81R35234 BPG-D
By: Truitt H.R. No. 2535
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. Josie R. Williams of Bryan recently completed
her distinguished tenure as the 143rd president of the Texas
Medical Association; and
WHEREAS, The largest state medical society in the United
States, TMA counts nearly 44,000 physicians and medical students as
members; its objective since 1853 has been to improve the health of
all Texans, and Dr. Williams demonstrated exceptional skill and
dedication in working toward this goal; after serving as
president-elect in 2007, she took office in 2008 and soon
thereafter directed the TMA Councils on Scientific Affairs and
Socioeconomics to conduct a case study on quality improvement and
patient safety initiatives in the Lone Star State; the report
profiled a dozen different programs being conducted in a variety of
practice settings; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Dr. Williams advocated forcefully for
expanding medical research, for instituting independent reviews of
insurance policy rescission, and for improving health care by
increasing the amount of quality time doctors spend with their
patients; under her direction, TMA launched a grassroots outreach
campaign, Patients' Right to Know, promoting greater transparency
and accountability in health insurance coverage; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic leader has served on numerous TMA
committees over the past 17 years, and joined the organization's
board of trustees in 2001; she has been a state delegate to the
American Medical Association since 1994 and has served as medical
director of the Texas Health Quality Alliance, as a member of the
National Patient Safety Foundation Board of Governors, and as a
trustee of the American Medical Association's Physician Consortium
for Performance Improvement; and
WHEREAS, Deeply committed to the medical field, Dr. Williams
began her career as a registered nurse in the United States Air
Force; she began serving as a surgical ward nurse at Ellsworth Air
Force Base in South Dakota in 1962 and went on to become chief nurse
at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, where she received a medal of
commendation; she earned her medical degree in 1975 from The
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Medical
School and also holds a master's degree in medical management and is
a certified physician executive; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Williams serves on the faculty of The Texas A&M
University System Health Science Center College of Medicine as an
assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, and she
directs the school's Rural and Community Health Institute and the
Institute for Healthcare Evaluation; the former director of the
Quality and Patient Safety program at the health science center,
she enjoys national recognition as an expert in measuring quality
of care; and
WHEREAS, Josie Williams has guided the Texas Medical
Association with remarkable vision and a tireless commitment to her
profession and to the well-being of her fellow citizens, and it is
indeed a pleasure to recognize her for her outstanding leadership;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor Josie R. Williams for her contributions as
president of the Texas Medical Association and extend to her best
wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Williams as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.