TAFP award winners announced in Addison
By Samantha White
The best and brightest of Texas family medicine were honored November 14 as the 2025 TAFP award winners were announced in Addison during the Annual Session and Primary Care Summit.
Texas Family Physician of the Year: Emily Briggs, MD, MPH
Briggs practices full-scope family medicine, including operative obstetrics, in New Braunfels. Throughout her career she has been an active member of organized medicine with multiple organizations, including previously serving as TAFP president and board chair. She currently serves as TAFP’s delegate to the AAFP Congress of Delegates and AAFP’s delegate to the American Medical Association. After many years as an active member of TAFP’s Alamo Chapter, she helped create the Hill Country Chapter. Briggs became an honorary fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 2024.
There was a throughline in Briggs’ many nomination letters – that she is a strong and compassionate advocate for her patients, her medical colleagues, and her community. She advocates in a number of ways, including testifying before the state legislature, holding an educational teen health summit for local families, serving as medical director for the local school district, and through countless other outlets.
In her acceptance speech, Briggs spoke of being an active member of TAFP and AAFP. “I choose to be away from my family, from my practice, just like all of you because of advocacy. This is our opportunity to come together and to make a difference not only in our lives and in our families’ lives, ... but in the lives of our patients and our communities, both locally and statewide, but also nationally.”
Briggs also took the time to thank her colleagues in the room for being TAFP members and helping to fight for family medicine. “All of us have heard the phrase, ‘if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.’ I refuse to be on the menu and thank you to each of you for refusing to be on that menu as well.”
VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE 2025 AWARDS CEREMONY
Physician Executive Award: Jackson O. Griggs, MD
Griggs is the first recipient of this award, created just last year. He is the CEO of Heart of Texas Community Health Center in Waco, where he is responsible for implementing the health and business plans of Waco Family Medicine, which is a federally qualified health center. He is also chair of the board of directors for the Waco Family Practice Foundation and is the board chair and vice president of the McLennan County Medical Education and Research Foundation.
His exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to provide high-quality health care for the vulnerable earned Griggs this year’s award. Through his dedication and commitment as CEO, the Waco Family Medicine FQHC has expanded greatly, including a new $65 million site.
While accepting the award, Griggs encouraged his peers in the room to become leaders in their own local communities. “I’m a believer that we need to continue to encourage family physicians who are so inclined to become leaders in the health care delivery system,” Griggs said.
Public Health Award: Leila Myrick, MD, PhD
Myrick is a family medicine and obstetrics physician in Seminole, just north of Odessa, where this year’s measles outbreak originated in Texas. On behalf of her patients and her community, Myrick acted decisively as the outbreak spread, leading efforts on case identification, coordinating quarantine protocols, collaborating with schools and public health authorities, and launching an aggressive, community-wide vaccine campaign.
Myrick’s leadership helped the community respond swiftly, implementing life-saving interventions. She confronted vaccine misinformation head on, organizing and leading town halls, and building trust with the community through transparency and compassion. She was called on by media numerous times at the height of the outbreak, eventually speaking with CNN, ABC News, Good Morning America, The New York Times, USA Today, and even London Times. Her interviews not only told the world about what was happening in Gaines County but further proved that family physicians are community members the public can trust.
Patient Advocacy Award: State Representative Hillary Hickland
Hickland is in her first term in the Texas House of Representatives where she represents Texas House District 55, which covers central Bell County and includes the cities of Temple, Belton, and Killeen. She played a vital role in helping TAFP and other advocacy organizations secure $5 million in new state funding to support and expand family medicine obstetrics fellowships in Texas.
The daughter of longtime TAFP member Ron McMurry, MD, Hickland says she “knows a little something” about family medicine. Her husband and her younger brother are also family doctors. “It’s something that is very near and dear to my heart,” she said of the specialty when receiving the award. “Your journey, your challenges are something that I am very familiar with and the need for access to quality health care in rural Texas is something that I’m very passionate about.”
Exemplary Teaching Award – Academic: Zaiba Jetpuri, DO, MBA
Jetpuri is the residency program director and an associate professor in the family and community medicine department at UT Southwestern in Dallas. She has been active in TAFP business for several years, including as a commission and council member, and currently serves as vice president for TAFP’s Dallas Chapter. Jetpuri was also recently elected to UT Southwestern’s Academy of Teachers, which recognizes physicians who stimulate innovation in education.
Jetpuri created the Family Medicine Residency Essentials Track, which is a boot camp for fourth-year graduating medical students at UT Southwestern, established the department’s grand rounds for residents, and co-created the department’s first CME and alumni symposium. Her many nominators spoke of Jetpuri’s ability to transform the trajectories of her mentees and students, bringing intention and creativity to her teaching settings while being generous with her time. Her teaching philosophy and style focus on inclusivity, making students feel comfortable to ask questions and share perspectives, and creating safe spaces in and out of the classroom.
Exemplary Teaching Award – Preceptor: Mary Nguyen, MD
Nguyen practices family medicine in Castroville and serves as a board member of the United Physicians of San Antonio Accountable Care Organization. She has served in many leadership roles within TAFP over the years, including as the 2021-2022 president, and is also active in business with TAFP’s Alamo Chapter, AAFP, the Texas Medical Association, and the Bexar County Medical Society.
Two students who were lucky to have Nguyen as their preceptor nominated her for this award. One was left without a preceptor, and Nguyen quickly added the student to her busy schedule without any hesitation. She is always willing to guide her preceptees outside of the clinic, offering her time and resources to help them on their educational paths to becoming family physicians. Her compassion for patients and students alike and ability to encourage thoughtful reflection show how impactful she has been as a preceptor.
While accepting her award, Nguyen encouraged her TAFP colleagues to become preceptors in the Texas Family Medicine Preceptorship Program, as well as support the TAFP Foundation’s efforts to build and strengthen the family physician workforce.
Rising Star Award: Jessica Nu Glick, DO
Glick practices direct primary care at First Primary Care in Houston, where she is also a champion for employee well-being. Her nominators repeatedly described Glick as not only a caring and compassionate clinician, but also a self-aware and natural leader. Her willingness to elevate the people and community around her, as well as her authenticity and humility, were mentioned repeatedly in her nomination letters.
Recently, Glick was integral in reviving TAFP’s Northwoods Chapter and completed AAFP’s Leading Physician Well-Being Certificate Program. She has also been mentoring residents through TAFP’s Resident Leadership Experience and traveling to residency programs to chat about family medicine as a Residency Ambassador for AAFP.
Presidential Award of Merit: David Bauer, MD, PhD
Bauer was honored by TAFP Past President Lindsay Botsford, MD, MBA, for his leadership and mentorship. Bauer spent 23 years at the Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program, including 19 years as the program director. After retirement, Bauer and his wife Leslie moved to New Hampshire.
While thanking TAFP and Botsford for the award, Bauer also thanked his colleagues for their service to their own communities. “Every single day, you focus on what really matters. You care for your patients tirelessly. You train, you mentor, you serve as role models for medical students and residents, and you work at the legislative level to advocate for the health of our patients and the people of Texas... for that I’m incredibly grateful to you and I thank you so much.”
