News Conference: Physicians Invite President Obama To Texas' Border To See Health Care Delivery System

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Conferences
Article Date: 23 Jun 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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What

Physician leaders from McAllen, Texas, and other border communities discuss the challenges of providing health care to patients at news conference. The physicians are calling upon President Obama to visit their communities to learn firsthand the struggles physicians face in delivering health care to the poorest and unhealthiest population in the nation. The region rates among the highest in the nation for residents who are living in poverty, uninsured, obese, and diabetic. The demand for health care is great. However, the region also has one of the lowest rates of physicians per capita to care for its poor and sick and to promote healthy behaviors and prevention of disease.

When

Tuesday, June 23, at 2:30 pm

Where

Longworth Building, 6th Floor, Room1629, Washington, D.C.

Who

Physicians leaders who care for Texas border patients.

- Carlos Cardenas, MD, McAllen gastroenterologist: Chair, Board for Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in McAllen, Texas; and member, Texas Medical Association (TMA) Board of Trustees

- James Stewart, MD, McAllen internist: President, Hidalgo-Starr County Medical Society, and member, TMA Council on Health Promotion and Border Health Caucus

- Manny Acosta, MD, El Paso surgeon: Chair, Border Health Caucus, and consultant, TMA Council on LegislationE. Linda Villarreal, MD, Edinburg internist: Member, TMA Council on Legislation; delegate, Texas Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA); district chair, TMA Political Action Committee; and member, Border Health Caucus

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
Texas Medical Association