December 13, 2021
The Texas Medical Association (TMA) has named lobbyist Clayton K. Stewart as its new vice president of public affairs-chief lobbyist.
Mr. Stewart begins his new position leading TMA’s lobby team immediately. His predecessor, Dan Finch, is retiring at the end of 2021 after serving two years in the role and capping a decades-long career of service to Texas physicians and patients.
“It’s an honor to continue to represent Texas physicians, and I look forward to advancing TMA’s legislative priorities for improving the health of all Texans,” Mr. Stewart said.
“Clayton’s current role as TMA director of legislative affairs has prepared him to take on this critical role of advocating for the physicians and patients of Texas,” said Michael J. Darrouzet, TMA’s executive vice president and chief executive officer, in promoting Mr. Stewart to the position. “He is one of the most trusted, energetic, and creative lobbyists in the state.”
This will be Mr. Stewart’s third position in TMA’s Division of Advocacy, having first joined America’s largest state medical society in 2013 to direct TEXPAC, its political action committee. He then became a legislative affairs director in 2016, specializing primarily on issues related to health insurance.
“His leadership in the recent passage of Texas’ [health insurance] ‘gold card bill’ is an excellent example of the type of effort that will sustain TMA as a strong patient-physician advocate,” Mr. Darrouzet said.
Prior to joining TMA, Mr. Stewart served as a lobbyist for the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists. Before that he worked in the legislative offices of then-State Rep. Mark M. Shelton, MD (R-Fort Worth), and managed Dr. Shelton’s November 2012 campaign for reelection. He also worked in support of the Jim Murphy for State Representative Campaign in 2008, and entered government and politics as a legislative aide to State Rep. Geanie W. Morrison (R-Victoria) from 2004 to 2006.
Mr. Stewart is a 2006 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, with a bachelor of arts degree in government.
In his spare time, Mr. Stewart enjoys volunteer service for the Central Texas Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, including serving on the chapter’s board of trustees. He also volunteers at his church and enjoys activities ranging from exercising to hunting and fly-fishing.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 55,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 110 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.
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Contact: Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320; email: brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org
Swathi Narayanan (512) 370-1382; cell: (408) 987-1318; email: swathi.narayanan[at]texmed[dot]org
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