NewsLink, May 27, 2016
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Awards and Recognitions

Rivera leads MS workshop in Cuba

Dr. Victor Rivera, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Neurology and founding director of the Maxine Mesinger MS Clinic, co-chaired the inaugural Cuba-United States Multiple Sclerosis Workshop at the International Center of Neurological Restoration in Havana, Cuba. The event was held on May 19-20 and was the first MS educational exchange between the two countries. Dr. Rivera led a group of MS experts from the Cleveland Clinic, University of Texas and the Consortium of MS Centers.

Strax elected to ACR committee

Dr. Richard Strax, associate professor of radiology, was elected to his third two-year term on the Council Steering Committee at the American College of Radiology annual meeting May 15-19 in Washington, D.C. The ACR Council represents radiologists in all 50 states, and the Council Steering Committee conducts the business of the Council and develops policy throughout the year.

Baylor faculty honored at psychiatry meeting

Several Baylor faculty members were honored at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, held May 14-16 in Atlanta. Dr. John Coverdale, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, received the 2016 Vestermark Psychiatry Educator Award, which recognizes excellence, leadership and creativity in the field of psychiatric education. Dr. James Lomax, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, received the 2016 Oskar Pfister Award for outstanding contributions in the field of psychiatry and religion. Dr. Toi Harris, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and associate provost of institutional diversity and student services, received the 2016 Jeanne Spurlock Minority Fellowship Program Achievement Award.

Baylor earns award for wellness program

The BCM BeWell program recently was awarded the Apex Award for Wellness presented by United Healthcare. The Apex Award recognizes the best-designed healthcare benefits strategies and programs of innovative employers that are working to improve the healthcare experience for consumers. The Apex Awards program is open to United Healthcare National Accounts customers with 3,000 or more employees. These represent UHC’s largest, most complex and most progressive clients.

Graduate student honored for research

Smriti Agrawal, a second-year Ph.D. candidate in molecular and human genetics, was recognized for her research at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Her research project, “Mutations in Receptor Expression Enhancing Protein Cause Early Onset RP in Humans,” was selected as a “hot topic” and placed in the top five abstracts in the retinal cell biology category. This gave her the opportunity to compete in a Members-In-Training Poster Competition where she was awarded the Outstanding Poster Award and a $100 cash prize.

Events

Baylor Clinic blood drive May 31

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center will host a blood drive at Baylor Clinic in the 11th floor conference room on May 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. All donors will receive a certificate for a donut or cup of coffee. For more information, contact Robert Heath at 713-798-1445.

Department of medicine talk on the ‘digital doctor’ June 2

The department of medicine Chief Residents’ Visiting Professor, Dr. Robert Wachter, professor and interim chair of medicine and chief of the division of hospital medicine at the University of California – San Francisco, will lecture on Thursday, June 2, from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in room M112 of the DeBakey Building on “The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype and Harm at the Dawn of Medicine’s Computer Age.”

Exploring professionalism through eyes of Frankenstein June 2

The Center for Professionalism in Medicine and the Office of Faculty Development will present a workshop with Dr. Richard Gunderman, professor at Indiana University, on Thursday, June 2, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in M321 in the DeBakey Building at main Baylor. His talk, “Frankenstein’s Educational Monster,” will explore educational excellence through themes in the Mary Shelley classic, celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. Refreshments will be served. RSVP to ProfessionalismMatters@bcm.edu or by calling 713-798-4553.

Evenings with Genetics June 7 on neurofibromatosis

Evenings With Genetics will be held Tuesday, June 7, at the Children’s Museum of Houston on Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Updates in Lifelong Care and Screening, presented by Dr. Michael Wangler, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics, Dr. Surya Rednam, assistant professor of pediatrics – oncology, and Dr. Jennifer Posey, clinical instructor in molecular and human genetics. Light refreshments at 6:30 p.m., program starts at 7 p.m. The event is free but registration is required online or by calling 832-822-4280.

College News

Grant funding available for transition medicine projects

The Ligums Family Transition Medicine Grant will be available again this year to support projects focusing on late adolescents and young adults who have chronic conditions originating in childhood and who are transitioning from pediatric to adult care. The purpose of this funding is to support quality improvement in the transition experience of this patient population, with the ability to partner with community leaders or interest groups. If you have any questions about this new funding opportunity, please email Caitlyn.Barrow@bcm.edu.

Volunteers needed for study on mood and anxiety disorders

Researchers in the Baylor Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program are seeking volunteers for clinical trials of new medications. Those eligible must be between the ages of 18 and 70, diagnosed with depression or an anxiety disorder and in stable health. For more information call 713-689-9856 or email mood@bcm.edu.

Financial Fitness Week feedback survey

The Benefits Office would like your feedback to plan next year’s Financial Fitness Week. Even if you were unable to attend a workshop or presentation this year, please take a moment to complete the Financial Fitness Week feedback survey. For questions, email ask-retirement@bcm.edu.

Faculty in the News

The transformation of the Children's Hospital of San Antonio was featured in the San Antonio Express-News. See this and Baylor's other news media mentions in this week’s Faculty in the News. Interested in science news? Read the latest post in From the Labs on the role of the RERE gene in developmental disability.

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