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Martin
assumes AAFP chairmanship
James C. Martin,
M.D., a family physician in San Antonio, Texas, was sworn in last
October as board chair of AAFP at the annual meeting in New
Orleans. He previously served one-year terms as president and
president-elect and served three years as a member of the board of
directors. The Academy’s policy-making body, the Congress of
Delegates, elects board members and officers.
After 20 years in
private practice, Martin now works in a multispecialty group
practice and serves as program director for the Family Practice
Residency Program at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care, San Antonio.
Martin is also a clinical professor with the University of Texas
Health Science Center, San Antonio.
A member of the
AAFP since 1976, Martin chairs the Future of Family Medicine
Project, which is charged with developing a strategy to transform
and renew the specialty of family practice to meet the needs of
people and society in a changing environment. FFM is a joint
project of the AAFP and other family medicine organizations.
A board-certified
family physician, Martin earned his medical degree in 1973 from
the University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio. He
completed a three-year family practice residency at Bexar County
Hospital and served as the administrative chief resident in 1976.
The AAFP has awarded him the degree of Fellow for distinguished
service and continuing medical education. He is past president of
the American Board of Family Practice and served on the Quadri
Specialty Leadership Consortium with the ABFP. He is a past family
practice representative to the American Board of Medical
Specialties. Martin was recognized as the Outstanding Medical
School Alumnus in 1992.
Martin has
written and lectured on family medicine topics ranging from
cardiovascular disease and asthma to the doctor-patient
relationship and the philosophy of primary care education.
As an Academy
spokesperson, he has presented local, state and federal testimony
on a variety of legislative advocacy issues including Medicare and
Medicaid, medical education and health-care system reform.
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TAFP
loses longtime member
Norma E. Porres,
M.D., passed away Monday, Dec. 29, 2003, in Odessa, Texas. A
member since 1967, Porres was TAFP Physician of the Year in 1994.
Originally from Cuba, Porres and her husband, the late Dr. Felipe
D. Porres came to the United States in 1951 and settled in Lubbock
in 1955 where they practiced for over 35 years. Porres was active
in the TAFP, serving on many committees and as vice president in
1975-76. She was also very active in the South Plains Chapter and
her county medical society. Porres was a main founder of the local
chapter of Planned Parenthood and was medical director for the
Lubbock Regional Mental Health Mental Retardation Center after she
closed her private practice. In 1993, the TAFP Foundation and the
South Plains Chapter formed the Norma E. Porres, M.D., and Felipe
D. Porres, M.D., Medical Student Scholarship to benefit medical
students at Texas Tech. She is survived by her son, Dr. Felipe G.
Porres of Mansfield. She was 80.
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TAFP
members receive AAFP Degree of Fellow
Ten members of
the TAFP achieved the degree of Fellow of the American Academy
of Family Physicians (FAAFP). They are: Leonides G. Cigarroa,
Jr., M.D.; Virginia Faith J. Farrar, D.O.; Edward W. Guinn,
M.D.; Gerardo Losoya, M.D.; Alfonso Ramirez, M.D.; Joanne L.
Rogers, M.D.; John Edward Russo, M.D.; Robert Edward Speegle,
M.D.; Denise Kay B. Turner, M.D.; Hubert Neil Williston, M.D.
The degree was
conferred to approximately 160 family physicians during a
convocation on Oct. 4, 2003, in conjunction with the AAFP’s
2003 Annual Scientific Assembly in New Orleans. The degree of
Fellow, established in 1971, recognizes family physicians who
have distinguished themselves through service to family medicine
and ongoing professional development. Criteria for receiving the
AAFP degree of Fellow consists of a minimum of six years of
membership in the organization, extensive continuing medical
education, participation in public service programs outside
their medical practice, conducting original research and serving
as a teacher in family medicine.
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Dickey
elected to Association of Academic Health Centers Board
Nancy W. Dickey,
M.D., president and vice chancellor for health affairs at Texas
A&M University Health Science Center, was one of three
physicians elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of
Academic Health Centers. Dickey previously served as President of
the American Medical Association and was the founding program
director of the Family Practice Residency of the Brazos Valley.
AAHC is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving
the health of the people by advancing the leadership of academic
health centers in health professions education, biomedical and
health services research, and health care delivery.
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Bell
receives two AAFP
appointments
TAFP Student
Chair, Debra Bell was named the AAFP Delegate to the American
Medical Association-Medical Student Section and student member
of the AAFP Committee on Chapter Affairs. Bell, a fourth-year
medical student at Texas A&M, serves as chair of the Student
Section, student member of the TAFP Executive Committee, the
TAFP Commission on Academic Affairs and the TAFP Commission on
Core Delegation. She previously served on the TAFP Task Force on
Residents and Students and the AAFP Commission on Quality and
Scope of Practice and was the Regional FMIG Coordinator.
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Piefer
earns medical management
certification
Gary W. Piefer,
M.D., of Austin was recently designated a Certified Physician
Executive by the Certifying Commission in Medical Management.
Piefer is Vice President of Medical Affairs and Medical Director
for Seton Healthcare Network in Austin. A member since 1987,
Piefer currently serves on the TAFP Finance Committee and the Task
Force on Credentialing. CCMM awarded him the status of Certified
Physician Executive for education achievements, demonstrated
stature as a physician and experience in the field of medical
management. The CCMM is a not-for-profit corporation chartered by
the American College of Physician Executives to establish and
maintain the high standards required for physician executive
certification.
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Members
honored for excellence
Ronald J.
Crossno, M.D., of Rockdale and Leigh Fredholm, M.D., of Austin
were selected as recipients of the Champion in End-of-Life Care
Award by the Texas Partnership for End-of-Life Care. Both were
honored at the TxPEC Champions Gala in Houston, Nov. 14, 2003.
TxPEC developed the first statewide awards to honor the
contributions of advocates in the field of end-of-life and
palliative care in Texas. TxPEC is dedicated to improving
end-of-life care for people of all cultures and communities.
Ronald J.
Crossno, M.D., is VistaCare Hospice Medical Director of Temple.
“Dr. Crossno embraces the philosophy of hospice without
reservation; but more, he practices it with excellence,” says
Rodney Bolejack, Chaplain at VistaCare. He has a unique interest
in providing information and training on end-of-life care to
health care professionals in rural communities and is one of the
founders of the Texas Academy of Palliative Medicine.
Leigh Fredholm,
M.D., was instrumental in expanding pre-hospice services,
through the creation of Central Texas Palliative Care
Associates, the first medical practice in Austin devoted
entirely to palliative medicine. She serves as president of this
organization, and together with three other physicians, provides
end-of-life care in the office, hospital, nursing home and
residential settings. “Dr. Fredholm is an exceptional
physician who demonstrates outstanding clinical competency,
excellent interpersonal communication skills and profound
compassion for patients and families”, says Marjorie Mulanax,
Executive Director of Hospice Austin.
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Attention TAFP local
chapters: to have news from your chapter printed here, please
contact Jonathan Nelson at jnelson@tafp.org
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