Beaumont doctor named next Texas Medical Association president

The Texas Medical Association (TMA) elected Beaumont anesthesiologist G. Ray Callas, MD, presidentelect during TexMed, the association’s annual conference, recently held in Fort Worth. Callas will serve in this role for one year, after which he will be installed as president. In existence since 1853, TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 57,000 physician and medical student members. Callas is only the second Southeast Texas physician to hold a presidential in the more than 100 years of TMA’s existence; Dr. Mark Kabala was the first.

“I am beyond humbled,” Callas said of the appointment. “The Texas Medical Association is the greatest medical association of physicians in the United States, and I am proud and humbled by the confidence of my fellow physicians to represent them in this capacity.”

The path that ultimately will lead Callas to TMA’s top office has resembled those of many predecessors: He has served in numerous TMA positions, including having chaired its Board of Trustees, Council on Legislation, and Council on Constitution and Bylaws. Callas also serves on the TEXPAC Board of Directors, and TMA’s political action committee’s Candidate Evaluation Committee.

He also is the first graduate of the inaugural class of the TMA Leadership College to become TMA president. Callas participated in the TMA program to “develop strong physician leaders” more than 20 years ago, has served as a delegate to the TMA House of Delegates since 2004, and is a member of the Texas delegation to American Medical Association house. He first joined TMA in 1996 while attending medical school.

“Very early on, I realized that, as physicians, we can no longer just focus on practicing medicine,” Callas said. “Lending my voice, time and effort to assist, not just my practice and patients, but all physicians of Texas, I have seen the effectiveness of the Texas Medical Association.”

Callas said he aspires to unite physicians in one voice to further TMA’s priorities, including protecting Texas’ medical liability reform; battling insurance companies to improve coverage and access for patients; stopping scopeof-practice expansion by ensuring only physicians are permitted to practice medicine; and limiting government interference in the practice of medicine.

“I want to ensure that Texas continues to be the home of the best medical centers, attracts the best physicians, and provides the best care and protection for our citizens,” he said. “Texas is my home. I was born here, raised a family and, at my practice, I treat my friends and neighbors.”

Callas is a long-time member of the Jefferson County Medical Society. He served as the society’s president in 2010 and is a member of its board of directors. He also served as chair of the Texas Medical Liability Trust Board of Directors, and is a past president of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists.

The board-certified anesthesiologist that serves multiple hospitals and surgical center facilities in Jefferson County and Beaumont has practiced medicine with Anesthesia Associates since 2004 and is president of its board of directors.

A commissioner on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the physician also chaired the governor-appointed Jefferson and Orange County Board of Pilot Commissioners, and is advisory director of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce and a director of the First Financial Bank board.

Callas served his country in the U.S. Navy as a submariner during Operation Desert Storm. He graduated from Texas A&M University, earned his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy School of Medicine in Galveston, and completed his anesthesiology residency there, as well.

As president elect of TMA, Callas will spend the year working on the agenda he will be rolling out in the legislative session for 2024/2025.

“The center of what I’m trying to do is guide physician/patient relations and take regulators and government out of the exam room,” Callas told the Business Journal of his plans moving forward. The doctor detailed advancements needed in care oversight, allowing for patients to enjoy freedoms afforded to caregivers while also centering a medical home with physicianled treatment.

According to Callas, strategic planning for the future of TMA can be explained with five pillars: 1. Speak as one voice to avoid fragmentation among the body; 2. Practice by ability, with TMA support from medical school to retirement; 3. Create a health community by public participation in communities throughout Texas, taking leads in school boards, city councils, etc.; 4. Pursue operational excellence; and 5. Take responsibility in physician leadership.

“I’m a very proud Southeast Texan,” Callas said. “Being able to speak on behalf of one of the biggest and strongest medical associations and over 50,000 physicians across this great state is incredibly humbling, and I am very proud to be given this opportunity.”