Annual Session displays the art of family medicine

Story by Samantha Peek | Photos by Jonathan Nelson

More than 350 physicians joined TAFP staff and leaders to explore the art of family medicine at the 59th Annual Session and Scientific Assembly in Houston. Amid fun and fellowship, a magician and a treasure hunt, family physicians from around the state earned up to 24 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, shaped Academy policy at the TAFP committee and commission meetings, learned about all facets of the medical industry in the Exhibit Hall, and explored the Bayou City.

At the Annual Business and Awards Lunch on Saturday, the 2008 awardees for TAFP’s top honors were unveiled and the 2008-2009 officers assumed their new posts. Among the recipients were Fredericksburg family doctor John P. Ramsay, M.D., Texas Family Physician of the Year; longtime physicians Robert Echols, M.D., of Kilgore, and John Green, Jr., M.D., of Ballinger, Physicians Emeriti; State Rep. Ellen Cohen, Patient Advocacy Award; former TAFP president F. David Schneider, M.D., Sam A. Nixon, M.D., Leadership Award; Lewis Foxhall, M.D., TAFPPAC Award; Clare Hawkins, M.D., TAFP Foundation Philanthropist of the Year; and Tricia C. Elliott, M.D., Exemplary Teaching Award.

In his acceptance speech at the Awards Lunch, Physician Emeritus Echols told the audience that he had attended Annual Session meetings for close to a half-century. “When I left these meetings, I always went home feeling that I had gained a lot. I learned new things about new things and I learned new things about old things. When I got home I was dealt the challenge of continuing to study hard and to push for good patient care, which I did, and I owe this attitude to the Academy. All the time I was aware that back in the offices, those elected physicians in the Academy were always fighting the political and economical battles as needed and we were grateful for that always.”

Stepping up to lead the Academy during 2008-2009, the new TAFP officers were installed. The new TAFP officers are President Robert Youens, M.D., of Weimar; President-elect K. Ashok Kumar, M.D., of San Antonio; Vice President I. L. Balkcom, IV, M.D., of Sulphur Springs; Treasurer Melissa Gerdes, M.D., of Whitehouse; and Parliamentarian Troy Fiesinger, M.D., of Conroe.

In Youens’ first presidential address, he told the audience that he loves his profession and embraces the uniqueness of family medicine. “The longer I am at this business, the more I realize that our particular brand of medicine is what’s best for all patients. Our holistic approach to the treatment of our patients continues to make us the best specialty on which to found a health care system.”

This year, the Town Hall meeting was combined with the meeting of the Commission on Legislative and Public Affairs. Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, and Rep. John Zerwas, M.D., R-Houston, discussed health care issues likely to be addressed during the next legislative session. These included scope of practice, retail health clinic expansion, the Texas Department of Insurance sunset, graduate medical education and health care workforce, Medicaid and CHIP funding, and efforts to reduce Texas’ high rate of uninsured.

Coleman complimented the Academy on its work during last year’s legislative session, including the passage of needed reforms in the Children’s Health Insurance Program. “We did some good things with your help,” he said. “That’s why we have a CHIP program.”

Zerwas, an anesthesiologist in Katy, told the group that scope of practice is likely to be a hot topic in the next Legislature, as nurse practitioners push for autonomous practice. Allowing nurse practitioners to practice without physician supervision is “the wrong thing to do for our patients,” he said. “We had a lot of nurse anesthetists who have gone on to become anesthesiologists and they’ll tell me, ‘John, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.’”

Saturday night brought the main event as a circus-themed President’s Party gave TAFP members and their families a chance to welcome the new TAFP president to office. In addition to great food, attendees played carnival games, enjoyed performances from a magician and clown, and tried their luck to win prizes under the big top.

It’s never too early to mark your calendars for other TAFP symposia where you can expect more educational programs, informative topics and great events. The 2008 Primary Care Summit is approaching quickly and will be held in Houston Oct. 17-19. The 60th Annual Session and Scientific Assembly will be held in Arlington July 15-19, 2009.