TAFP’s newly installed officers for 2012-2013 from left: President-elect Clare Hawkins, M.D.; Vice President Ajay Gupta, M.D.; Parliamentarian Tricia Elliott, M.D.; President Troy Fiesinger, M.D.; and Treasurer Dale Ragle, M.D.
Residency in Houston, received the Exemplary Teaching Award. And Linda Siy, M.D., of Fort Worth, was awarded the Special Constituency Leadership Award. Attending as the Academy’s invited guest, Stream presided over the installation of TAFP’s new officers who will lead the Academy in 2012-2013. The new TAFP officers are: President Troy Fiesinger, M.D., of Sugar Land; President-elect Clare Hawkins, M.D., of Baytown; Vice President Ajay Gupta, M.D., of Austin; Treasurer Dale Ragle, M.D., of Dallas; and Parliamentarian Tricia Elliott, M.D., of Houston. In his presidential address, Fiesinger acknowledged that the health care system is in the midst of a painful transformation. “We stand with our patients at the middle of this storm 30
[FALL 2012]
TEXAS FAMILY PHYSICIAN
Top right: TAFP Past President Edwin Franks, M.D., is named TAFP Foundation Philanthropist of the Year. Pictured from left: Troy Fiesinger, M.D.; Edwin Franks, M.D.; I.L. Balkcom IV, M.D.; and Dale Moquist, M.D.
of abbreviations and acronyms: ACA, ACO, PCMH, EHR, and [the] Medicaid 1115 waiver.” “It is easy to get frustrated by the changes hitting us daily, but I urge you to channel your anger into action. We understand better than most the reality on the ground—and what our patients need.” Our patients deserve our best, he said, adding that there’s nothing he would rather be doing than pushing each day to get his patients the health care they need. In his outgoing presidential address, I.L. Balkcom IV, M.D., recalled a pivotal moment in his residency and advised all future physicians in training and in their careers to be the very best family physician they can be. “You don’t need to shirk a rotation because ‘I’m not going to do that.’ I’ve heard
that a little bit lately from some of the residents that rotate: ‘I’m not going to practice OB, so why should I know anything about it?’ ... So I want to encourage our students, our residents, and anyone else here in practice today: Never, ever quit being the best that you can be as a family physician.” Consistently the conference’s most anticipated event, the President’s Party took place this year at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Revelers were treated to several tastes of Texas and serenaded by Austin’s own country music singer and songwriter Kelly Willis. It’s never too early to mark your calendars for other TAFP symposia and programs where you can expect more high-quality education and informative topics. TAFP will host six more Self-Assessment Module workshops across the