REP. VERONICA GONZALES RECEIVES PATIENT ADVOCACY AWARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            

 

Contact: Kate McCann

Phone: (512) 329-8666

           

REP. VERONICA GONZALES RECEIVES PATIENT ADVOCACY AWARD

 

State Representative Veronica Gonzales receives the 2010 Patient Advocacy Award from TAFP President Kaparaboyna Ashok Kumar, M.D., F.R.C.S. The Texas Academy of Family Physicians presents this award annually to an individual who demonstrates commitment to protecting and advancing the welfare of patients in Texas.SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — State Rep. Veronica Gonzales of McAllen, Texas was awarded the Patient Advocacy Award by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians at the organization’s 61st Annual Session and Scientific Assembly in San Antonio on July 24. The award honors individuals who demonstrate a commitment to protecting and advancing the welfare of patients in Texas.

 

Rep. Gonzales represents District 41 in the House of Representatives, which is contained entirely in Hidalgo County and includes portions of McAllen, Edinburg, and Mission. She has distinguished herself as a star through her three terms, being recognized as Freshman of the Year by the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus, named a “Legislator to Watch” by the Texas Observer, and named an “Emerging Leader” by the Dallas Morning News, among other honors.

 

Though she is a strong leader in many capacities, the Academy particularly applauds her work on the Public Health Committee and her support of the Physician Education Loan Repayment bill, which was signed into law in June 2009. The updated program brings physicians to medically underserved areas of Texas in exchange for medical school debt relief of up to $160,000 over four years.

 

“I represent an area of the state—the Rio Grande Valley—that is in dire need of health care,” Rep. Gonzales told the audience at the awards lunch. “So many go without a medical home, so that’s why it was my real pleasure to work on this legislation this session to provide loan forgiveness for doctors who want to practice in family medicine and who are going to locate to medically underserved areas of our state. I know we have some [family physician] residents here and I hope we can attract you to our part of the state and the many other areas in need.”

 

The loan repayment program accepted its inaugural cohort at in July 2010 and will continue to make a positive impact for the most vulnerable patients of Texas.

 

The Texas Academy of Family Physicians is the premier membership organization dedicated to uniting the family doctors of Texas through advocacy, education and member services, and empowering them to provide a medical home for patients of all ages. It has 33 local chapters and is a chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Visit www.tafp.org for more information.