Jesse D. Ibarra, Jr. M.D.

Jesse D. Ibarra, Jr. M.D., age 96 of Temple, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM Saturday, April 11, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Temple. Private family burial will be at Bellwood Memorial Park. Dr. Ibarra joined Scott & White Hospital as an intern in 1945 and remained there until his retirement in 1988. He served as a dedicated medical professional for more than 43 years and was appointed full Professor of Medicine in the inaugural faculty of the Texas A&M University College of Medicine in 1981. He was awarded the first Silver Stethoscope Award by the Bell County Medical Society for his service to the county and state. Not surprisingly, Dr. Ibarra continued his service to Scott & White. In 1990, Dr. Ibarra created a non-profit corporation called Emeritus Medicus, a regional organization that comprises retired medical professionals who continue to meet on a monthly basis. Dr. Ibarra's dedication to both Scott & White and his patients was second to none. Thus, in 1993, the Scott & White Clinic Board established the Jesse D. Ibarra, Jr. Lectureship in International Health in his honor. The lectureship was originally funded by the Scott & White Clinic, in addition to gifts from many friends and former patients of Dr. Ibarra. The Annual Jesse D. Ibarra, Jr., M.D. Lectureship in International Health has honored Dr. Ibarra annually for his contributions as a distinguished Scott & White internist and endocrinologist. Dr. Ibarra was born December 13, 1918 in Leon, Mexico, but he was raised in San Antonio, Texas - the place he calls "home." He attended St. Gerard's School and St. Mary's University in San Antonio and received his medical degree from the National University of Mexico Medical School. Through the years, Dr. Ibarra built a reputation of esteemed service both on and off the campus. Dr. Ibarra has dedicated more than a half a century to the medical profession and to his patients - many of whom came to Scott & White from as far away as Mexico, Latin America, Spain and the Far East. Dr. Ibarra was elected President of the Bell County Medical Society in the early 1950s and undertook the polio vaccination of Bell County residents. The drive was cited as one of the most successful in the state. During his presidency, the Society also established a scholarship program for high school graduates, which continues to be awarded annually. Dr. Ibarra was a member of Scott & White's Board of directors from 1973 to 1984 and served as the Board's Vice President for five years. As chairman of the Scott & White Special Projects Committee, one of his most lasting accomplishments was the establishment of the original Scott & white health maintenance organization (HMO) in the late 1970s, which in 1982 became known as the Scott & White Health Plan. Today, Dr. Ibarra's dream, the Scott & White Health Plan has multiple products including HMO, PPO, TPA, Medicare and Medicaid providing cost effective coverage for individuals and employers throughout Central Texas and completes the true integration of a health system with physicians, hospitals and payer all focused on what is best for the patient. Dr. Ibarra served as president of the Scott & White Health Plan Board of directors from 1984 to 1989 and later served as a governor on that board. The Special Projects Committee also was responsible for establishing the Scott & White Regional Clinic system, which today encompasses more than 50 Scott & White clinics throughout the State of Texas. Under Dr. Ibarra's leadership, diabetic education programs were also added for patients as well as doctors throughout the Scott & White Healthcare system. Dr. Ibarra, along with committee members from the Boards of Scott & White Clinic and Scott & White Memorial Hospital, also played an integral role in the establishment and use of the nationally recognized teal green Scott & White logo, which today remains the standard symbol on all Scott & White buildings throughout the system. As a member of the State Board of medical Examiners from 1977 to 1988, Dr. Ibarra served as chairman and a member of various committees. Until 1992, he was one of the only a dozen physicians throughout the country to comprise the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX) Review Committee of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States. Twice a year the committee reviewed the questions in the national FLEX examination, which all physicians were required to pass in order to be licensed to practice medicine in the United States. In addition, he was involved in formulating the Special Purpose Examination (SPEX). Dr. Ibarra was appointed chairman of the Scott & White Latin America Task Force and served in this capacity until 1999. Under his direction, the Task Force made arrangements with medical schools in San Luis Potosi, Leon and Vera Cruz, Mexico for presentation of seminars by Scott & White physicians at those institutions. Dr. Ibarra has authored multiple peer reviewed articles in the scientific literature resulting in his being named a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He was a member of the Endocrine Society, International, American, and Texas Societies of Internal Medicine, the Texas Academy of Internal Medicine, and the American Diabetes Association. He served on the Board of Directors of the South Texas Diabetes Association and was both president and councilor for the Texas Diabetes and Endocrine Society. Since his retirement, Dr. Ibarra has been awarded the distinguished honor of Emeritus membership in the Texas Medical Association. He was also an Emeritus member of the Endocrine Society, The American Diabetes Association and was elected as an alumni member to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Scott & White, Dr. Ibarra was bestowed the honor to be in the inaugural class of the Fellows of Scott & White Clinic by the Board of Directors and CEO in 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister and his first wife, Betty Hairston Ibarra. Survivors include his wife, Etta Tharp Ibarra of Temple, son, Jesse Daniel Ibarra, III and wife, Terri of San Antonio, daughters, Patsy Britt of Morgan's Point Resort and Beth Baetz and husband, Randy of San Antonio and five grandchildren, Christopher Britt of Belton, Annamarie Falvo and husband, Mark of San Antonio, Bert Baetz, III and wife, Sarah of Sugar Land, Jessica Press and husband, Ryan of San Antonio and J. D. Ibarra, IV and wife, Leslie of San Antonio and 11 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are three sisters, Lourdes Diaz Infante of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Teresa Brown and Margaret Robina both of Mexico City and stepson, Dr. David Tharp of Victoria and stepdaughter, Lisa Hill and husband, Jeff Smith of Richmond and two step grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the Jesse D. Ibarra, Jr. M.D. Lectureship in International Health, 2401 S. 31st Street, Temple, TX 76508 or to one's favorite charity.