Bell County Medical Alliance has been helping community for 105 years
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos courtesy of the Bell County Medical Alliance
From rolling bandages through two world wars, delivering countless meals, giving out thousands of books and bike helmets, conducting student vision and hearing screenings, and assisting with polio and COVID-19 vaccinations, the Bell County Medical Alliance has had a rich history of giving back to the Central Texas community since 1919. Though not as well-known as other groups, the BCMA has always held fast to their two-pronged mission: to promote, create and support health-related events and to support the “family of medicine” — the families of health care providers in our area.
The group is comprised of physicians and physician spouses from Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center, Seton Medical Center and even those in private practice. However, longtime BCMA board member Amee Tuggle is quick to point out that the organization is not a social group for doctors’ wives like it was in the early 1900s.
“We are a multigenerational organization, and we welcome physician’s spouses, male or female, to join our group. Members can be newly out of residency, currently providing care, or even retired or widowed,” said Tuggle, whose husband is a physician at the VA center. “Medicine families are different. Husband or wife — whoever is the physician — is often on call three or four days a week. They usually work evenings and miss holidays and special events. Those of us in the medical community can relate in a small way to military families. We deal with different issues than other families.”
The members of the BCMA know how difficult it can be to move into a new area for residency and that families of physicians need community and support. Though the organization is a philanthropic group, they also make sure to include fun events for medical families and couples. Currently, a family day at Robinson Family Farm for members of the BCMA and Bell County Medical Society is in the works.
“We love it when younger members join us,” Tuggle said. “We’re excited to see a new generation joining our efforts in the long-held mission of the medical alliance and our passion for working in our communities.”
And the BCMA has made a huge splash in Bell County for over 100 years. Over 30 years ago, the group collaborated with Altrusa to create the annual Caring Ball, which benefits the Temple Community Clinic. The 31st annual Caring Ball is set for February. In addition, the BCMA is deeply involved in advocacy for the medical community, and members often travel to the Texas Capitol on Tuesdays when the legislature is in session to discuss health care issues with state lawmakers. The organization has also given out thousands of dollars of scholarships each year for decades. Scholarship applicants must be going into a health-related field and planning to attend a college in Bell County. They were also one of three organizations who were responsible for building the Temple Ronald McDonald House.
The group is always working behind the scenes to support the health care community in Bell County, including participating in BSWH’s popular “Walk with a Doc” program. During the pandemic, BCMA members helped with intake at immunization clinics, made face masks and delivered food to medical personnel who were working around the clock. The group also mans a regular Meals on Wheels route in north Temple where their volunteers deliver 20 meals five days a week, every week throughout the school year.
Kids have a special place in their hearts too, and BCMA volunteers show up at community events to fit students with free bike helmets. Through their book share program, they give out books at special events in the community, as well as to patients at Baylor Scott & White McLane’s Children’s Hospital. They also hold the bragging rights that the BCMA bra (and its model, Ike Shaw) has brought in the most money — more than $13,000 — for the American Cancer Society’s annual Central Texas Bra Brunch fundraiser for the last several years.
“We are doing great things in the community,” Tuggle said. “We’re always looking for new health-focused projects and would love to help support other organizations in their goals.”
Bell County Medical Alliance
Website: bellcountymedicalalliance.com
Email: artuggle@gmail.com
Social: facebook.com/bellcountymedicalalliance
