Viva San Antonio, Viva TAFP
Family physicians celebrate 53 years of TAFP at 2002 Annual Session and Scientific Assembly

If you missed this year’s TAFP Annual Session and Scientific Assembly, you missed one of the most exciting gatherings of family doctors academy staff can remember. Some of the biggest names in family practice were on the schedule, from AAFP President Warren Jones, M.D., to Texas Commissioner of Health and TAFP member Eduardo Sanchez, M.D. Members tackled important policy issues and had a great time doing it. The agenda was packed with meetings, receptions, awards ceremonies, dinners and educational events. And it all took place in one of the state’s greatest tourist destinations, the famed San Antonio River Walk.

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David Wright, M.D. Honored as 2002 TAFP Physician of the Year

At this year’s TAFP Annual Session, the academy took the opportunity to honor a doctor whose actions to treat the poor and elderly define the ideal of care. David Wright, M.D., of Austin, Texas, was named the 2002 Family Physician of the Year. Wright practices at Blackstock Family Practice, where he treats a wide spectrum of patients.

“Family practice is more than just medicine,” Wright says. “It’s having an impact on families, an impact that transcends medicine.”

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Report on the AAFP Student and Resident Conference
by Jake Margo Jr., M.D. and John Redman

Over 30 medical students and residents from across the state of Texas traveled to Kansas City on July 31 for the National Conference of Family Practice Residents and Medical Students. Texas was represented by Nathan Vermedahl and John Redman, student delegate and alternate delegate and Javier D. “Jake” Margo Jr., M.D., and Lezli Braswell, M.D., resident delegate and alternate delegate. The annual meeting, which encompasses education, the resident and student congress and networking opportunities, was themed “Family Medicine: Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Opportunities.” The conference began with a lecture by Dr. Mike Magee, described as “the most optimistic physician in America” by the Boston Globe.

The education portion of the conference allowed students and residents to enhance their research and procedural skills and gain knowledge on the topic of bioterrorism. Workshops were held on such varied topics as PowerPoint for the medical professional, getting involved in your academy, pediatric obesity, African-American dermatology and how to manage money and debt effectively. Attendees also had an opportunity to attend a student interest group training workshop and resolution writing workshop.

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Caldwell physician named Distinguished Baylor Alumnus

The Baylor Medical Alumni Association honored Joe C. Smith, M.D., of Caldwell with one of the 2002 Distinguished Alumnus Awards at their 40th Annual Alumni Reunion Banquet on April 13. Smith, a retired board-certified family physician and TAFP member since 1955, lives in Caldwell where he practiced for 33 years.

Smith enrolled at Baylor University to do his undergraduate studies, but spent four years in the Marine Corps during World War II before finishing his pre-med track in 1947. He went on to Baylor College of Medicine and graduated in 1951. After completing an internship at Brooke Army Hospital and working on the orthopedic service at Darnell Army Hospital, Smith settled in Caldwell. The town desperately needed a physician and Smith agreed to move to Caldwell if a hospital was built.

Smith practiced in Caldwell for 33 years and with the exception of a few years early on, he was the only physician in town. He also served as a preceptor and assistant clinical instructor at the Baylor Family Practice Unit at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital. Smith retired in 1986. He still lives in Caldwell and has become an artist. He creates sculpture, handcrafted jewelry, original paintings and is an award-winning photographer.

Among his previous honors, Smith was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart during World War II. He was also elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.

 

Family physician attends economic forum in Waco
by Roland A. Goertz, M.D.

This August, I had the opportunity to attend President Bush’s Economic Forum in Waco. I did not participate in the individual discussion groups but I did attend the summary session where all eight groups presented their comments. The following is an account of the day.

I was invited to attend the President’s Economic Forum as a special guest of the Business School at Baylor University. Two other classmates of mine who are in Baylor’s executive MBA program were also asked to attend by the Dean of Business. Approximately 200 individuals were invited to the exit presentations. This was a major event for the community and Baylor conducted a smooth presentation. I was sent a special invitation after clearing security checks the week before the meeting. We were asked to show up at 9:30 a.m. in a designated area to obtain credentials to enter the presentation hall no later than 10 a.m. for the presentation, which began at 11 a.m. We were advised that there would be no access to bathrooms or water fountains once seated.

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Attention TAFP local chapters: to have news from your chapter printed here, please contact Jonathan Nelson at jnelson@tafp.org