TAFP Foundation selects first preceptorship scholarship recipients

The Texas Academy of Family Physicians Foundation is proud to announce that the first 13 recipients have been named for the Preceptorship Scholarships funded through the organization’s new Family Medicine Student Interest Endowment. The students submitted applications and were selected based on interest in family medicine and the quality of their personal statement. All the students were matched with family physicians to complete a two- or four-week preceptorship this summer.

The applications reveal interest in mission work, practicing in underserved areas, patient advocacy, and much more. The 2013 recipients are: Anna Gamwell from Texas A&M University Health Science Center; Michael Jauregui, Marco Ruiz, and Amna Ahmed from Texas Tech University Health Science Center; Anthony Ng, John Tohlen, Marlene S. Garcia, Anuron Mandal, Mark Garcia, and Petra Kelsey from UTMB Galveston; Kellie Hainline from UT Southwestern Medical Center; and Lauren James and Meagan Sims from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

“We are delighted to be able to support these enthusiastic medical students who we hope will be our next generation of family physicians,” said TAFP Foundation President Dale Moquist, M.D. “Our goal is far beyond what we were able to do this year—the program funded almost 200 pre-clinical students at one point. Thirteen students is a good start but we need additional support to expand our efforts.”

The family medicine preceptorship program began in 1980 and has given thousands of medical students real-life experience in community health care settings. The program matches interested students and volunteer family physician preceptors. The students spend a few weeks in the summer immersed in a family medicine clinic learning what it truly means to be a family physician. The program used to receive state funding for its administrative support and to provide students with stipends to help cover their expenses, but in 2011, the Texas Legislature cut all funding for the program.

“We are delighted to be able to support these enthusiastic medical students who we hope will be our next generation of family physicians.”
–Dale Moquist, M.D.
TAFP Foundation President

TAFP leadership immediately decided that the program had to be rescued and the Academy took over the program’s administration. Enrollment opened again in 2012, but the program no longer provided financial support to the students. Believing in the importance of that support, the TAFP Foundation Board of Trustees voted to create the Student Interest Endowment to be used primarily to fund scholarships for the preceptorship program. Through generous donations, the endowment grew to over $11,000 in the first year. That endowment, along with general funds of the TAFP Foundation, provided the support for the scholarships.

The Texas Academy of Family Physicians Foundation supports educational and scientific initiatives of family medicine to improve the health of all Texans. Through the generous contributions of members, corporations, and friends, the Foundation is able to raise and distribute funds for medical student scholarships to future family physicians, for office-based family medicine research, for family medicine student interest group activities at medical schools in Texas, and for family medicine resident activities. Visit www.tafp.org/foundation for more information.