News for BCM Faculty, March 14, 2019
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From the Labs: This month’s image from the lab shows mouse lung fluorescent teal muscle actin defining smooth muscle cells in the trachea and arteries. Courtesy of the Optical Imaging & Vital Microscopy Core and Dr. Joshua Wythe, assistant professor of molecular physiology & biophysics and a member of the Cardiovascular Research Institute. Receive From the Labs via email by entering your email address in the box at the end of any article and clicking the subscribe button.

Academic Council: President Paul Klotman discussed the 2019-2020 U.S. News & World Report rankings for top graduate schools. In the research intensive category, Baylor remains among the top 25 medical schools of the 152 medicals in the nation at 22nd, and in the primary care category, Baylor rose to 4th. These rankings place Baylor College of Medicine in the top 15 percent of all U.S. medical schools and make it the highest ranked medical school in Texas and the Southwest region.

• The Baylor Physician Assistant program rose to 3rd from its previous ranking of 13th. Additionally, the College is ranked nationally in six specialty programs for the first time in a decade: Pediatrics, 8th; Family Medicine, 13th; Surgery, 15th; Obstetrics & Gynecology, 16th; Anesthesiology, 17th; and Internal Medicine, 25th.
• Klotman also gave an update on the McNair Campus. Construction plans include a bed tower, with 350 beds, an emergency department and helipad, to be completed by 2023, and two ambulatory care centers, one to be completed in 2021 and the other to be started in 2023.
• Clinical Affairs Dean Jim McDeavitt provided an update on preparations at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center for its Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services survey that will occur in the near future.
• Jim Digan, senior vice president for institutional advancement, updated the Council on fundraising for the College. With a goal of $50 million for the year, his team is focused on local, national and international individuals, corporations and foundations interested in supporting research innovation.
• Chair Elect Laila Woc-Colburn reported that the Faculty Senate is representing faculty interests on the Technology Alliance Team and Mosaic Project HR Committee. It is working with the Institute for Clinical & Translational Research to identify a Senate representative for the new academic center. Nominations for Senate elections open April 1.
• Associate Provost Nancy Moreno announced a new Faculty Leadership Course for mid-career faculty to learn about institutional operations, network with peers, engage with College leaders, develop professional skills and work within teams. Faculty Senators have priority in the inaugural program this spring.

Match Day: The College hosts Match Day festivities for the fourth-year medical students at 10:45 a.m. tomorrow, March 15, in the courtyard of the Cullen Building, main Baylor. Match Day is the culmination of four years of training and education as graduating students learn where they will do their residencies. The Match Day board is revealed precisely at 11 a.m.

Commencement Regalia: The commencement ceremony for our graduating M.D. and Ph.D. students will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 28 at Jones Hall. You are encouraged to attend and support Baylor’s students. Faculty must complete the form to RSVP as well as to reserve regalia, if needed. The form should be submitted by April 2.

Faculty Kudos

Dr. Hsiao-Tuan Chao, assistant professor of pediatrics and molecular & human genetics, faculty at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute and associate program director of the basic neuroscience pathway in pediatric neurology, has been named the newest McNair Scholar at Baylor. She is the College’s first M.D./Ph.D. McNair Student Scholar alumna to also be named a McNair Scholar. Chao’s research focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, such as intellectual disability, epilepsy and autism.

Dr. Ellen Friedman, director of the Center for Professionalism, and Dr. Jordan Shapiro, a third-year fellow in gastroenterology, have produced "Threads Among Us," a video and companion curriculum designed to guide healthcare professionals in empathic behavior, especially toward one another. It was developed through a grant from the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation. Read more about the program in this month’s BCM Family.

The National Diversity Council and Healthcare Diversity Council has named three Baylor leaders as recipients of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare Award - Houston. Claire Bassett, vice president for communications & community outreach, Dr. Joyce Davidson, assistant professor of psychiatry & behavioral sciences, and Dr. Joan Mastrobattista, professor of obstetrics & gynecology, were recognized as trailblazers in the healthcare field, champions for diversity within their discipline, and beacons of hope for women entering an industry historically dominated by men.

College Events

STAT Vote: Baylor’s research on a common antibiotic that has been shown to damage the heart and has led to an FDA warning has made it into the second round in STAT Madness, an annual bracket-style competition that looks for the best innovations in science and medicine. Vote online to move Baylor into the Sweet 16!

AΩA Colloquium: In celebration of Women’s History Month, Baylor's Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Colloquium features a keynote address on “Advancing Women in Medicine” by Dr. Douglas Girod, chancellor of the University of Kansas System and professor of otolaryngology. Co-sponsored by the Office of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, the colloquium starts at noon Tuesday, March 19, in Kleberg Auditorium, main Baylor.

Professionalism Lecture Dr. William Branch of Emory University School of Medicine speaks on “Healthcare at the Crossroads: Sustaining Humanistic Traditions in Today’s Practice Environment” at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 21, in Room 201A, main Baylor, as part of the Profiles in Professionalism series.

World Down Syndrome Day: The Baylor community is invited to join the international awareness day Thursday, March 21, by wearing “crazy” socks – colorful, fun or even mismatched! Snap a photo of your crazy socks and send to Anna Kiappes to share on Baylor's social media channels. Be sure to include your name and department. The date for World Down Syndrome Day was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome, which causes Down syndrome. Learn more online.

Faculty Resources

Refining Your CV: The Office of Faculty Development offers a workshop to help you develop and strengthen your Curriculum Vitae at noon Wednesday, March 20, in Room N112, main Baylor, or by Zoom. RSVP to attend.

Women of Excellence Ceremony: Provost Alicia D. H. Monroe and other senior leaders recognize the Baylor Women of Excellence award recipients at noon Thursday, March 28, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. Dr. Hannah Valantine, chief officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity at the National Institutes of Health, discusses "NIH’s Scientific Approach to Inclusive Excellence." This college-wide event co-hosted by the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Office of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and Department of Medicine is open to all. CME offered courtesy of the Department of Medicine Grand Rounds.

For a Good Cause

Harley's Angels: Help support breast cancer awareness, education and research by joining the Baylor team for Harley's Angels Battle against Breast Cancer 5k Fun Run, Saturday, March 16, at the San Jacinto Battleground in La Porte. BCM BeWell Vitality points are available. Sign up online.

Attention Clinicians: See Clinical Events

Clinical Seminars

Surgery Grand Rounds: Dr. Amir Ghaferi, associate professor of surgery at University of Michigan School of Medicine, speaks on “Communication in Healthcare: A Failure in Need of Rescue?” at 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, in Room N315, main Baylor, or via Zoom, meeting ID: 517 471 817.

Ethics Grand Rounds: “Is There a Right to Die? Comparing Policies in the U.S. and Abroad” is the topic for discussion at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, Rio Grande Room, Houston Methodist Hospital. CME/CNE credit is available.

Shearer Symposium: In honor of Dr. William T. Shearer’s life and legacy, the 4th Biennial William T. Shearer Innovations in Primary Immunodeficiency and Clinical Immunology Symposium will be held Friday, March 22, at the InterContinental Houston-Medical Center, 6750 Main St. Dr. Sergio Rosenzweig, chief of the immunology service at the NIH Clinical Center, is the keynote speaker for the symposium, which offers CME credit. For a full list of speakers and registration information, please see the website.

Primary Care Update: The Department of Family and Community Medicine sponsors a one-day conference providing evidence-based advice in a non-commercial setting on Saturday, March 23, in McMillan Auditorium, main Baylor. Seven hours of CME credit including ethics credit are available. See the webpage for more information and registration.

Clinical Event

Epilepsy Day of Science: The Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute invites patients and families to a Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy Day of Science, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at NRI. Epilepsy experts will discuss drug resistant epilepsy and surgery, transitioning from pediatric to adult care, the impact of genetics on drug development and new epilepsy treatment options. Register online.

Attention Researchers: See Research Calendar

Research Seminars

Influenza: Dr. Sabra Klein, associate professor of molecular microbiology & immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, speaks on “Sex is a biological variable affecting influenza infection and vaccination” at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 21, at Onstead Auditorium, 6767 Bertner Ave., sponsored by the Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program.

Research Mentor Training: Faculty research mentors are invited to participate in a workshop to build skills in mentoring competencies including aligning expectations, maintaining effective communications, fostering independence and resilience and promoting professional development. Workshop activities are based on the mentor training curriculum of the NIH’s National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) but will be tailored for Baylor mentors. Four workshop dates are offered for spring 2019. To attend, choose your preferred date by Tuesday, March 19. For more information, contact Dr. Anna Marie Sokac, NRMN master facilitator of mentor training, or Dr. Sandra Haudek, director of peer coaching in the Office of Faculty Development.

Questions or Comments?

Faculty Senate: Please contact your senator for faculty-related questions or suggestions.

Institutional Policy Committee: Contact the Policy Committee to learn more about College policies and procedures.

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