Neerukonda named Texas Medical Association Student of the Year
The Texas Medical Association named fourth-year medical student Sanjay Neerukonda as the 2026 Outstanding Student of the Year at TexMed, the association’s annual conference held in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Established in 1998, the Texas Medical Association’s Medical Student Section Student of the Year Award recognizes a student member which serves the section and excels in furthering the organization’s goals and policies for a better Texas.
“Being nominated and selected for the Texas Medical Association’s Medical Student Section Student of the Year Award is such an impactful and humbling experience and feels like a meaningful validation of the work I’ve cared about most: advocacy, medical education, and building community,” Neerukonda said.
Described by his fellow students as highly engaged and a reliable contributor to the policymaking process at the local, state, regional, and national levels, Neerukonda served on the association’s Council on Medical Education. His nominator said that Neerukonda “consistently makes time to mentor and support new students,” and that he is “universally respected and admired because he leads with integrity, kindness, and genuine care.”
“Throughout medical school, I have learned so much about resolutions, policy, and organized medicine through involvement in both the Texas Medical Association and the American Medical Association and meeting other medical students across our regions and the country who are passionate about advocacy continues to inspire me,” Neerukonda said. “This award motivates me to keep expanding this work by mentoring others, advancing equitable policies, and contributing to a culture in medicine that prioritizes both excellence and support.”