2025 TMLT Governing Board Election

TMLT is governed by a board of nine Trustees. Once elected, a Trustee serves a term of three years and may be re-elected for two additional three-year terms. No Trustee may serve more than nine consecutive years. The terms of each seat, or Place, are staggered, so that only a portion of the Places are up for election each year. This year, Places 7, 8, and 9 are up for election.

As required by the Trust Instrument and Bylaws, the Trustees have nominated three physicians for these positions. The following nominations have been submitted to and approved by the TMA House of Delegates for 2025:

1. Place 7: Leah H. Jacobson, MD (re-election)
2. Place 8: Sarah Way, MD (re-election)
3. Place 9: Jorge Sainz, MD

Should you wish to nominate another eligible voting participant, you may do so as follows:

• Any nomination by any eligible voting participant must be in writing and supported in writing with the signatures of at least four other eligible voting participants. All nominees must be qualified to serve under the Trust Instrument and Bylaws.
• Nominations MUST be made for a SPECIFIC Place and designated as a nomination for Place 7, 8, or 9.
• Nominations must be submitted to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, TMLT, P.O. Box 160140, Austin, Texas 78716-0140. They must be received by TMLT in Austin, Texas no later than Monday, October 7, 2024.

After all nominees have been determined, election ballots and candidate biographical sheets will be sent to all eligible voting participants via email or regular mail. Ballots will state the deadline for their return. A candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast for their specific Place to be elected.

When you receive your ballot, please take a moment to consider the candidates and cast your vote. Voting in our annual election is an important opportunity for all policyholders to play a role in the direction, governance, and future of TMLT. 

Sincerely,
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Robert Donohoe
President & Chief Executive Officer

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2025 TMLT Governing Board Election Candidates

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Place 7

Leah H. Jacobson, MD, FAAP 

Pediatrics, San Antonio
TMLT policyholder since 2003

Leah H. Jacobson, MD, FAAP is a board-certified pediatrician and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  She graduated with honors from Texas A&M University in College Station. Following college, Dr. Jacobson completed medical school and her pediatric residency in San Antonio at The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSCSA). Dr. Jacobson worked for six years as an assistant professor in the UTHSCSA Department of Pediatrics and Family Practice.  

Since 2002, she has worked in private practice in San Antonio. In 2023, Dr. Jacobson opened Personal Pediatrics by Leah Jacobson, M.D., a direct patient care membership-based practice.

Dr. Jacobson is active in organized medicine, both at the local and state level, working for patient advocacy and the betterment of health care for children. She is a member of the San Antonio Pediatric Society (SAPS), Texas Pediatric Society, Bexar County Medical Society (BCMS), Texas Medical Association (TMA), and American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Jacobson currently serves on the Boards of SAPS, TMA Board of Councilors, TMLT, and Morgan’s Multi-Assistance Center. She served as the president of BCMS in 2017.

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Place 8

Sarah Way, MD, JD

Emergency Medicine, Dallas
TMLT policyholder since 2007

Dr. Sarah Way is an emergency room physician in Dallas, Texas. She has served her community for more than 20 years throughout the North Texas area, but her primary practice has been at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. She is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Way is also an attorney and a member of the State Bar of California. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1997 from California Western School of Law in San Diego. During law school, she interned with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

In 2004, Dr. Way received her medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. She completed a residency in Emergency Medicine at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas in 2007.

Dr. Way is the chief quality and medical officer at Texas Health Dallas. Dr. Way is on the TMLT Claims Review Committee and has reviewed claims as a consultant since 2019.

Her professional affiliations are with the Dallas County Medical Society, Texas Medical Association, and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

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Place 9

Jorge Sainz, MD

Pediatrics, El Paso
TMLT policyholder since 2008

Jorge Sainz, MD is a pediatric critical care specialist in El Paso, Texas. In 2002, Dr. Sainz completed his pediatric residency and a post-doctoral fellowship in pediatric critical care at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (UTHSCSA), where he also earned his medical degree in 1999. He has practiced in El Paso since 2005.

Since 2016, Dr. Sainz has served as the president of pediatric services at Pininos Pediatrics Services. He also currently serves as medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and as medical director for neonatal and pediatric specialty transport services at Memorial Medical Care Center. 

At the Las Palmas Medical Center (LPMC), he is the chief of staff, medical director of the PICU, and medical director for neonatal and pediatric specialty transport services for the LPMC and the Del Sol Medical Center (DSMC). He also serves as president of medical staff at LPMC and DSMC.

Dr. Sainz is board certified in general pediatrics and pediatric critical care medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics. He has contributed locally and regionally to the development and support of adult and pediatric transport systems.