May 19, 2018
Newly
installed Texas Medical Association (TMA) President Douglas W. Curran, MD, an
Athens family physician, was named a Health Hero by TMA for his commitment to improving
the health of his community. He was one of only three physicians TMA honored
with the second annual award last week during TexMed, TMA’s annual
conference, in San Antonio.
The award recognizes
TMA members who have led and participated in all three of TMA’s flagship
outreach programs: Be
Wise — ImmunizeSM, a program to educate about
vaccinations and improve vaccination rates in Texas; Hard Hats for Little Heads, a bike helmet giveaway program; and Walk With a Doc Texas(WWAD), a national grassroots movement devoted to encouraging
healthy physical activity. TMA’s
Council on Health Promotion presents the award as part of its oversight of
TMA’s outreach programs, along with the TMA
Foundation (TMAF),
which funds them.
“Being named a Health Hero is an honor,” said Dr. Curran. “Some
simple programs can make a big difference in people’s health, so I am thrilled
our TMA helps physicians serve their communities in these ways.”
Dr. Curran spearheaded
a mega-community event that combined all three of TMA’s outreach programs on
Thanksgiving 2017 during the Athens Turkey Trot Family Fun Run and Walk. C. Ted
Mettetal, MD, of Athens, the Henderson
County Medical Society, and Hope Springs Water helped host the event.
More than 200
local residents turned out for the Turkey Trot, which also featured free flu
vaccinations and a bike helmet giveaway.
Local residents
can continue to walk with physician members of the Henderson County Medical
society the third Saturday of each month at 8 am at Cain Park track, 915 S.
Palestine St.
Dr.
Curran, who calls himself an “old country doc,” said he believes relationships
are key, and the WWAD program allows physicians and patients to develop more
personal relationships. “We become partners in health, and that’s good for
everyone.”
The TMA Foundation,
TMA’s philanthropic arm, is committed to connecting the charitable concerns of
physicians with the people of Texas. The three TMAF-funded outreach initiatives
enable physicians to give back to their community and help support TMA’s vision
to “improve the health of all Texans.”
TMA installed
Dr. Curran as president during TexMed. A TMA member for 38 years, Dr. Curran
has been active for many years at the state level. He has served as chair of
the TMA Board of Trustees, as a member of the TMA Foundation Board of Trustees,
and as a member of the Council on Legislation. He also is a past president of
the Texas Academy of Family Physicians and the Henderson County Medical Society.
Other
physicians who were named Health Heroes today are Li-Yu Mitchell, MD, of Tyler,
and Lekshmi Nair, MD, of Manvel. They join four physicians who received this
distinction in 2017.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation,
representing more than 51,000 physician and medical student members. It is
located in Austin and has 110 component county medical societies around the
state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.
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Contact: Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320; email: brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org
Marcus Cooper (512)
370-1382; cell: (512) 650-5336; email: marcus.cooper[at]texmed[dot]org
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