy of Texas physician advocacy on a national stage and established a playbook for future Medicare payment reform.
Dr. Burgess also championed legislation to improve maternal health outcomes and contributed to the 2016 passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, which funded the National Institutes of Health and advanced biomedical research. More recently, he sponsored the Patient Access to Quality Health Care Act (House Resolution 977), which would repeal the federal ban on creating and expanding physician-owned hospitals. He also recently advocated for a more robust federal response to the Change Healthcare cyberattack and other safeguards of physician practice viability.
“We’ve still got work to do, and we will get it done,” he said during TexMed’s opening session.While bestowing the award, TMA President Ray Callas, MD, lauded Dr. Burgess’ sterling reputation and generous mentorship.
“As our congressman, Dr. Burgess has been a constant advocate for the House of Medicine,” he said.
Dr. Burgess announced in November 2023 that he would not seek re-election; his current term ends in January 2025. Looking ahead to retirement, he says his 22-year career in Congress won’t outshine his 25-year career as a practicing physician.
He also expressed optimism about the future of medicine, citing medical students’ and young physicians’ resolve in the face of well-documented challenges, such as increasing industry consolidation and administrative burden.
“I am so encouraged by the young people that I see be willing ... to be a physician today,” he said. “This generation of physicians that are coming up are going to have tools at their disposal to alleviate human suffering that none before them have ever known.”
For more information on TMA’s awards, check out the association’s dedicated webpage.
Emma Freer
Associate Editor
(512) 370-1383