Tyler Physicians, Alliance Members Promote Health, Child Literacy With New Program 

• WHAT: Tyler physicians and alliance volunteers will unveil their new Texas BookShare program and special “vending machine” to give books to young patients in a fun way, at a clinic for underserved child patients. The physicians and a child will show how kids can earn tokens during their doctor visits and redeem them in the new Texas BookShare book vending machine. Children will get a new book to keep and read as a reward for their visit at the clinic.

• WHEN: THIS Thursday, June 30, at 2:30 pm

• WHERE: St. Paul Children’s Family Services Center, 1358 E. Richards St., Tyler

• WHO: Lisa Allen, DO, president of Smith County Medical Society and a member of the Smith County Medical Alliance; Valerie Smith, MD, pediatrician and chief programs and quality officer at St. Paul Children’s Services; and a local child

• WHY: The doctors and alliance members are launching this program locally to reward child patients’ good health habits and to promote literacy.
  “The idea is simple; reward children with a book instead of lollipops,” said Dr. Allen. “Instead of handing out sugar as a reward for visiting the doctor or meeting a health goal, doctors can give out books.”
  Children visiting the medical practice earn a token as a reward if they undergo a potentially difficult medical procedure, or if they are meeting goals in their counseling, or if they return regularly for eye examinations. They can redeem the token to get a new book from the clinic’s special vending machine. 
  “These kids may never have a new book at home, so this is special for my patients,” said Dr. Smith. “This is a fun way to promote literacy and good health together.”

 The Texas Medical Association Alliance started the Texas BookShare Project in 2018 to provide children and families in underserved areas with the knowledge needed to lead a healthy lifestyle. The books are offered in English and Spanish. The Texas BookShare Project has provided more than 2,000 books to children in various towns across Texas. TMA Alliance’s Texas Bookshare is funded in 2022 by the TMA Foundation, TMA’s philanthropic arm.

 The Texas Medical Association Alliance (TMAA) is a group of individuals passionate about protecting the future of medicine through community service and legislative advocacy. The alliance – consisting of physician spouses, physicians, residents, and medical students – provides advocacy, community of support, mentorship, and lasting friendship in the Family of Medicine.

 TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 56,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 110 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

 TMA contacts:

Brent Annear cell: (512) 656-7320

Swathi Narayanan cell: (408) 987-1318