Findings
Houston, Texas
Volume 6, Issue 2
February 2008

Briefs

Palzkill named chair of pharmacology

Timothy G. Palzkill, M.D., was named chair of pharmacology by the Baylor College of Medicine Board of Trustees.

Palzkill has served as interim chair of the department since July 2007. Since joining BCM faculty in 1991 as an assistant professor of molecular virology and microbiology and immunology, Palzkill has received numerous awards and honors. They include the American Society for Microbiology Vector Laboratories Young Investigator Award and a MERIT Award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Palzkill is also a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at BCM.

Palzkill's research interests include the role of beta-lactamase mutations in antibiotic resistance and functional genomics study of treponema pallidum which is the causative agent of syphilis.

Nurses association honors BCM physicians

Two BCM faculty members were honored this month by the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses of Greater Houston.

Charles Fraser, M.D., professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Congenital Heart Surgery at Texas Children's Hospital, and Silvia Orengo-Nania, M.D., professor of ophthalmology and Eye Care Line at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, were honored with the organization's Distinguished Surgeon Awards. The award recognizes surgeons in the greater Houston area who have made significant contributions in the areas of patient care and the health care industry.

BCM cardiologists recognized

Blase Carabello, M.D., professor of medicine at BCM and medical care line executive at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, was recently selected as the new president of the Association of University Cardiologists.

The AUC is an organization limited to an active membership of 125 academic cardiologists from the United States, elected by their peers.

Nasser Lakkis, M.D., professor of Medicine at BCM, has been selected by the American College of Cardiology to receive the 2008 Gifted Teacher Award in recognition of "his innovative, outstanding teaching characteristics and compassionate qualities."