Dr. Linda Siy, a physician based at JPS Health Network’s Medical Home Northeast Tarrant, has been honored for her work mentoring medical students.
The Texas Medical Association’s (TMA) Medical Student Section presented Siy with the 2019 C. Frank Webber, MD, Award during the organization’s annual conference, TexMed, which was held in Dallas.
“I’ve always taught third-year medical students for as long as I can remember and it’s something I enjoy,” Siy said. “To be recognized for something I truly enjoy is a gift.”
Siy, who has worked at JPS since 1995, said she was surprised to receive the honor. She was especially touched because its namesake was an inspiration to her.
“C. Frank Webber was a remarkable, very accomplished family physician, and that makes this award even more special to me, as a family physician,” Siy said.
Medical student Pooja Bhakta currently works with Siy at Medical Home Northeast Tarrant. She said the doctor helps students there learn how to interact with patients and how to ask the right questions. It gives them confidence as students near the time when they’ll someday have to handle patients on their own.
“She’s really good,” Bhakta said of Siy. “She spends a lot of time discussing cases with us, letting us write notes and come up with a plan, then talking about what we decided. She asks us why we came to the conclusion we reached and talks with us not only about what we should do – but the reasons why we should or shouldn’t do things. It has really been a great experience working here with her.”
Siy said being a mentor to young doctors is one of her favorite parts of her career.
“To help shape our future leaders in medicine is critical to the success of the profession,” Siy said. “It’s very rewarding to feel that you’ve been able to contribute to their development.”
Created in 1987, the C. Frank Webber, MD, Award is named after the late Texas family physician and educator C. Frank Webber, MD, former dean of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Dr. Webber’s efforts are credited with prompting the development of the strong student organization within TMA.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 53,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 110 component county medical societies around.