SAN ANTONIO, TX, February 21, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ -- WellMed Chairman and CEO George M. Rapier III, M.D., will be inducted into the Mexican American/Hispanic Physicians Association Hall of Fame during the non-profit organization's annual gala dinner this Saturday (Feb. 21, 2009) at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Dr. Rapier serves as Chairman and CEO of San Antonio-based WellMed Medical Management, South Texas' largest physician-owned practice management company. He founded WellMed in 1990, and it has been specializing in senior health care ever since.
The mission of the San Antonio-based healthcare company and insurance provider - serving more than 80,000 patients and insured members in four states - is to change the face of healthcare delivery for seniors.
Dr. Rapier will be honored "for his contributions to the medical community and for his incredible community involvement," MAHPA Executive Director Barbie Hernandez said.
Dr. Rapier and his wife, Kymberly, are the executors of the Blake, Kymberly and George Rapier Charitable Trust, which has distributed nearly $3 million to local charitable causes since forming in 2006. Through the Trust, which focuses on causes that benefit children, the elderly and homeless animals, the Rapiers will distribute more than $1 million to local charities in 2009.
Under Dr. Rapier's guidance, WellMed is funding a non-profit charity, the WellMed Charitable Foundation. In October 2007, the WellMed Charitable Foundation awarded the City of San Antonio with a $350,000 check to sponsor free influenza vaccinations for the community and brought the first Leeza's Place - a free community resource for caregivers - to Texas with Leeza's Place at WellMed. A second Leeza's Place opened August 2008 at the Bob Ross Senior Center in the San Antonio Medical Center.
Both the WellMed Charitable Foundation and the Rapier Charitable Trust are funding a three-year, $750,000 program to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes in the South San Antonio Independent School District. The program, called Bienestar, works with 18,000 students, teachers, food service staff and parents from South San Antonio, focusing on increasing daily physical activity and consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grain products.
Dr. Rapier has made senior care and improving delivery of healthcare services a priority for WellMed. He has chaired a number of crucial committees required for medical group expansion and gained significant knowledge relevant to the changing payor and income structure of today's medical group practice. WellMed's Disease Management company, HealthRight, recently was recognized by the non-profit DMAA as a national leader in the delivery of preventive and chronic healthcare.
Dr. Rapier earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine and completed his internship and residence at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He serves as an assistant professor of medicine at the UT Health Science Center and on the board of Boysville of Texas.
Also being honored this Saturday as Hall of Fame inductees are Ernest Guerra, M.D., a gastroenterologist and founding member of MAHPA; and longtime healthcare professional Chris Alderete, public relations director for Nurses In Touch.
MAHPA was established in 1983 as a local, non-profit organization of physicians. It is committed to assisting and empowering students, underrepresented in the health professions, to pursue medical and healthcare careers. By encouraging students to enter health professions, MAHPA strives to improve the delivery of health care services to the medically underserved.
About WellMed Medical Management
WellMed Medical Management is a diversified healthcare company and insurance provider serving more than 80,000 patients and insured members, mostly Medicare-eligible seniors in Texas, Florida, Arkansas and New Mexico. WellMed is an industry leader in medical risk management, highly effective disease management and chronic care programs, healthcare delivery services, and more.
WellMed is South Texas' largest physician-owned practice management company, specializing in senior health care since 1990. With more than 30 medical clinics in Texas and Florida, the mission of the healthcare company and insurance provider is to change the face of healthcare delivery for seniors.
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