Member Expertise Drives TMA Councils, Committees in Policy Work
By Alisa Pierce

Physician members of the Texas Medical Association’s councils and standing committees are tasked with examining and initiating policies that support Texas patients and physicians, providing solutions to medicine’s challenges.  

Likewise, TMA is tasked with identifying skilled physicians whose experience could boost the association’s efforts to support its membership.  

Temple internist Andrew “Jimmy” Widmer, MD, the Young Physician Section representative to TMA’s Board of Trustees, said becoming involved in association leadership is a natural progression for physicians who already “show up” for medical advocacy.  

After attending multiple committee and council meetings as a graduate of TMA’s Leadership College, Dr. Widmer was asked by his CMS if he’d serve as membership chair for TEXPAC, TMA’s political action committee. 

“TMA is driven by member involvement,” he said. “Being the one to show up and say, ‘I’d love to learn more,’ leads to more opportunities to continue to grow in leadership.”  

Each year in the winter months, leadership nominations are solicited from TMA members – who can recommend themselves or their colleagues – and from Texas’ 110 county medical societies (CMSs) and 26 specialty societies, often where physicians first become familiar with issues that play into the policies developed by TMA’s councils and committees.   

On the other hand, membership to TMA boards, such as the Board of Trustees or the Board of Councilors, is determined via elected positions approved by the association’s House of Delegates at each year’s TexMed conference. 

Nominations for council and committee membership are reviewed in coordination with current council and committee chairs, members of the nominating CMS, and TMA staff. 

From there, TMA’s president-elect individually evaluates recommendations based on physicians’ experience and area of expertise. For example, those aiming to join TMA’s Council on Socioeconomics must demonstrate knowledge in areas like physician practice viability, payment, health information technology, and other topics. 

The process involves a comprehensive set of factors, including: 

• A demographic map showing regional representation needs; 

• Applications from nominees detailing relevant skills and what leadership experience they possess, both at the TMA and CMS levels; and  

• A list of TMA Leadership College alumni. 

This process ensures that TMA’s councils and committees are comprised of a robust set of physicians with experience requisite to each group, and that TMA continues to maintain strong and effective leadership across the organization, says TMA past president Rick Snyder, MD. 

Additionally, the Dallas cardiologist said the review process ensures TMA’s incoming president “personally knows” each new member, which in turn provides the leader with a skilled group of physicians to call on in times of advocacy need, such as state legislative sessions. 

“I don’t believe people understand how much goes into selecting members,” Dr. Snyder said. “The president-elect spends entire days reviewing potential new members, who currently sits on the councils and committees, what demographics they represent … It is a key balance.” 

New members are chosen in the weeks leading up to TMA’s annual policymaking conference, TexMed, where they will join the policy-shaping groups as members for the first time. The appointment process typically runs as follows: 

• December – January: A call for nominations is sent to TMA members, including delegates, alumni, leadership, and sections, encouraging them to apply through the TMA Leadership Portal. 

• January – February: Council and committee chairs are asked to submit recommendations for upcoming openings and reappointments. 

• March: The president-elect meets with TMA staff, who present the chairs’ recommendations. 

Council and committee members are tasked with multiple responsibilities, from advocacy to education. Their general responsibilities include reviewing TMA policy within their specific subject area, identifying critical issues and providing recommendations, and contributing to TMA communication and outreach, among other duties. 

Committees comprise up to nine members, while council membership can range to 18 participants. Once appointed, new members will serve a three-year term. During this time, each member must attend yearly conferences and regular meetings, which council and committee chairs can call at any time.   

Find more opportunities to get involved in medicine online, including how to:  

• Participate in your local CMS;  

• Host a grant-funded community outreach program;  

• Attend TMA events; and  

• Join a TMA Member Section.  

To learn more about other leadership opportunities, see TMA’s Leadership page.