Nacogdoches is a small city situated in East Texas and the county seat of Nacogdoches County, Texas,United States. The 2016 U.S. Census recorded the city’s population to be 65,806. Nacogdoches is a sister city of the smaller Natchitoches, Louisiana, the third-largest city in the Southern Ark-La Tex. Nacogdoches is the home of Stephen F. Austin State University and Texas’ largest azalea garden.
San Augustine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2016 census, its population was 8,320. Its county seat is San Augustine.
TMA Fund Supports Medical Families in Crisis
A dedicated East Texas physician finds himself struggling with dementia and other physical ailments in his later years, with his wife by his side caring for him. Funds dwindle as the Smiths (not their real name) make needed accessibility updates to their home and pay for health insurance.
As the days and months pass, and with no support from family, the wife begins to wear down from her role as caretaker. She needs a break. Mrs. Smith reaches out to TMA’s
Physicians Benevolent Fund (PBF) for assistance, and PBF provides funding for respite care so she can have a few hours each week to tend to her needs.
The Smiths are just one of hundreds of families PBF has helped throughout its 60-year history. Others include a widow left to support herself and her young children, a physician who became chronically ill and unable to practice, and a physician’s spouses left with tremendous debt after the death of her husband.
PBF fills the gap for physicians and their immediate families when they find themselves in desperate financial crisis and unable to meet their day-to-day needs. Recipients receive monthly help to pay for personal necessities -- rent or mortgage, utilities, health insurance, medical bills, clothing, and food.
If you know a physician or a physician's family who could benefit, please direct them to the
PBF webpage for qualification details and the confidential questionnaire. Or contact
Chris.Johnson@texmed.org, PBF director. TMA strives to protect the anonymity of fund recipients.
If you’d like to help sustain the funds to support physicians in need, contribute via
secure, online donation, or send a check to The Physicians Benevolent Fund, Attn: TMA Finance Department, 401 W. 15th St., Austin, TX 78701-1680. Contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law and may be in the form of honoraria or memorials.
Dr Gary Floyd, MD- Texas Medical Association President was the guest speaker at the Nacogdoches San Augustine Medical Society meeting on April 11 at Clear Springs Restaurant. He spoke on the TMA 2023 Legislature Priorities.
From Left: Dr Loyd Whitley, Dr Gary Floyd, Dr Modupe Sokunbi, Dr Mary Barnett, Dr Josephine Chua, Dr Kavita Vyas, Dr Shyam Vyas, Dr Arlis Hibbard, Agam Jacota, Dr Mathews George, Dr Edwin Ferren, TC Grohman MD, and Dr Dolamu Sokunbi
Present at the meeting but not pictured are: Dr Michael Mollot, Karen Gillespie, Dr Ryan Head, Dr Rachel Head, Kristi Whitley, Le’Bria Ware, and Dr Mike Randle
Attendees:
1. Dr. Modupe Sokunbi
2. Dr. Dolamu Sokunbi
3. Dr. Mike Randle
4. Dr. Loyd Whitley
5. Kristi Whitley
6. Dr. Kavita Vyas
7. Dr. Shyam Vyas
8. Le’Bria Ware (PA Student HSC)
9. TC Grohman, MD
10. Agam Jacota (Medical Student)
11. Dr. Arlis Hibbard
12. Dr. Josephine Chua
13. Dr. Mathews George
14. Dr. Mary Barnette
15. Dr. Edwin Ferren
16. Dr. Michael Mollot
17. Karen Gillespie
18. Dr. Ryan Head
19. Dr. Rachel Head

The speaker at the County Medical Society was Dr Gary Floyd, Texas Medical Association President. Pictured with Dr Modupe Sokunbi, President of Nacogdoches, San Augustine County Medical Society.
On February 21st, 2023- The Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society had their meeting at Clear Springs Restaurant Venue in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Speaker: Dr. Cesar DelAguila, Cardiology Specialist
Topic: The Healthy Heart
Attendees:
• Dr. Modupe Sokunbi (President)
• Dr. Dolamu Sokunbi
• Dr. Cesar DelAguila
• Dr. Aaron Polk Sr.
• Dr. Kim Procell
• Dr. Mike Randle
• Dr. Loyd Whitley
• Dr. Kristi Whitley
• Mrs. Mary Polk
• Dr. Lynn Warthan
• Mrs. Warthan
• Dr. Molly Warthan
• Patrick Newsome
• Dr. Mathews George
• Dr. Jason Suits
• Dr. Kavita Vyas
• Dr. Shyam Vyas
• Dr. Josephine Chua
• Dr. Ed Tanhui
• Dr. Binusha Moitheennazima
• Dr. Ahammed Hashim
• Dr. Tyrrell Grohman
• Dr. Sanderson
• Emma Ehret
• Micah Van Yperen
Shannon Vogel, Associate Vice President of Health Information Technology (HIT) at Texas Medical Association, was the guest speaker at the Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society meeting on November 8 at Clear Springs Restaurant.
Pictured from the left are Dr. Dolamu Sokunbi, Dr. Michaela Overturf, Dr. Steve Overturf, Kristi Whitley, Dr. Loyd Whitley, Dr. Chris Gayden, Dr. Shyam Vyas, Dr. Kavita Vyas, Dr. Modupe Sokunbi, Shannon Vogel, Dr. Mike Randle, Dr. Kim Procell, Mrs. Ferren, Dr. Tyrrel Grohman, Dr. Ahammed Hasim, Dr. Binusha Moitheennazima, Dr. Adrian Jesse, Dr. Vijaya Pokala, Dr. Josephine Chua, Dr. Vicky Satir, Dr. Cesar Delaguila, Dr. Edwin Ferren, Dr. Mathews George, and Dr. Arlis Hibbard. Present but not in the photograph were Dr. Uthamalingam and Sam Kimbrough.
DATE: November 8, 2022
VENUE: Clear Springs Restaurant (Nacogdoches)
TOPIC: Medicare Payment Update
SPEAKER: Shannon Vogel, Associate Vice President of Health Information Technology, Texas Medical Association
ATTENDEES:
• Dr. Modupe Sokunbi, President
• Dr. Dolamu Sokunbi
• Dr. Uthamalingam
• Dr. Michaela Overturf
• Dr. Steve Overturf
• Dr. Arlis Hibbard
• Dr. Josephine Chua
• Dr. Cesar Delaguila
• Dr. George Matthews
• Dr. Vijaya Pokala
• Dr. Adrian Jesse
• Dr. Binusha Moitheennazima
• Dr. Ahammed Hashim
• Dr. Edwin Ferren
• Mrs. Ferren
• Dr. Kavita Vyas
• Dr. Shyam Vyas
• Dr. Tyrrel Grohman
• Dr. Vicky Satir
• Dr. Chris Gayden
• Dr. Kim Procell
• Dr. Mike Randle
• Dr. Loyd Whitley
• Mrs. Kristi Whitley
• Sam Kimbrough (PA Student from UNT Fort Worth, Currently on Pediatric Rotation with Dr. Modupe Sokunbi)
Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society President Dr. Modupe Sokunbi and Shannon Vogel.
On Wednesday, September 14th, 2022, Samer Shobassy JD Assistant General Counsel provided a wonderful presentation on Board Rules on Opioids and Chronic Pain Management for 1 hour of formal study in medical ethics. This was coordinated by Ms. Sandra Ramirez using Microsoft Teams.
In Attendance were:
1. Dr. Modupe Sokunbi
2. Dr. Dolamu Sokunbi
3. Kristie Whitley
4. Dr. Loyd Whitley
5. Dr. Winston Bolinger
6. Dr. Cengiz Satir
7. Dr. Carl Davis
8. Dr. Chris Gayden
9. Dr. Mary Hebert
10. Dr. Michael Long
11. Mrs. Scarlet Long
12. Dr. James Hurst
13. Dr. Kavita Vyas
14. Dr. Shyam Vyas
15. Dr. Olin Fearing
16. Dr. Racheal Head
17. Dr. Ryan Head
18. Dr. Carey Lindemann
19. Dr. Kim Procell
20. Dr. Matthew George
21. Dr. Tyrrel Grohman
22. Dr. David Duke
23. Mrs. Duke
24. Dr. Michael Randle
25. Dr. Josephine Chua
26. Dr. Ahammed Hasim
27. Dr. Binusha Motheennazima
28. Cesar Delaguila
29. Kylee Bieri
30. Olga Bravova
Speaker: Samer Shobassy JD Assistant General Counsel
Date: Wednesday September 14th 2022
Time: 6:30p.m- 8p.m
Topic: Board Rules on Opioids and Chronic Pain Management
CME- 1 hour of formal study in Medical Ethics.
Above: Members of the Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society had their meeting on June 14, 2022. The speaker was State Representative, Travis Clardy. Representative Clardy has been recognized for his support of Rural Health care and protecting constitutional rights.
Shown are Gabriella Scheck, Dr. Mollot, Dr. Kim Procell, Dr, Kavita Vyas; Dr. Shyam Vyas, Dr. Dolamu Sokunbi, Dr. Carey Lindemann, Dr. Rachel Head; Dr. Rachel Cline; Dr. Ferren, Mrs. Ferren, Travis Clardy, Dr. Modupe Sokunbi; Dr. Ben Thompson, Dr. Glymph; Dr. Ed Tanhui, Dr. Lloyd Whitley, Dr. Kyle McMorries, Becky McMorries; Dr. Mary Hebert, Dr. Ryan Head, Mrs. Mary Pack, Karen Gillespie, and Dr. Tyrrel Grohman MD.
Present but not in the photograph were Dr. Eric Cline, Kristi Whitley.
Left: Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society President, Dr. Modupe Sokunbi and State Representative, Travis Clardy.
The Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society honored retiring member, Dr. Tom Middlebrook. Dr. Middlebrook was recognized for 34 years of hard work, dedication and service to the people of Nacogdoches and surrounding counties. Pictured with Dr. Middlebrook is Modupe Sokunbi, MD President of the County Medical Society. He was presented with a plaque recognizing his many years of service and a portrait of himself.
Members of the Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society honored Dr. Middlebrook on April 18th, 2022 at Clear Springs.
Present are Dr. Ferren, Mrs. Ferren, Dr. Chris Gayden, Dr. Eric Cline, Dr. Rachel Cline, Dr. Dolamu Sokunbi, Dr. Modupe Sokunbi, Dr. Tyrell Grohman, Dr. Tom Middlebrook, Dr. Kim Procell, Dr. Shyam Vyas, Dr. Kavita Vyas, Mrs. Middlebrook, Sarah Dreher, Taylor Starks, and Mrs. Mary Pack.
Also present were Dr. Arlis Hibbard, Dr. Mathews George and Dr. Cesar Delaguila.
NMC Physician Lounge Dedication & Alive After 5 Celebration
Nacogdoches Medical Center (NMC) held two events on February 17, 2022, to recognize many physicians. First, NMC dedicated the Physicians Lounge to Wilburn “Ed” Furniss II, MD, who served our community for over 45 years and was one of the founding physicians of NMC.
Pictured from the left are Channing Furniss Richardson, Bill Richardson, Dr. Modupe Sokunbi, Will Furniss, Kay Furniss, Owen Furniss, Dr. Eddy Furniss III, Crystal Furniss, Ella Furniss, and Jeff Patterson, CEO of NMC.
Following the ceremony honoring Dr. Furniss, NMC celebrated eight retired physicians and acknowledged their decades of service and devotion. The physicians honored were: Dr. Donald Cagle, General Surgeon, July 1980 – November 2020; Dr. Prabhakar Guniganti, Cardiologist, August 1983 – August 2020; Dr. John Haidinyak, Anesthesiologist, December 1979 – July 2020; Dr. Tony Haskins, OB/GYN, September 1983 – May 2020; Dr. James Koerner, OB/GYN, July 2016 – August 2021; Dr. Ted Ledet, Internist, October 1985 – May 2020; Dr. Kim McMorries, OB/GYN, November 1981 – October 2020; and Dr. Gerard Ventura, Oncologist, December 1990 – October 2021.
Pictured from the left are Jeff Patterson, CEO of NMC, Carey Lindeman, Vice Chief of Staff, Dr. Guniganti, Dr. Ventura, Dr. Modupe Sokunbi, Chief of Staff of NMC and President of the Nacogdoches/San Augustine County Medical Society, Francis Spruiell, NMC Governing Board President, Dr. Ledet, Ron Collins, NMC Governing Board Member, and Todd Brown, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce Chairman.
Pictured from the left are Dr. Haidinyak and Dr. Sokunbi.
Pictured from the left are Dr. Haskins and Dr. Sokunbi.
Pictured from the left are Dr. Sokunbi and Dr. Kyle McMorries, accepting on behalf of Dr. Kim McMorries.
The Nacogdoches/San Augustine County Medical Society congratulates all the honored physicians who are members of the Society for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the community and beyond.
The Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society honored retiring member Gerard Ventura MD. Dr. Ventura was recognized for 31 years of hard work, dedication and service to the people of Nacogdoches and surrounding counties. Pictured from left are Modupe Sokunbi MD President of County Medical Society and Gerard Ventura MD. Dr. Ventura has served the Nacogdoches Community and surrounding counties with great devotion and professionalism since December 1990. He has served in many leadership positions in the County Medical Society as President and also Texas Medical Association delegate. He also served as Chief of Staff at Nacogdoches Medical Center from 2007-2008. He served as Chair of Bylaws, Cancer Committee, Medical Executive Chair, Peer Review, Performance Improvement, Internal Medicine, Pharmacy and Therapeutics and Tumor Board Chair. We will all miss his warm friendship and collegiality and wish him a long and happy retirement. On behalf of Nacogdoches San Augustine Medical Society- he was presented with a plaque recognizing his many years of service and a portrait.
In December 2020, the Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society honors some of the members who retired-- for their dedication, hard work, and service to the community.
Dr. Donald Cagle
Dr. Ted Ledet
Dr. Tony Haskins
Dr. John Haidinyak
Dr. Prabhakar Guniganti
Dr. Wilburn (ED) Furniss
Dear Everyone,
Good Morning. Thank you for all your help in scheduling your patients for the COVID vaccine. On April 20th 2021, at City Hall in Nacogdoches, Sam Augustine County Medical Society was recognized for their efforts by Mayor Shelly Brophy. Other organizations recognized were: Nacogdoches County, Nacogdoches Medical Center, Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital, Nacogdoches Area Physician’s Association and Stephen F. Austin State University. This was indeed a collaborative effort.
The plaque reads:
“Nacogdoches San-Augustine County Medical Society is hereby recognized for exemplary efforts and service above and beyond in combatting COVID 19 pandemic in Nacogdoches.”
Pictured is a copy of the plaque. The meeting was televised on Suddenlink Channel 21. Vaccines are still available and your patients can now sign up for free vaccines. Patients can find more information here:
-ONLINE:
tinyurl.com/VacNac
-PHONE: (936) 305-8488
Thank you so much for all you do for the community, especially during the COVID 19 pandemic.
Dr. Kimberly Childs, Dean, College of Sciences and Mathematics Executive Director, STEM Research and Learning Center was the guest speaker at the February meeting of Nacogdoches-San Augustine County Medical Society held at Clear Springs Restaurant.
Dr. Childs provided an overview of STEM program at SFA. “Our vision is to empower the next generation of STEM professionals to lead and serve in a changing world.”
Pictured are Dr. Modupe Sokunbi and Dr. Kim Childs.
The late Dr. John Pack was honored at the Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society meeting at Clear Springs. Dr. John Pack was a practicing psychiatrist from 1987-2007. Accepting the plague in appreciation of his hand work, dedication and commitment and his strong involvement in the community is his wife, Mrs. Mary Pack.
Pictured are Dr. Modupe Sokunbi and Mrs. Mary Pack.
The Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society had a recent meeting at Clear Springs.
The speaker was Dr. James Buckingham.
The topic: Reflections on a career in Psychiatry
Present at the Medical Society Meeting seated are Dr. James Buckingham and Mrs. Judy Buckingham.
Standing are: Dr. Hashim, Dr. Binusha Moitheennazima, Dr. & Mrs. Duke, Dr & Mrs. Ventura, Dr. Shanmugam Uthamalingam, Dr. Josephine Chua, Dr. Ed. Tanhui, Dr. Maria DeLeon, Dr. Ryan Head, Dr. Rachel Head, Dr. Shyam Vyas, Dr. Kavita Vyas, Dr. Tyrel Grohman, Dr. Kim McMorries, Dr. Sanderson, Dr & Mrs. Middlebrook, Dr. Ted Ledet, Dr. Janice Ledet, Mrs. Ruth Carroll, Jerry Wilson, MS, Cheryl Wilson, LCSW, Dr. Dolamu Sokunbi, Dr. Modupe Sokunbi.
The Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society had their October meeting at Nacogdoches Memorial Auxiliary Conference Center.
The speaker was Amy Swanholm JD MSEL, Assistant General Counsel for the Texas Medical Board.
The topic was TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD UPDATE.
Pictured are Dr. Modupe Sokunbi, President of the County Society and Amy Swanholm JD MSEL.
As part of the TMA Hard Hats for Little Heads
celebrating 25 years of keeping kids safe-Nacogdoches San Augustine County
Medical Society in collaboration with Nacogdoches Medical Center Network handed
out 200 bike helmets at East Texas Poultry Festival in Center,
Texas.In
addition to children showing their chickens at the Broiler show and rides on
the carousel-the children were fitted with helmets.Child safety was stressed to
many groups of kids and parents. Attached are photographs taken at the
Festival.
As you all know, there have been multiple outbreaks of Measles in the United States. So far there have been about 704 cases this year found in 22 states. Attached is the CDC website for additional information and resources on Measles.
http://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.htmlAlso an email from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were sent to Physicians.
Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Healthcare professionals should be vigilant about measles—
• Ensure all patients are up to date on MMR vaccine.
• Consider measles in patients presenting with febrile rash illness and clinically compatible measles symptoms (cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis). Patients exposed to measles while traveling for Passover could begin to develop symptoms between late April through mid May.
• Ask patients about recent travel internationally or to domestic venues frequented by international travelers, as well as a history of measles exposures in their communities.
•
Promptly isolate patients with suspected measles to avoid disease spread and immediately report the suspect measles case to the health department.
• Obtain specimens for testing from patients with suspected measles, including viral specimens for genotyping, which can help determine the source of the virus. Contact the local health department with questions about submitting specimens for testing.
Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 9 of 10 people around them will also become infected if they are not protected. The virus can cause serious health complications, such as pneumonia or encephalitis, and even death.
CDC continues to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated on schedule with the MMR vaccine. People 6 months and older should be protected with the vaccine before leaving on international trips.
We appreciate your help spreading this message. Please share this letter as needed among your community organizations. For additional information and resources on measles please visit the CDC’s measles website (
https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html) or contact your project officer.
Please share this freely with Urgent Cares, Emergency Rooms, and Clinics.
Thank You,
Dr. Modupe Sokunbi M.D., President of the Nacogdoches San Augustine County Medical Society