The Texas Medical Association is a professional nonprofit organization representing over 53,000 physicians, residents, medical student and alliance members. It is located in Austin, has 110 component county medical societies around the state, and is the largest state medical society in the United States.
History
The Texas Medical Association was established by 35 physicians in 1853 to provide medical and public health education for Texas physicians and their patients as well as legislative and regulatory advocacy and health policy research. The first president of TMA was Joseph Taylor and the current president is Douglas Curran, MD.
1853 – TMA founded in Austin with 35 members.
1893 – Women physicians join TMA as members.
1918 – Woman’s Auxiliary to TMA established. This organization was renamed the Texas Medical Association Alliance in 1992. TMAA is a volunteer organization made up of physicians and physicians’ spouses involved in health-related community service, legislation and political action.
1922 – TMA library established.
1957 – TMA Anson Jones, MD, Awards created to recognize excellence in health care/medical news reporting in Texas.
1962 – TEXPAC, the political arm of TMA, established. TEXPAC is a bi-partisan political action committee providing financial support to candidates for both state and federal offices.
1966 – TMA creates the Texas Medical Association Foundation, a 5013 organization that funds the public health and science initiatives of TMA physicians.
1994 – Hard Hats for Little Heads launched to reduce bicycle-related head injuries.
2000 – Border Health Caucus created to raise awareness of health care disparities existing along the U.S–Mexico border and their impact on border patients and their physicians.
2003 – TMA helps pass Texas' 2003 Tort Reform Act, which placed a cap of $250,000 for noneconomic damages on medical liability litigation, and supports Proposition 12, a constitutional amendment ensuring the cap could not be challenged in court. This cap can reach $750,000 if the liability for up to two hospitals involved in the care of the same patient is included.
2004 – Be Wise—Immunize℠ program created to increase Texas' childhood immunization rate.
In 1991, TMA opened the History of Medicine Gallery on the ground floor of the TMA building. Items from the TMA archives and Collections are displayed in changing exhibits.
Publications
The Texas Medical Association owns and publishes Texas Medicine, a monthly news magazine for TMA members that presents information on public health, medicolegal issues, medical economics, science, medical education, and legislative affairs affecting Texas physicians and their patients. TMA also publishes Action, a monthly e-newsletter that reports the latest information in the medical community.
