Texas Medical Association Alliance

Fantastic!! Looks like an amazing time.

Catherine Harrison was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in 1995, just weeks after returning from a two-year mission trip in Nigeria. Despite this life-changing diagnosis, she has become a model, national public speaker, and a writer for several magazines, sharing her journey of walking with strength and faith behind a white cane.

Catherine holds a bachelor of science in nursing from Baylor University and enjoyed a rewarding career as an operating room nurse until she lost her sight. A former ballerina trained at Juilliard’s School of American Ballet in New York, she found another turning point at age 55 when she returned to a career in modeling. With determination, Catherine relearned the skills needed to succeed, regardless of her visual impairment. Today, she works as a professional commercial print and fitness model with Management in Dallas. She is also a certified group fitness instructor, teaching stretch and flexibility classes.

Catherine is a proud mother of three grown sons and the wife of a plastic surgeon. She serves on several nonprofit boards and is the immediate past president of Smith County Medical Society Alliance. During her tenure as president, Catherine was instrumental in launching a podcast for SCMSA, aiming to connect and offer resources to members looking to get involved. Catherine’s mission is to successfully work as a model with a visual impairment and to empower women of all ages to step into their strength with poise and courage, no matter their circumstances.

Catherine L Harrison

Lone Star Alliance members: Join fellow members from across Texas at a virtual meet-and-greet Tuesday, July 23, at noon. TMA Alliance President Jenny Shepherd will share her vision, and TMAA will seek your input about what activities and offerings would enhance your alliance experience. The Lone Star Alliance was established in 2024 to provide a place for members throughout Texas who don’t have an organized local alliance in their city or county.

New school, job, or city? The alliance gets it.

Meet today’s We Belong Wednesday member Amy Pemberton from the Smith County Medical Society Alliance. Amy says the alliance is a place to belong: “Our ambitious spouses live out their pledge to improve and even save other's lives and provide abundantly for their families, often creating a social void for the spouses and children. The alliance provides companionship without need for explanation and with a shared understanding of the struggles and blessings.”

Happy 4th of July from the Texas Medical Association Alliance!

Four alliances earned gold-medal status in the TMA Alliance Blue Ribbon Awards, presented at ALLMED, the annual conference, in May. Each of the alliances welcomed new members to increase their membership by 10% or more: Brownsville (10%), Nueces (12%), Potter-Randall (19%), and Tarrant (14%). In addition, the Potter-Randall alliance increased its overall membership by 43%.

Nueces County Medical Society Alliance Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance Potter Randall County Medical Society Alliance

TMAA President Jenny Shepherd and TMAA Immediate Past President Elizabeth Vanexan spent Sunday afternoon bonding over barbecue with old and new members of the . The event was hosted by President Robert Jackson, MD, and his wife, Alicia.

Harris County Medical Society Alliance

Kristen Strefling is a pharmacist and proud Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy graduate. Kristen's 15+-year career has taken her to West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, BSA Health System in Amarillo, and for the past decade, University Medical Center Inpatient Pharmacy (UMC) in Lubbock.

Kristen’s role as an inpatient pharmacist at UMC involves discharge medication reconciliation, identifying and resolving discrepancies or errors in prescriptions, to ensure patient safety. She also counsels high-risk patients to help reduce readmissions and improve HCAHPS scores (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey).

Earlier this year, Kristen suffered a stroke at the age of 41. She sees this life-altering event as a profound blessing that has reshaped her outlook on life, filling her with a deep sense of gratitude. Her remarkable journey back to health is a testament to her strength and tenacity and is an inspiration to everyone around her. Almost fully recovered, Kristen eagerly anticipates returning to work in August.

Kristen is a member of the Lubbock County Medical Society Alliance. She and her husband, interventional cardiologist Jason Strefling, DO, are proud parents of three children aged 7, 9, and 10. Kristen enjoys entertaining friends at home, playing pickleball and mahjong, and is a passionate tennis player.

Reflecting on her stroke, Kristen says, “My gratitude knows no bounds.” She is determined to give back more than she has received, both professionally and personally. As she prepares to return to work and cherishes precious moments with her family, Kristen’s journey embodies resilience and the power of a grateful heart.

Lubbock County Medical Society Alliance TTUHSC-Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

The Travis County Medical Alliance received the TMA Alliance President’s Award, given during ALLMED, the annual conference, in May. Celebrating its centennial was the cornerstone of the Travis alliance’s year of events and membership activities. The “A Century of Supporting Healthcare” feature in the alliance’s weekly newsletter spotlighted photos and historical recollections of activities that helped shape the past century. This helped reengage some members who had lost touch with the alliance. The annual Party with a Purpose renewed a sense of camaraderie and was the most successful to date – raising a record $68,000 for distribution among 10 local nonprofits that aid the underserved.

The Travis alliance also jumped in to help host the Texas Two-Step Regional Conference in Austin. Members served on the planning committee, arranged the dine-arounds, secured door prizes, worked the registration table, and more. All this manpower was supplied in the midst of planning their Party with a Purpose.

Travis County Medical Alliance & Foundation

Seven local alliances earned silver-medal status in the TMA Alliance Blue Ribbon Awards, presented at ALLMED, the annual conference, in May. Adding first-time members, these alliances increased their membership: Big Country (5%), Midland (8%), and Smith (5%). Two alliances increased their overall membership by more than 10% – Nueces (18%) and Tarrant (14%). The Potter-Randall (97%) and Tarrant alliances (91%) retained nearly all of their 2023 members to earn silver. The Brownsville alliance increased its number of members using auto-renewal to 44% to earn silver.

Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance Big Country County Medical Society Alliance Nueces County Medical Society Alliance Potter Randall County Medical Society Alliance

The Bexar County Medical Society Alliance received a $2,000 grant from the Alliance Health Education Initiative (AHEI) to support its Period Poverty project. The funds will support the purchase and distribution of menstrual supplies and related education for students in socioeconomically disadvantaged schools in San Antonio. An alliance pajama party created a casual, fun setting for putting together some 400 period packets. AHEI, the philanthropic arm of the American Medical Association Alliance, supports community health, education, and related charitable endeavors. The Bexar alliance was one of four grant recipients. Congratulations, Bexar alliance!

Bexar County Medical Society Alliance Alliance Health Education Initiative

Meet today’s We Belong Wednesday member Ruth Brown from the Nueces County Medical Society Alliance. Ruth says, “Being part of my local alliance provides a safe space to share our experiences and passions to help our community, and support the health care professionals by advocating for them.”

Nueces County Medical Society Alliance

The Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance received two TMAA Blue Ribbon Awards, presented during ALLMED in Dallas in May. The alliance received the Community Outreach Award for excelling at hosting Hard Hats for Little Heads, Texas BookShare, and Vaccines Defend What Matters events. In addition, members raised funds for local needs at its sold-out Medicine Ball; collected coats for The Center for Transforming Lives, an organization aimed at disrupting the cycle of poverty; and volunteered with the Tarrant County Medical Society’s Project Access, which provides health care to the uninsured and working poor.

Putting the Plus 1 Campaign into action by recruiting new members and bringing back lapsed members earned the Tarrant alliance the Durham Membership Award. The alliance used a targeted approach to encourage members who had lapsed within the past five years to rejoin, successfully bringing back 14 members. Family and couples’ events helped attract more than 20 new members to the alliance. In addition, the alliance renewed 91% of its existing members.

Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance

Local alliances across Texas earned bronze-medal status in the TMA Alliance Blue Ribbon Awards, which were presented at ALLMED, the annual conference, in May. Putting the Plus 1 membership campaign into action, the Bexar alliance achieved bronze status for a first-time member increase of 3%, while Cameron-Willacy alliance achieved bronze with an overall membership increase of 7%. These alliances renewed at least 75% of their 2023 members to earn bronze: Bexar, 81%; Big Country, 75%; Brownsville, 85%; Cameron-Willacy, 85%; Dallas, 86%; Harris, 89%; Lubbock, 78%; Midland, 83%; Nueces, 83%; Smith, 89%; and Travis, 87%. With between 20% and 40% of their members using auto-renewal, these alliances took bronze: Bell, 27%; Bexar, 33%; Big Country, 22%; Nueces, 31%; Potter-Randall, 39%; Smith, 29%; Tarrant 35%; and Travis 34%. Keep up the great work!

Bell County Medical Alliance Bexar County Medical Society Alliance Cameron-Willacy County Medical Alliance-NC Dallas County Medical Society Alliance Harris County Medical Society Alliance Lubbock County Medical Society Alliance Nueces County Medical Society Alliance Potter Randall County Medical Society Alliance Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance Travis County Medical Alliance & Foundation

Great meeting with Smith County Medical Society Alliance board members last week to kick off the year under the guidance of Smith CMS Alliance President Renee Wright. TMAA President Jenny Shepherd shared best-practice tips for boards and presented an intro to advocacy. In addition, board members had a great discussion about meeting member needs and membership recruitment, and learned about resources available from TMAA to support their alliance.

The Harris County Medical Society Alliance is undergoing a reinvigoration. Join us for some Texas barbecue if you live in the Houston area and are interested in finding out more or getting involved – and feel free to bring a friend who might be interested. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with other alliance members and help grow and strengthen the medical family community in Houston. The alliance community is available for people in all stages of a medical career, from the training years to retirement, and it provides support, plus advocacy and community outreach opportunities. This event is hosted with support from the Texas Medical Association Alliance and the Harris County Medical Society. RSVP required.

The Bexar County Medical Society Alliance took home two TMAA Blue Ribbon Awards, presented during ALLMED in Dallas in May. The alliance received the Mary Ann Homer Legislative Advocacy award for initiating Project 100 to seek 100% engagement with legislators through its advocacy and community outreach events and relationship-building. The effort resulted in 85% of legislators interacting with the alliance and seeing the importance of the Family of Medicine in keeping their district healthier. The alliance also hosted a number of in-person gatherings and fundraisers with and for local legislators to provide personal touches with the Family of Medicine.

The Bexar alliance also received the Community Outreach Award for its new Period Poverty Project. Recognizing a gap for some young women who lack menstrual supplies, the alliance provided 400 period packs for girls at an underserved school. Alliance members met to put the packets together, then delivered them to a local school. In addition, the alliance joined with the Bexar County Medical Society for Walk in the Dark, a su***de prevention program, and hosted Hard Hats for Little Heads giveaways and started a Texas BookShare project.

Bexar County Medical Society Alliance

Nestled in the heart of Dallas, the historic Aldredge House is the headquarters of the Dallas County Medical Society Alliance Foundation and is a place where history, education, and community service converge. Each year, the alliance and the Dallas County Medical Society offer an impressive line-up of speakers on medical and other relevant topics. As part of its community outreach, the Dallas alliance is proud of its scholarship program, which has given more than $750,000 to support nursing students. https://hubs.li/Q02zgS6-0


Dallas County Medical Society Alliance | Dallas County Medical Society

Texas shone brightly at the AMA Alliance conference in Nashville – from being featured presenters to taking offices to receiving awards. TMAA President Jenny Shepherd spoke on the necessity of the legislative relationship and the power of one person to make a difference at the Capitol. TMAA Immediate Past President Elizabeth Vanexan and Linda Kennedy, Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance president, tag-teamed a presentation on strategically growing your membership. Kendra Harvey, from the Tarrant alliance, presented findings from the AMAA Physician Family Survey, which reinforces the need for family of medicine connections to reduce loneliness and stress. The Tarrant alliance received the AMA Alliance Physician Family Day award for its family-oriented membership events, TMAA members graduated from the AMAA Leadership Academy, and more. Way to shine, TMAA members!

Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance Nueces County Medical Society Alliance Lubbock County Medical Society Alliance Bexar County Medical Society Alliance

Meet today’s We Belong Wednesday member Brittany Garcia from the Bexar County Medical Society Alliance. Brittany says, “In addition to the service projects I can participate in with my local alliance, I love hearing about the efforts TMAA members are making at the legislative level. Those members are making a difference for our spouses in practice right now. There are just so many ways this organization serves the Family of Medicine.”

The Nueces County Medical Society Alliance received the Mary Ann Homer Legislative Advocacy Award from the TMA Alliance, presented during ALLMED in Dallas in May. The alliance stepped up when Christus Spohn Hospital announced plans to close its emergency medicine residency program in October 2023. Alliance members joined the faculty, resident physicians and their spouses, and the Nueces County Medical Society in testifying before the city council, commissioners court, and hospital district about the importance of the residency program. The strong relationships with elected officials and the grassroots advocacy efforts scored a win, keeping the residency program alive. Congratulations, Nueces alliance!

Nueces County Medical Society | Nueces County Medical Society Alliance

Bexar County Medical Society Alliance hosted a garden-party themed luncheon earlier this month to honor past presidents. Jenny Shepherd, 2018 Bexar alliance president and recently installed TMAA president, was recognized and then shared her message about the to make a difference. Lori Boies, 2017 Bexar alliance president, received a Texas bracelet in recognition of her many years of alliance service as she leaves for her new home in North Carolina. What a lovely celebration to honor the past and embrace the future, Bexar alliance!

Exciting news! We've just launched the TMAA Instagram. Follow us to stay updated with the latest content and happenings!

The TMA Alliance membership is growing one member at a time, thanks to alliance members who recruited a Plus 1 during the 2024 membership recruitment campaign. These members were recognized during the Celebration Luncheon at ALLMED, TMAA’s annual conference, earlier this month in Dallas and received a TMAA travel coffee mug. Congratulations to the Bexar, Cameron-Willacy, Dallas, Harris, Nueces, Potter-Randall, Smith, and Tarrant alliances who had members who recruited one or more first-time members or brought back someone whose membership had lapsed since 2021 or before.

Bexar County Medical Society Alliance Cameron-Willacy County Medical Alliance-NC Dallas County Medical Society Alliance Harris County Medical Society Alliance Nueces County Medical Society Alliance Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance

Local alliances give back to and invest in their communities year-round. These efforts were showcased at the Poster Session Reception during ALLMED, TMAA’s annual conference, in Dallas earlier this month. Amid mixing and mingling, TMA Alliance members learned more about the signature programs of local alliances around the state during the past year. Alliance members took home ideas on projects ranging from a centennial project to Doctor’s Day book honors and more. Thanks to alliances who took the time to create a poster to share the great work they are doing in their communities.

Dallas County Medical Society Alliance Hidalgo-Starr Medical Alliance Nueces County Medical Society Alliance Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance

TMA Alliance members had a grand time in Wonderland, the 31st annual TMA Foundation gala during TexMed/ALLMED in Dallas earlier this month. Thanks to the generous donations of TMA Family of Medicine members in attendance, $42,033 was raised toward a $10,500 challenge from an anonymous TMA/TMAA couple for a total of $52,533 to support TMA’s Hard Hats for Little Heads program in 2025. In total, the gala raised more than $475,000 to support a wide range of TMA and TMAA programs at the state and county levels.

Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance Travis County Medical Alliance & Foundation Nueces County Medical Society Alliance Bexar County Medical Society Alliance Hidalgo-Starr Medical Alliance Dallas County Medical Society Alliance

Jeff Hutchinson, MD, Austin, headlined the Celebration Luncheon during TMA Alliance’s annual conference, ALLMED, in Dallas earlier this month, providing his insights on Leadership in Three Metaphors through his experiences in medicine, academia, and the military. Luncheon guests recognized local alliance leaders for their service, watched video highlights of outgoing TMAA President Elizabeth Vanexan’s travels to local alliances, and honored fellow members and alliances for their achievements during the past year. Watch for posts featuring award winners in the coming weeks.

Nueces County Medical Society Alliance Dallas County Medical Society Alliance Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance Lubbock County Medical Society Alliance Hidalgo-Starr County Medical Society Harris County Medical Society Alliance Bell County Medical Alliance Cameron-Willacy County Medical Alliance-NC