John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni

Founded as the state’s first medical school, the UTMB JSSOM has conferred more than 16,000 medical degrees since its inception in 1891.

Alumni Association
Giving
Alumni Awards
Board Roster
 
A group of JSSOM graduates standing together at graduation

Alumni Association

The UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association exists to strengthen and support the JSSOM by promoting life-long relationships between alumni, current students, faculty, and university leadership.

Membership Levels

Recent Graduate
1-5 years after graduation
Regular Graduate
6-49 years after graduation
Retired Graduate
Retired or 50+ years since graduation

Giving

For over 130 years, UTMB has been changing the world of medicine. Today, your generous gift can make all the difference in the world for a future physician.

JSSOM graduate smiling and waving walking across the stage

Scholarships
Gifts to the John Sealy School of Medicine Scholarship Fund empowers students by helping them meet their financial needs.
Annual fund
Gifts to the John Sealy School of Medicine Annual Fund are used to meet the needs and emerging priorities of the school as determined by the Dean in conjunction with leadership and faculty.

2024 Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumni Awardees

The highest honor bestowed by the John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association to recognize alumni for their outstanding service to the medical profession and to humanity.

Claudia Potter portrait

Claudia Potter, MD - Legacy Awardee

2022 John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association Legacy Award Recipient

Created by the John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association in 2022, this award honors and recognizes posthumous alumni who have demonstrated a distinguished career in medicine or academics and continue to inspire future generations. This award comes with a monetary value that is given to the recipient’s specialty department within UTMB to be used for emerging needs and priorities.

About Dr. Claudia Potter

The only female in her class, Dr. Claudia Potter completed medical school in 1904 and was the sixth female physician to graduate from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Considered an aggressive pioneer in the field of anesthesia, Dr. Potter studied and introduced anesthetic practices that were unprecedented in her day.

In 1923, Dr. Potter investigated the use of ethylene gas as an anesthetic and introduced its use at Scott & White Memorial Hospital and Clinic in Temple, Texas.

In addition to her contributions in developing the practice of gas-based anesthetic in Texas, Dr. Potter accomplished many “firsts” in the field of anesthesia.

Dr. Potter is recognized as the first physician to administer gas anesthesia in Texas and one of the first full-time anesthesiologists documented in the United States. She was a charter member of the Texas Society of Medical Anesthetists, served as president of the organization in 1946-47 and was presiding when then the Texas Medical Society recognized anesthesiology as a separate medical specialty.

Dr. Potter served as the Head of the Department of Anesthesia at Scott & White for more than 40 years and is credited with forging a path for women in medicine in Texas and throughout the nation.

Dr. Potter died February 2, 1970 at the age of 88.

Claudia Potter portrait

Claudia Potter, MD - Legacy Awardee

2022 John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association Legacy Award Recipient

Created by the John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association in 2022, this award honors and recognizes posthumous alumni who have demonstrated a distinguished career in medicine or academics and continue to inspire future generations. This award comes with a monetary value that is given to the recipient’s specialty department within UTMB to be used for emerging needs and priorities.

About Dr. Claudia Potter

The only female in her class, Dr. Claudia Potter completed medical school in 1904 and was the sixth female physician to graduate from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Considered an aggressive pioneer in the field of anesthesia, Dr. Potter studied and introduced anesthetic practices that were unprecedented in her day.

In 1923, Dr. Potter investigated the use of ethylene gas as an anesthetic and introduced its use at Scott & White Memorial Hospital and Clinic in Temple, Texas.

In addition to her contributions in developing the practice of gas-based anesthetic in Texas, Dr. Potter accomplished many “firsts” in the field of anesthesia.

Dr. Potter is recognized as the first physician to administer gas anesthesia in Texas and one of the first full-time anesthesiologists documented in the United States. She was a charter member of the Texas Society of Medical Anesthetists, served as president of the organization in 1946-47 and was presiding when then the Texas Medical Society recognized anesthesiology as a separate medical specialty.

Dr. Potter served as the Head of the Department of Anesthesia at Scott & White for more than 40 years and is credited with forging a path for women in medicine in Texas and throughout the nation.

Dr. Potter died February 2, 1970 at the age of 88.

2024 Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumni Awards Event Program

Legacy Awardees

Recognizes posthumous alumni who continue to inspire future generations.

Claudia Potter portrait

Claudia Potter, MD - Legacy Awardee

2022 John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association Legacy Award Recipient

Created by the John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association in 2022, this award honors and recognizes posthumous alumni who have demonstrated a distinguished career in medicine or academics and continue to inspire future generations. This award comes with a monetary value that is given to the recipient’s specialty department within UTMB to be used for emerging needs and priorities.

About Dr. Claudia Potter

The only female in her class, Dr. Claudia Potter completed medical school in 1904 and was the sixth female physician to graduate from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Considered an aggressive pioneer in the field of anesthesia, Dr. Potter studied and introduced anesthetic practices that were unprecedented in her day.

In 1923, Dr. Potter investigated the use of ethylene gas as an anesthetic and introduced its use at Scott & White Memorial Hospital and Clinic in Temple, Texas.

In addition to her contributions in developing the practice of gas-based anesthetic in Texas, Dr. Potter accomplished many “firsts” in the field of anesthesia.

Dr. Potter is recognized as the first physician to administer gas anesthesia in Texas and one of the first full-time anesthesiologists documented in the United States. She was a charter member of the Texas Society of Medical Anesthetists, served as president of the organization in 1946-47 and was presiding when then the Texas Medical Society recognized anesthesiology as a separate medical specialty.

Dr. Potter served as the Head of the Department of Anesthesia at Scott & White for more than 40 years and is credited with forging a path for women in medicine in Texas and throughout the nation.

Dr. Potter died February 2, 1970 at the age of 88.

Comprehensive List of Award Recipients

JSSOM Alumni Association Board

Officers

McKinney, Kevin H.
Kevin H. McKinney, MD, FACE
President
Class of 1992
Helmer III, Richard E.
Richard E. Helmer III, MD, FACP
President-Elect
Class of 1971
West III, Hugh N.
Hugh N. West III, MD, MBA
Immediate Past-President
Class of 1971

Board Members

  • Cohen, Michael

    Michael A. Cohen, MD, FACR, FSBI
    Class of 1974

  • Cooke, Shannon E.

    Shannon E. Cooke, MD
    Class of 1989

  • Copeland, James L.

    James L. Copeland, Jr., MD
    Class of 1972

  • Corbitt, Danny K.

    Danny K. Corbitt, MD
    Class of 1979

  • Dabney, Raetasha S.

    Raetasha S. Dabney, MD
    Class of 2007

  • Dinn, James R.

    James R. Dinn, Jr., MD
    Class of 1973

  • Edwards, Betty J.

    Betty J. Edwards, MD
    Class of 1976

  • Fagala-Blake, Gwen E.

    Gwen E. Fagala-Blake, MD
    Class of 1989

  • Finch, Daniel C.

    Daniel C. Finch, MD
    Class of 1973

  • Fowler, John T.

    John T. Fowler, MD
    Class of 1998

  • Hunnicutt, Robert W.

    Robert W. Hunnicutt, MD
    Class of 1972

  • Levine, Ruth

    Ruth Levine, MD
    Class of 1987

  • Messer, Larry

    Larry Messer, MD
    Class of 1972

  • Ponder, Stephen W.

    Stephen W. Ponder, MD, FAAP, CDCES
    Class of 1984

  • Pugh, Billie R.

    Billie R. Pugh, MD
    Class of 1972

  • Richardson, Gwyn

    Gwyn Richardson, MD
    Class of 2001

  • Rodriguez, Gabriel

    Gabriel Rodriguez, MD
    Class of 1994

  • Settle, Halsey

    Halsey "Happy" Settle, MD
    Class of 1971

  • Spier, Jeffrey M.

    Jeffrey M. Spier, MD
    Class of 2000

  • Stafford, Sarah A.

    Sarah A. Stafford, MD
    Class of 2010

  • Stephens, Christopher

    Christopher Stephens, MD
    Class of 2002

  • Stetson III, Cloyce L.

    Cloyce L. Stetson III, MD
    Class of 1994

  • Sykes, Mellick

    Mellick Sykes, MD, FACS
    Class of 1976

  • Teller, David

    David C. Teller, MD, FACS, MBA
    Class of 1986

  • Warthan, Molly M.

    Molly M. Warthan, MD
    Class of 2004