TMA Foundation Raises Funds To Help Displaced Medical Students

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 28 May 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The recovery of medical students from Hurricane Ike's destruction just got a little easier. The Texas Medical Association (TMA) Foundation, the philanthropic arm of America's largest state medical society, raised $68,950 to assist many of the 1,000 medical students from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) facing storm recovery.

"The TMA Foundation is thrilled to funnel the generosity of physicians, medical students, and others, to help these future doctors get back on their feet and back to studying medicine," said Dennis J. Factor, MD, TMA Foundation president.

Hurricane Ike landed east of Galveston Island with winds of 115 mph, causing $24 billion in damage. Throughout the storm's history, Ike killed more than 130 people. Dozens of medical students told TMA they had to find alternate housing and childcare, and spent untold hours getting bids and dealing with contractors to rebuild their homes. For many, the ordeal exhausted their savings.

Trying to graduate this semester and apply for residency, one medical student said, "I have to deal with the damage to my house, commuting over 100 miles a day (for myself and my husband), temporary housing and additional living expenses, and finding childcare for my infant son." She added, "Every day brings a new challenge, and at times I feel as though I can take no more."

The students have begun to receive the funds, and UTMB plans to distribute all of the funds to students in need.

TMA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the association and raises funds to support the public health and science priority initiatives of TMA and the family of medicine. TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 44,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA's key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

Source
TMA Foundation