In addition to installing G. Ray Callas, MD, as president, Texas Medical Association delegates elected several top leaders at TexMed 2024, making history in the process.
TMA’s new president-elect, Jayesh B. “Jay” Shah, MD, is the first Indian-American in the position, which he calls “an immense honor, not just for me but for the entire Indian-American physician community.”
Dr. Shah will serve in this role for one year before becoming TMA’s 160th president in 2025. He hopes to unite all physicians – whether they are in private practice, work in hospitals, teach at universities, or serve in the military – so they can advocate for medicine with one voice. Dr. Shah practices internal and hyperbaric medicine in San Antonio.
TMA also elected several new members to the Board of Trustees, and familiar ones.
“My first love is caring for patients, but my next love – besides my family – is advocacy to improve the care of patients and the standing of Texas physicians,” said Denton gynecologist Joseph S. Valenti, MD, who returns and will serve as board chair.
Cynthia A. Jumper, MD, a Lubbock internal medicine and pulmonary diseases specialist who joined TMA as a medical student, will serve as vice chair after her reelection.
“It’s an honor to continue serving and contributing to the growth and success of our organization in this capacity,” she said.
Also after renewing their seats on the board, Waco otolaryngologist Bradford W. Holland, MD, returns as speaker of the TMA House of Delegates and Little Elm internal medicine specialist John G. Flores, MD, returns as vice speaker. Keller family physician Gregory Fuller, MD, will continue to serve as secretary/treasurer.
Newly elected to the board are:
- Dallas pediatric cardiologist Lee Ann Pearse, MD, who has served on two TMA councils and as a district chair of TEXPAC.
- Houston surgeon Dexter G. Turnquest, MD, a former Harris County Medical Society president who chaired TMA’s Council on Constitution and Bylaws.
- Amarillo family physician Rodney B. Young, MD, who is believed to be the first member of the TMA board from the Potter-Randall County Medical Society and has chaired multiple other TMA councils and committees.
- Temple internist Andrew “Jimmy” Widmer, MD, who will represent the Young Physician Section on the board and who recently chaired TEXPAC.
- Temple physician Pruthali Kulkarni, DO, who will serve as the TMA Resident and Fellow Section (RFS) representative on the board and was also the RFS representative on TMA’s Committee on Cancer.
- Parminder Deo, from the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicinee at Texas Christian University, who will serve as the TMA Medical Student Section representative.
Delegates also chose the following members to represent Texas in the American Medical Association House of Delegates:
- AMA Delegates elected/reelected: Michelle A. Berger, MD; G. Ray Callas, MD; Gregory M. Fuller, MD; William S. Gilmer, MD; Steven R. Hays, MD; Cynthia A. Jumper, MD; Kenneth L. Mattox, MD; Jennifer R. Rushton, MD; Leslie H. Secrest, MD; Roxanne M. Tyroch, MD; and E. Linda Villarreal, MD.
- AMA Alternate Delegates reelected: Shanna M. Combs, MD; Eddie L. Patton Jr., MD; and Yasser F. Zeid, MD.
- AMA Alternate Delegates elected to fill open seats: Samuel E. Mathis, MD; and Linda M. Siy, MD.
- AMA Alternate Delegate elected to represent the Resident and Fellow Section: Shreya Kondle, MD.
- AMA Alternate Delegate elected to represent the Medical Student Section: Grayson Jackson.
Last Updated On
May 09, 2024
Originally Published On
May 09, 2024
Brent Annear
Associate Vice President, Media Relations and Leadership Advancement
Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1381
brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org
As TMA’s AVP of media relations and leadership advancement, Brent Annear has worked in communications for several decades. He joined TMA in 2001 after nearly 20 years in television news. Brent and his team share TMA’s mission and vision with the world through news releases, social media posts, podcasts, and videos. He also helps hone TMA physician leaders’ communication skills. A University of Texas graduate who hails from Minnesota, Brent is married with two adult stepchildren. He enjoys volunteering, sports, travel, and hobbies, and is a private pilot.