A&M Chapter Named TMA Chapter of the Year
The response from the student body was overwhelming and was evident in several ways. The first step was to keep the already implemented projects strong, and to improve on them if possible. These included S.T.A.T. (Stand Tall Against Tobacco), which informs local 7th graders about the dangers of smoking, and Health Circus, which provides free screenings and immunizations to Brazos Valley children. Though funded through TMA, these organizations are run by their respective officers, who showed great merit and not only earned another year of funding, but also increased the amount they were provided.
However, the pinnacle of the year was the implementation of the first annual 10,000 Step Challenge. This new project raised more than $5000 for the local Health For All clinic, which provides free health care to local families. This was accomplished through donations by local faculty, staff, physicians and others in support of the medical students who pledged to walk 10,000 steps a day for three weeks. Again, the student body contribution was incredible, with nearly 80% participation. The student total was then generously matched by Dean Christopher Colenda and his wife Kathy. The project is now in the running for AMA National Service Project of the Year.
None of this would have been possible without the strong support from not only the faculty and staff, but the community as well. We look forward to even more successes from this year’s new chapter.
For more information about the TMA, visit: http://www.texmed.org/
