NewsLink, July 15, 2022 
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College News

Thank you, volunteers!

A group of Baylor employees who work in the research mission area spent part of the day on Wednesday volunteering at Kids' Meals, Inc, pictured above. They filled lunch sacks with food that will be delivered to Houston area children. Others from the Baylor community decorated lunch bags in Rayzor Lounge at main Baylor that will later be filled and delivered to local kids.

Ben Taub heart and stroke programs recognized

Harris Health's Ben Taub Hospital, a Baylor affiliate, has received national recognition for its heart and stroke care from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. The recognitions reflect Harris Health System's elite status for providing life-saving treatment and care to heart and stroke patients. Congratulations to Baylor faculty who lead and implement these programs at Ben Taub. Read more here.

M.D./Ph.D. Program seeks associate director

The Medical Scientist Training Program (M.D./Ph.D. Program) is seeking a full-time faculty member to serve as associate director. The program develops future leaders in academic medicine and biomedical research through the completion of rigorous integrated training carried out in a dynamic research environment. It has been continually funded by a T-32 training grant since its founding in 1977. The newly appointed associate director will play an essential role in overseeing the program along with two co-directors, Drs. Katherine King and Benjamin Frankfort, two other associate directors and three full-time administrative staff. Learn more about responsibilities and qualifications and see how to apply on the Faculty Opportunities InTouch page.

HR news: Learning G.P.S.

Learning G.P.S. offers a wide range of professional and career development courses to help faculty and staff grow in their current positions and prepare for the future. Benefits-eligible employees have access to a comprehensive online catalog of courses, videos, books and certifications anytime, anywhere. Click here to get started. Questions? Email learning@bcm.edu.

Events

Register for clinical investigation courses

Registration is open through July 15 for the Fundamentals of Clinical Investigation (Aug. 1-18) and Responsible Conflict of Interest for Clinical Investigators (Aug. 22-25) courses offered by the Clinical Scientist Training Program. Registration forms and more information are available on the CSTP Courses website. All classes meet in person.

BeWell challenge celebrations

Mark your calendars for the 2022 Getaway to Good Health Challenge Mid-Point Celebration and Wellness Fair! This is part of the BCM BeWell program's annual initiative to encourage healthy behavior like walking and exercise among participants. Visit with vendors, play pickle ball in the BCM Wellness Center and play games in the courtyard (main Baylor date only) and celebrate all you have accomplished. Dates are July 26, Rayzor Lounge at main Baylor; Aug. 2, CNRC Lobby; and Aug. 3, McNair Conference Room A; all events from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Questions? Email wellness@bcm.edu or call 713-798-1500.

Applications open for Bioinformatics Hackathon

The Human Genome Sequencing Center is hosting its fourth annual Bioinformatics Hackathon Oct. 9-12. This year's event will focus on structural variants, complex disease, precision medicine and genomic analysis. Options are available for both in-person and virtual attendance. Applications are due Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. Find more information and apply here to attend.

Awards and Recognitions

Eberlin to serve on NIH study section

Dr. Livia S. Eberlin, director of translational and innovations research in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, has been chosen to serve as member of the Enabling Bioanalytical and Imaging Technologies Study Section, Interdisciplinary Molecular Sciences and Training Integrated Review Group, part of the NIH’s Center for Scientific Review. Members are chosen for their demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific discipline.  

Lupo to serve on journal editorial board

Dr. Philip Lupo, professor of pediatrics – hematology and oncology, was invited to serve as a member of the editorial board of Pediatric Blood and Cancer. Editorial board members are recognized for their expertise and contributions in the field of pediatric hematology and oncology and will serve as manuscript reviewers in their areas of expertise, advise on policies and new features and suggest topics for review articles or supplements. 

Welcome, Dr. Reinhart!

Dr. Todd Reinhart has joined Baylor College of Medicine as dean of the School of Health Professions. Reinhart previously served as interim dean at Minnesota State Community and Technical College, where he oversaw 15 clinical and technical education programs, including practical nursing, registered nursing, early childhood education and surgical technology. 

Thomas awarded research grant

Dr. Sandhya Thomas, assistant professor of medicine - nephrology, was awarded the American Society of Nephrology 2022 Carl W. Gottschalk Research Scholar Grant. The award will provide $100,000 annually for two years for her project, "SIRPα Mediates Insulin/IGF1 Receptor Signaling in CKD-Induced Cardiomyopathy."

Trautner earns grant for UTI research

Dr. Barbara Trautner, professor of medicine – health services research and professor of surgery, was awarded an AHRQ R18 grant for $2.49 million over five years from the Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The grant will bring an antibiotic stewardship intervention for urinary tract infections to all volunteering VA facilities, through a cluster-randomized trial of two approaches to implementation. Trautner also was awarded a grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation that will provide $800,000 over three years to support a clinical Phase 1 trial of bacteriophage to treat UTI in people with spinal cord injuries.

I-QIPS Distinguished Member Awards

The 2021/2022 I-QIPS Distinguished Member Award has been awarded to Baylor faculty in recognition of their commitment and contributions to quality improvement and patient safety through projects they are conducting at Baylor or an affiliated institution. Recipients and their projects are: 

Dr. Neeraj Agrawal, assistant professor of medicine and a hospitalist at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, "Care Everywhere Referral Management";

Dr. Sara Andrabi, assistant professor of emergency medicine and assistant medical director at Ben Taub Hospital Emergency Center, "Optimizing Acute Coronary Syndrome Evaluation in the Emergency Department Waiting Room";

Dr. Jennifer Bryan, assistant professor of in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and at the DeBakey VA, "Veterans as Caring Buddies: Empowering Veterans to Have Conversations with Veteran Buddies about Lethal Means Safety as a Community Approach to Suicide Prevention"; 

Dr. Mohamad Halawi, associate professor of orthopedic surgery and a quality officer at Baylor St. Luke's, "Improving Quality of Care for Joint Replacement Patients through Standardized Rapid Recovery Pathways." 

See more information, including project details, on the Distinguished Member Award page of the I-QIPS website.

Faculty in the News

Is how much alcohol we drink all in the eyes? Dr. Sumitra Khandelwal talks about how alcohol affects the eyes in this Wine Spectator article. See Baylor's other news media mentions in Faculty in the News, and follow BCMHouston_News on Twitter to keep up with our experts in the media. Interested in science news? Read the latest in From the Labs.    

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