As a medical student, Jennifer Nordhauser, MD, says it was “really cool” to have opportunities for involvement in organized medicine. Those avenues were made possible by her involvement in the Texas Medical Association’s Medical Student Section (MSS) and Resident and Fellow Section (RFS) close to a decade ago.
Both further launched her TMA involvement, where the Pflugerville family medicine physician now serves as the chair-elect of TMA’s Young Physician Section, and as the section’s delegate to the American Medical Association.
“TMA very much made me feel like medical students have a seat at the table and are welcome in TMA governance,” she said. “TMA doesn’t shut out new voices or new perspectives.”
Shangir Siddique, MD’s RFS involvement also changed the trajectory of his leadership journey within the association.
After an “amazing experience” serving as an RFS representative to TMA’s Council on Health Promotion, the Houston internist asked to be appointed as a full member of the council post residency – a request that was fulfilled at TexMed 2024.
“I would not have known how to seek that [council] position had I not already had that exposure as a resident and fellow,” Dr. Siddique said. “Even though I was already connected with TMA, the same people who saw me as a resident leader, and now a young physician leader, encouraged me to continue my involvement in organized medicine.”
At TexMed 2026, both will be part of a select group of 16 physicians that graduate from TMA’s Leadership College, an achievement culminated after years of learning and training as members of MSS and RFS. Both say through active participation in the sections, the two of them learned the intricacies of TMA governance early in their medical careers.
In 1976, TMA’s House of Delegates (HOD) voted to create TMA’s MSS and RFS. Since their creation 50 years ago, both groups have worked to help their members navigate challenges unique to their career stages and contribute to the policy positions TMA takes on critical issues in health care. That half-century milestone will be celebrated at this year’s TexMed, held in Corpus Christi in April. (See “TexMed26,” page 7.)
Dr. Nordhauser says by engaging in TMA’s policymaking process via the MSS and RFS, medical students and residents not only advocate for the issues that matter to them but also help ensure TMA policies reflect the perspectives of physicians at all stages of their careers.
Resolutions and reports – both drafted internally by section (in this case, MSS and RFS) members and those seeking authorship from a section – are disseminated for the sections to review and workshop, either through separate communication with the original author or during section meetings both virtually and at TMA conferences ahead of TexMed.
For example, both sections regularly meet at TMA’s annual Business of Medicine (BOM) conference to formulate ideas for resolutions or edit those already up for discussion, among other duties. The BOM conference typically occurs six to eight months before TexMed.
“The sections’ resolution process begins way earlier than people think,” Dr. Siddique said. “Any section member can get involved on the policy side of things, and they often do.”
At the annual BOM conference, TMA physician leaders hold a resolution writing workshop and mock HOD to teach medical students and physicians-in-training about crafting strong, successful resolutions for HOD. This interactive session is open to all conference attendees wanting to learn more about resolutions writing, and includes tips and tricks for developing compelling resolutions, followed by an opportunity to workshop ideas alongside other TMA members.
“Often, residents or fellows … would not know the process of how to try to write a resolution. That was when the [RFS and TMA] leadership would help them,” Dr. Siddique said. “This was one of my favorite activities within the section, as it taught other residents and fellows how to write resolutions effectively, which is a skill that they can carry forward throughout their time within the TMA.”
MSS and RFS members who sit on one of TMA’s many boards, councils, or committees (BCC) also approach their BCC colleagues for advice on how to fine-tune a resolution, says Dr. Siddique. As a member of the RFS Executive Council, he often helped newer section members draft and edit resolutions – and was “unafraid” to approach more seasoned TMA members for resolution guidance.
After weeks of discussion, the sections decide which resolutions to sponsor. For the MSS, a resolution is not officially sponsored by the section until its 16 delegates vote in its favor. Resolutions are sent by electronic ballot for ratification from all RFS members.
Once a report or resolution is officially ratified by one of the sections, it follows the traditional HOD process and can become official TMA policy – as in the case of Dr. Siddique’s resolution in 2023 that sought to optimize resident and fellow salary and benefits. The sections’ work has also led to policy developments championing graduate medical education funding.
Dr. Nordhauser, who served as the chair of the MSS Executive Council from 2016-2017, got “knee deep in the TMA governance process” herself after helping the section introduce potential policy on increasing clinical event debriefing into medical training.
Although Dr. Nordhauser admits resolution drafting could be stressful – she remembers, with a laugh, how nervous she’d get wondering if one of the MSS resolutions would get extracted for debate on the house floor – she says TMA overall supported her and her fellow students’ ideas.
“TMA’s policymaking process [values] medical students’ thoughts and opinions,” Dr. Nordhauser said of her time involved with MSS. “From drafting resolutions to attending TMA conferences, my experience at TMA illuminated how the association builds us up to become leaders and advocates for our patients and for other physicians across the state.”
Serving the House of Medicine
Members of both groups serve in slotted seats on TMA boards, councils, and committees, and have voting representation in HOD.
As of 2026, 16 MSS chapters are represented in the house by a voting delegate, one for each of Texas’ medical schools. The RFS has the authority to elect one voting delegate for every 1,000 of its section members to serve in the house. Currently, the RFS fields 10 delegates. Additionally, both sections must elect an alternate for each delegate.
Members of the two sections also can hold alternate delegate positions within AMA. TMA delegation positions are elected through HOD and require a preliminary interview with the Texas Delegation to the AMA.
Members of both groups may:
• Serve as voting MSS or RFS delegates or alternate delegates to HOD;
• Be elected to the designated position on the association’s delegation to AMA;
• Be appointed to the designated MSS or RFS member position on the Board of Trustees; and
• Serve as special appointees to TMA’s boards, councils, and committees.
Looking ahead, Drs. Nordhauser and Siddique both hope to use their section experience as they continue their TMA leadership journeys.
“The sky is the limit in TMA,” Dr. Nordhauser said. “And the door really is open to everyone.”
Alisa Pierce
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1469