Name: Alyssa Tochterman, MD
Specialty: Family Medicine
City: Andrews
County Medical Society: Andrews CMS
Why is your section important?
TMA's LGBTQ Health Section plays an important role by offering a safe place for members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community to meet and discuss issues facing our LGBTQIA+ patients.
What are some issues the LGBTQIA+ community is facing that physicians should be aware of?
Physicians need to understand how the current climate affects this population. Many individuals are experiencing increased anxiety. As a result, depression rates are up. Some patients are requesting their pronouns or sexual orientation be removed from their official records due to safety and privacy concerns.
How can physicians and organizations create an inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ patients?
Ask questions in a non-judgmental way. Don't make assumptions. I teach medical students and residents how to approach sexual health in non-judgmental ways, and I am happy to share my guidance with anyone who needs it. Having an inclusive environment where patients feel safe is important. I have rainbows displayed throughout my office and wear various pins on my lanyard, so people know I'm a safe place.
What benefits have you derived from your membership in the section?
I've met some amazing medical students, residents, and physicians through my work with TMA and this section. The collaboration and camaraderie I've experienced is incredible.
List any current or earlier leadership roles within TMA including TMAF, TMAA, and/or other affiliated organizations.
I'm a graduate of TMA Leadership College. I've served on the Committee on Reproductive, Women's and Perinatal Health (CRWPH). I'm also president and TMA delegate for Andrews County Medical Society and previously served as secretary for the LGBTQ Health Section.
If you have served in a leadership role at TMA, please share what you gained from the experience.
Being a leader has allowed me to highlight the importance of representing underserved populations, especially those in rural areas. By working with CRWPH and the LGBTQ Health Section, I was able to tackle key issues that affect women's health and the LGBTQIA+ communities.
Is there a cause, activity, or organization you're involved in you would like to mention?
I've enjoyed working with TexasAIM. This program supports Texas birthing hospitals with technical assistance and collaborative learning so they can make changes that lead to improved outcomes for mothers in our state. As a member of a rural community, working in a hospital that helps those with limited access to obstetric care is important to me.
What do you like most about your specialty?
My specialty equips me with a broad range of knowledge and skills, which is beneficial when confronted with highly complex patients and putting the pieces of the puzzle together. As a rural family medicine physician, I take great pride in caring for multiple generations of families. I get to know intimate details of patients' lives which aids in my ability to care for them.
Do you have a favorite quote or personal motto?
The best advice I received was to work on the ability to say "no." As physicians, we want to help everyone, all the time. But boundaries are also important. It's okay to say no to serving on a committee, a council, picking up extra shifts, etc. Taking on too much can lead to burnout. I pass this same advice on to my medical students and residents.
