TPS Committees

We are currently accepting committee sign-up and renewal for the 2023-2024 year.

Committee members who are currently active on a committee during the “renewal” time will continue their work through July 31st. During this sign-up and renewal process, new sign-ups for the current term are on hold to prevent confusion among committee co-chairs, committee members, and TPS staff.  Any member who signs up for a new committee after May 15th will not be active on that committee until August 1st. 

Please note that there have been a few committee group changes.

New Committee on Environmental Health
In response to member interest in environmental health and its impact on children and youth, this new committee has been formed to address needs and issues within this important area.

Eligibility
TPS members: Active, Life/Emeritus, Associate, Resident/Fellow and Medical students are eligible for committee sign-up. If you need to verify membership contact the TPS Director of Member Services. TPS list of committees are below

Committee Sign-Up Instructions

  1. You will be prompted to login first. Instructions on how to login are on the login page.
  2. Indicate your willingness to serve by filling out the online form.
  3. You will receive a confirmation email with the committees you selected.
  4. TPS Membership status will be verified.
  5. TPS members may join anytime. Starting in May, upon approval for the 2023-2024 term you will receive a welcome email in August. See below for more information on committee terms.

Committee Communication
You will receive communication to the email you submit on the committee sign-up form. If you wish to change your email, please log in to make the changes on your TPS member profile page.

Meetings and Terms
TPS members may sign-up for committees throughout the year. Committee terms are from August 1 – July 31. So, even if you join a TPS committee in May, you must complete the form in June to continue serving for the next term. Current committee members who do NOT complete the form will be DROPPED from the Committee.

Committees meet virtually throughout the year with two in person meetings a year. Once in conjunction with the TPS Annual Meeting, usually in September/October and the other at TPS Annual Leadership Planning Summit (ALPS), in April.

Committee Duties
Committee members’ responsibilities include expanding the committee initiatives, providing guidance on pediatric issues, and serving as experts for QI projects, task forces, and grant funded opportunities. Much of the committee work and consultation is conducted via email, and we provide virtual participation when possible.  

Expressing Interest in a Co-Chair Position
If you are interested in becoming or remaining a committee chair you may indicate your willingness on the committee form under that group. To be considered, you must have served on the committee for at least one year and be an active member (associates, fellows, residents, and medical students may not serve.) The final co-chair appointments are approved by the President-Elect in late July.

A description of the committees and their charges are below.

Committee Co-Chairs

To find about more about a committee's goals and time commitments, please contact one of the committee chairs.

Hear from colleagues about their TPS Experience.

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To find about more about a committee's goals and time commitments, please contact one of the committee chairs.

ADMINISTRATION AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT -- plans socioeconomic programs and monitors agency programs relating to liability insurance, third party payors, managed care systems, governmental physician-payment programs, and office management.

ADOLESCENCE & SPORTS MEDICINE -- monitors available science and data regarding the broad range of adolescent health and sports medicine issues, and formulates related recommendations for TPS consideration. Areas of recent committee interest and activities have included healthy life styles promotion, health risk behaviors, sexuality and sexual activity/pregnancy, substance abuse, sport safety, mental health screening, and enhancement of health professional education about adolescent medicine and sports medicine.

AWARDS -- recommends to the Executive Board guidelines for the TPS Sidney Kaliski Award of Merit and the Distinguished Service Award; reviews the nominations for these two awards and selects the recipients.

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT -- reviews issues relating to child abuse and neglect, its causes and prevention and plans annual educational programs for pediatricians.

CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES -- monitors government programs relating to children with disabilities (CSHCN Program, ECI, etc); plans programs for pediatricians on developmental and behavioral problems.

COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL HEALTH -- promotes the practice of community pediatrics by encouraging and supporting Texas pediatricians in community-based efforts that include but are not limited to: identifying children’s health needs at the community level; advocating for children’s health at the community level, including advocacy for access to care and access to a medical home for every child; promoting children’s health through school health initiatives and school policies; and collaborating with others in the community interested in children’s health, including those involved in child care, injury prevention, and other areas affecting children’s health.

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS -- writes the changes to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, assures the execution of its provisions, and makes suggestions such additions or alterations as it deems advisable; reviews, at the request of the Executive Board or the membership, proposals for amendment or revision; and serves as the long-range organizational planning body for the Society.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS --  prepare Texas pediatricians, practice organizations, families, and children for any disaster, build resilient networks and disaster infrastructure, advocate for effective Emergency Preparedness policy, and connect disaster experts with practicing pediatricians across the state

EARLY CHILDHOOD  -- works with state agencies, health and childcare providers, as well as communities to create a Texas where all children have a nurturing and supportive environment during their early years. Promotes education and creation of policy on issues of critical importance to this population, such as early brain and child development, early childhood nutrition, and early literacy.

FETUS AND NEWBORN -- focuses efforts to advance programs and policies that improve neonatal health outcomes. Collaborates with state agency staff and partner organizations to provide guidance and education on our statewide newborn screening program, quality improvement initiatives, designating levels of NICU care, and breastfeeding.

FOSTER CARE -- works to improve the health of children in foster and kinship care, and advocate for those children, their caregivers, and their providers through collaboration with state agencies and payers.

HOSPITAL CARE -- addresses issues including delineation of clinical privileges, hospital staffing, provision of clinical and support services, hospitalization of children, and guidelines for medical and nursing staffs involved in pediatric inpatient and long-term care.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND IMMUNIZATIONS -- monitors current developments related to infectious diseases and immunization schedules, focusing on the epidemiology, surveillance, outbreak control, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases in children, and pertinent issues on immunization including recommendations, uptake, regulations and registry.

INJURY PREVENTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH -- reviews and monitors current statistics due to injuries in children and adolescents; assists in programs and projects that address injury and environmental health hazards in Texas; and plans educational activities for Texas physicians.

EXECUTIVE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE (by Board appointment only) -- coordinates all state and federal legislative and regulatory issues effecting Texas children's health and welfare and recommends to the Executive Board the priority state issues. Through a key contact system with state and federal legislators, Texas pediatricians provide input on legislation, regulation, and funding of vital children's health programs.

MEDICAID, CHIP, Uninsured -- works in conjunction with the TMA ad hoc committee on Medicaid to assist physicians who see Medicaid patients and to monitor and improve the Texas Medicaid program.

MEDICAL EDUCATION -- organizes the scientific program, the subspecialty section program, and the scientific poster exhibit at the TPS annual meeting in the fall.

MENTAL HEALTH -- focuses on integrating appropriate mental health evaluation and services into pediatric care, develops and delivers training programs related to mental health, disseminates research information, addresses billing and reimbursement issues for the provision of mental health services, and evaluates available tools and resources.

NUTRITION AND HEALTH - develops, maintains, and works to disseminate practical guidelines to aid practitioners in the prevention, early recognition, and clinical care of children and adolescents with obesity and co-morbid problems; serves as the primary liaison between TPS and other organizational and governmental bodies working on the issue of childhood obesity in Texas and is available to advise TPS on legislative issues and other initiatives related to childhood obesity in Texas.