May 25, 2023
Sixteen students who are members of minorities underrepresented among physicians and who will enter Texas medical schools this fall each will receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Texas Medical Association (TMA). Physicians selected the students for their academic achievement, commitment to community service, and desire to care for Texas’ increasingly diverse population. TMA announced the winners on May 19 during TexMed, the association’s annual conference, in Fort Worth.
TMA created the Diversity in Medicine Scholarship (formerly TMA Minority Scholarship) in 1998 to help diversify the physician workforce to meet the health care needs of Texans. The TMA Educational Scholarship, Loan, and Awards Committee chose one recipient entering each Texas medical school from a competitive field of promising future physicians. The TMA Foundation (TMAF), the association’s philanthropic arm, funds the program. TMA has awarded 212 scholarships totaling more than $1.5 million since the program’s inception.
Recipients are known as the “Bayardo Scholars” in recognition of the majority support provided by the TMA Foundation Trust Fund of Roberto J. Bayardo, MD, and the late Agniela (Annie) M. Bayardo of Houston.
2023 TMA Bayardo Scholars
Kiana Adams-Baker of Houston will attend the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine in San Antonio with the goal of providing primary care in underserved Texas communities. The TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund and H-E-B provided her scholarship.
Kylie Benavides of San Antonio will study at the Texas A&M University School of Medicine and plans to become a rheumatologist for residents in a rural area of Texas. Ms. Benavides’ scholarship is provided by the TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund and the Bell County Medical Society.
Rami Benchouia of Austin will study at the UT Health Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine in San Antonio and intends to practice pediatrics. His scholarship is provided by the TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund; Drs. Rajam and Somayaji Ramamurthy of San Antonio; and Jayesh B. Shah, MD, of San Antonio.
Haley Brown of Austin will attend the UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and intends to practice emergency medicine in Central Texas. Ms. Brown’s scholarship is provided by the TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund; Dallas County Medical Society; John G. Flores, MD, of Carrollton; H. Gordon Green, MD, of Dallas; and Charles B. Mullins, MD, of Austin.
Eduardo Cervantez of Tyler plans to practice a primary care specialty in rural Texas. He will attend UT Tyler School of Medicine. The TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund and Laurie J. Sutor, MD, of Dallas provided Mr. Cervantez’ scholarship.
Esai Corral of Arlington will study at Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and intends to pursue a general surgery specialty, such as trauma surgery. His scholarship is provided by the TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund; the TMAF Patrick Y. Leung, MD, Endowment; the late Dr. Leung; and Mrs. Leung.
Arrey Tang Enow of Lewisville plans to enter The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine and later practice primary care in South Texas. The TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund and E. Linda Villarreal, MD, of Edinburg provided her scholarship.
Joshua Lewis of Katy will study at the UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine in Galveston and plans to provide care for people in rural Texas as a primary care physician. The TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund; Baldemar Covarrubias, MD, of Corpus Christi; Mark J. Kubala, MD, of Beaumont; Kevin McKinney, MD, of Galveston; and Drs. Mary Dale Peterson and Rafael Coutin of Corpus Christi provided Mr. Lewis’ scholarship.
Anthony Lopez of Corpus Christi will pursue his medical degree at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School and intends to practice internal medicine in South Texas. The TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund and Travis County Medical Society provided his scholarship.
Nicolas Martinez of Illinois will study medicine at the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, with the goal of practicing emergency medicine or general surgery in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Mr. Martinez’ scholarship is provided by the TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund.
Rafiki Niyibizi of Austin will attend Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in Lubbock with the goal of practicing internal medicine for patients in a medically underserved, urban area in Texas. The TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund and Cynthia Jumper, MD, of Lubbock provided Mr. Niyibizi’s scholarship.
Emmanuel Oketunmbi of Rosharon will attend Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in El Paso. He plans to pursue a primary care specialty. His scholarship is provided by the TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund.
Diana Omenge of Arlington will study medicine at the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. She plans to become a pediatrician and care for patients in rural areas of South Texas. Her scholarship is provided by the TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund and Ashok Khushalani, MD, of Humble.
Jordan Pemberton of Houston will study at Baylor College of Medicine and plans to pursue a primary care specialty. His scholarship is provided by the TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund, Harris County Medical Society/Houston Academy of Medicine, and Carla F. Ortique, MD, of Houston.
Noralis Rodriguez of Coppell will pursue her medical degree at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston and plans to pursue primary care and practice in underserved areas in Texas. The TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund and H-E-B provided Rodriguez’s scholarship.
Angelica Washington of Forth Worth will attend the University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth. She plans to pursue a surgical specialty. Her scholarship is provided by the TMAF Bayardo Trust Fund.
TMA’s 2023 Diversity in Medicine Scholarship Program is funded by the TMA Foundation with generous support from its Bayardo Trust and Patrick Y. Leung, MD, Endowment, and annual gifts from H-E-B; Baldemar Covarrubias, MD; the Dallas County Medical Society; other TMA-affiliated county medical societies; and gifts from physicians and their families.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 57,000 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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TMA Contacts: Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; (512) 656-7320
Swathi Narayanan (512) 370-1382; (408) 987-1318
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