Committees, commissions and sections
Voting members on TAFP committees and commissions are appointed by the TAFP president-elect based on the annual Make Your Mark campaign. Guests are welcome to attend most meetings. Read more in: "How Do I Become a TAFP Officer? and other Frequently Asked Questions." Also, view the visual representation of our governance structure.
BYLAWS COMMITTEE
The TAFP Bylaws Committee studies the TAFP Bylaws and makes recommendations for changes, deletions, and interpretations after consideration of submitted proposals.
Chair: Tricia Elliott, M.D.
Staff Contact: Laurel Blue
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The TAFP Executive Committee has full authority to act for and on behalf of the TAFP Board of Directors whenever the business of the Academy demands prompt action in the interim between meetings of the Board or when it is impractical or impossible to convene the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee is also responsible for evaluating and making recommendations to the Board concerning the internal affairs of the Academy.
Chair: I. L. Balkcom IV, M.D.
Staff contact: Tom Banning / Kathy McCarthy
FINANCE COMMITTEE
The TAFP Finance Committee is responsible for maintaining a sound financial policy for the Academy, supervising the Academy’s investments, maintaining the TAFP reserves and their distribution, monitoring the Academy’s capital expenses, and reviewing profits and losses of the Academy’s various programs.
Chair: Clare Hawkins, M.D.
Staff contact: Robert Montoya
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The TAFP Nominating Committee presents to the TAFP Board of Directors nominations for TAFP officers, and a TAFP Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates, reviews the nominations of Directors and Alternate Directors from component chapters to the TAFP Board, and makes recommendations to the president regarding appointments to AAFP, the Texas Medical Association, the American Medical Association, other state committees and commissions, and any other appointments, which may be requested.
Chair: Douglas Curran, M.D.
Staff contact: Kathy McCarthy
COMMISSION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
The Commission on Academic Affairs supports family physicians in academic centers in their research and scholarly efforts. The Commission also works to increase the number and diversity of Texas medical student graduates entering family practice, to ensure that an adequate number of family physicians practice in rural underserved areas in Texas, and to communicate and develop educational policies at the state and national levels.
Commission members can correspond using these two listservs: Academic Affairs Goals and Objectives on Yahoo or Texas Family Medicine Residency Website on Yahoo.
Chair: Amer Shakil, M.D.
Staff contact: Jessica Miley / Juleah Williams
COMMISSION ON CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Commission on Continuing Professional Development defines the TAFP educational mission statement and ensures that TAFP is working to fulfill it. This Commission also works to periodically assess the educational needs of TAFP members, develops learning objectives consistent with those identified educational needs, identifies speakers capable of meeting those learning objectives and assess the effectiveness of its educational activities in meeting the educational needs of TAFP members. This Commission is also charged with maintaining contact and cooperation with the AAFP Commission on Continuing Professional Development and to ensure continued compliance with requirements for certification by the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).
The Commission on Continuing Professional Development is also responsible for planning the TAFP Annual Assembly and Scientific Program and other continuing education activities as deemed necessary by the TAFP and its members.
Chair: Rebecca Gladu, M.D.
Staff Contact: Anna Jenkins / Jessica Miley
COMMISSION ON CORE DELEGATION
The Commission on Core Delegation serves as a liaison between TAFP and AAFP through their committee/commission structure. The Commission is responsible for assuring that TAFP initiatives are promoted within other medical organizations, coordinating the communication of TAFP policies to the AAFP through delegates and alternate delegates and members of AAFP committees and commissions, developing and maintaining a long-range plan to ensure adequate representation by the TAFP in all appropriate functions and activities of the AAFP, and coordinating the campaigns of TAFP candidates for AAFP elected offices.
Chair: Melissa Gerdes, M.D.
Staff contact: Kathy McCarthy
COMMISSION ON HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND MANAGED CARE
The Commission on Health Care Services and Managed Care emphasizes the urgency of proactive TAFP involvement in managed care issues and policy development. The Commission also strives to provide TAFP members with an understanding of the ever-changing world of health care delivery systems.
Chair: Janet Hurley, M.D.
Staff Contact: Tom Banning / Jonathan Nelson
COMMISSION ON INTERNAL AFFAIRS
The Commission on Internal Affairs serves as an impartial review panel for any human resource (personnel) concerns or problems within TAFP that are deemed necessary. The Commission may convene at the request of the TAFP Executive Committee, TAFP Executive Director, or any staff member who may need final appeal on any grievance.
Chair: I. L. Balkcom IV, M.D.
Staff contact: Tom Banning
COMMISSION ON LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The Commission on Legislative and Public Affairs assumes a proactive approach in the health care delivery system by maintaining legislative awareness that allows responses in any area of importance to TAFP members and their patients.
Chair: Mary Helen Morrow, M.D.
Staff Contact: Tom Banning
COMMISSION ON MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBER SERVICES
The Commission on Membership and Member Services oversees membership recruitment and retention efforts, the development of the TAFP website, Texas Family Physician and other publications, public relations, and leadership development.
Chair: D. Crawford Allison, M.D.
Staff Contact: Kathy McCarthy / Jonathan Nelson
COMMISSION ON PUBLIC HEALTH, RESEARCH, AND CLINICAL AFFAIRS
The Commission on Public Health, Research, and Clinical Affairs acts to improve access to care in rural and underserved areas by supporting physicians in these areas and by encouraging resident exposure to rural practice. The Commission also promotes and works to improve public health, promote the art and science of evidence-based medicine, acts to increase responsiveness and assume a proactive approach toward the health care delivery system and health care policies, and works to maintain excellent reciprocal relationships with diverse groups of organizations that share in common visions.
Chair: Lisa Glenn, M.D.
Staff Contact: Kate Alfano
TAFP FOUNDATION
Chair: Dale Moquist, M.D.
Staff Contact: Kathy McCarthy
TAFP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
Chair: Lloyd Van Winkle, M.D.
Staff Contact: Tom Banning
TASK FORCE ON GOVERNANCE
Chair: Linda Siy, M.D.
Staff Contact: Kathy McCarthy
SECTION ON COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING
Chair: Colleen Ryan, M.D.
Staff Contact: Jonathan Nelson / Kate Alfano
SECTION ON FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENT EDUCATION
Chair: Ramona Burdine, M.D.
Staff Contact: Juleah Williams
SECTION ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Chair: Jake Margo, M.D.
Staff Contact: TBD
SECTION ON MATERNITY CARE
Chair: Lesca Hadley, M.D.
Staff Contact: Laurel Blue
SECTION ON THE MEDICAL HOME
Chair: TBD
Staff Contact: Tom Banning
SECTION ON MEDICAL STUDENT EDUCATION
Chair: Kaparaboyna Ashok Kumar, M.D., F.R.C.S.
Staff Contact: Jessica Miley
SECTION ON MEDICAL STUDENTS
Chair: Brook Huffsmith
Staff Contact: Juleah Williams
SECTION ON RESIDENT PHYSICIANS
Chair: Enjoli Benitez, M.D.
Staff Contact: Juleah Williams
SECTION ON RURAL PHYSICIANS
Chair: Adrian Billings, M.D., Ph.D.
Staff Contact: Robert Montoya
SECTION ON SPECIAL CONSTITUENCIES
Chair: Bruce Echols, M.D.
Staff Contact: Jonathan Nelson / Kate Alfano