|
A
national
award
for
one
of
our
own
COLLEAGUES
-
During
my
term
as
president
of
TAFP,
I
want
to
open
the
lines
of
communication
with
my
fellow
members.
Look
for
e-mails
from
me
for
information
about
the
activities
and
accomplishments
of
your
specialty
society,
opportunities
that
you
don't
want
to
miss
and
news
on
important
topics.
Communication
is
a
two-way
street,
so
I
encourage
you
to
let
me
know
what
you
think
of
these
communiqués
and
send
any
suggestions
you
have
to
me
at
president@tafp.org.
From
TAFP
member
surveys
we
know
that
your
top
expectation
of
your
Academy
is
advocacy!
Be
assued
that
we
have
an
outstanding
legislative
and
public
policy
advocate
in
Mr.
Tom
Banning.
Tom
works
closely
with
me
and
your
president-elect,
Dr.
Doug
Curran,
who
chairs
the
TAFP
Commission
on
Legislative
and
Public
Affairs.
We
have
established
face
to
face
dialogue
with
the
major
managed
care
companies
to
address
your
concerns. I
recently
traveled
to
San
Francisco
to
represent
you
at
the
American
Academy
of
Family
Physicians
meeting.
I
was
joined
by
the
other
TAFP
officers
and
executive
committee
members
and
others
who
hold
positions
on
AAFP
committees
and
commissions.
I
can
assure
you
that
you
were
represented
well.
As
resolutions
were
discussed
and
Texas
decided
what
to
support,
your
interests
were
foremost
in
our
minds.
Your
delegation
fostered
the
passing
of
a
Texas
resolution
in
the
AAFP
Congress
of
Delegates
that
calls
for
AAFP
to
gather
information
on
undesirable
business
practices
of
healthcare
insurance
companies
and
to
work
with
other
groups
to
advocate
for
members
and
their
patients
by
"addressing
unfair
health
plan
policies
and
programs." I
was
proud
to
watch
as
one
of
our
own
was
recognized
at
the
national
level.
Dr.
Eduardo
Sanchez,
Commissioner
of
Texas
Department
of
State
Health
Services,
was
honored
with
the
AAFP
Public
Health
Award
during
the
opening
session
of
the
AAFP
Annual
Assembly.
In
his
acceptance
speech
Eduardo
spoke
of
how
proud
he
has
been
to
be
a
family
physician
the
past
month.
He
has
watched
firsthand
as
his
colleagues
from
across
the
state
cared
for
the
victims
of
Hurricanes
Katrina
and
Rita
with
compassion,
dedication
and
talent.
We
can
all
be
proud
of
another
Texas
member,
Dr.
Leah
Raye
Mabry
of
San
Antonio.
She
won
a
second
term
as
Vice
Speaker
of
the
AAFP
Congress
of
Delegates.
She
ably
presided
over
the
Congress
during
discussion
and
deliberation
on
several
reference
committee
reports.
She
will
run
for
a
third
term
in
2006.
Texas
also
announced
the
candidacy
of
Dr.
Roland
Goertz
of
Waco
for
the
AAFP
Board
of
Directors
for
2006.
I
am
honored
to
serve
as
your
president
and
I
welcome
your
comments
and
input.
Sincerely,
Tim
Coleridge,
D.O.
President
|
