For academic achievement, commitment to community service, and desire to care for Texas’ increasingly diverse population, the Texas Medical Association honored the 16 recipients of its Diversity in Medicine Scholarship at Business of Medicine Conference.
“Each of our scholarship recipients’ life experiences will help them as future physicians to create a culture of medicine in Texas that is more inclusive, affordable, and accessible to those who need care,” TMA President-Elect Jayesh B. “Jay” Shah, MD, told the recipients during the awards reception. Dr. Shah also chairs TMA’s Educational Scholarships and Loans Committee, which oversees the scholarship.
Dr. Shah and current TMA President G. Ray Callas, MD, met, spoke, and took photos with each recipient, whose future careers will hopefully be less impacted by financial burden with the $10,000 scholarship.
As a large portion of medical students accrue six figures’ worth of debt, efforts to mitigate financial burden for future physicians is crucial. TMA Foundation (TMAF) says it’s proud to make those efforts for the Diversity in Medicine Scholarship.
“We are inspired by what [these recipients have] already accomplished, their motivation to serve, and their desire to improve the health of all Texans,” Kim Rice, MD, secretary of the TMAF Board of Trustees, shared with the recipients.
Since 1998, TMA has awarded the Diversity in Medicine Scholarship to help diversify the physician workforce to meet the health care needs of Texans. TMA has awarded 226 scholarships totaling more than $1.7 million since the program’s inception.
Recipients are known as the “Bayardo Scholars” in recognition of the majority support provided by the TMA Foundation Trust Fund of Roberto J. Bayardo, MD, and the late Agniela (Annie) M. Bayardo of Houston. This year’s scholarships also are supported by generous gifts from the Patrick Y. Leung, MD, Endowment and annual gifts from H-E-B; Baldemar Covarrubias, MD; county medical societies; and gifts from physicians and their families. Donors were able to meet recipients in person at the scholarship reception.
The 2025 Diversity in Medicine Scholarship Program is now accepting applications. Please visit, TMA Loan Funds for more information and to apply.