She was the first female president of the American Medical Association (AMA), serving in 1997–98.
[1] For eleven years she was president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center, the first woman to hold that position.
[4] She earned bachelor's degrees in psychology and sociology from Stephen F. Austin State University.
from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where she also completed her residency training.
She frequently speaks to professional and civic organizations and testifies before Congress on issues involving medical care in America.