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Faculty Commons, April 26 - May 2, 2018
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DeBakey Research Awards: Join the College as it honors five of its top researchers at the 2018 Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Awards Ceremony and Symposium, 2 - 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, in Room M112, main Baylor. The winners, Drs. Karl-Dimiter Bissig, Atul Chopra, Erez Lieberman Aiden, Meng Wang and Shawn Zhang, were selected for their significant published scientific contributions to clinical or basic biomedical research over the past three years and will present their work at the event. Be sure to pick up an “Ask Me About My Research” button at the awards ceremony, then start a conversation about your research by wearing the button. Watch this video as Dr. Adam Kuspa shows you just how easy the conversation can be. Talking about the great work going on at Baylor not only informs the public but also might inspire the next generation of scientists.

 

Faculty Senate: At the April 19 meeting, Senate Secretary LeChauncy Woodard introduced the Senate’s Lunch & Learn Series, quarterly brown bag talks open to all faculty. “Finance 101” is the topic of the inaugural session, with President Paul Klotman and Chief Financial Officer Julie Nickell discussing how academic medicine is funded and the Baylor budget process at noon May 8 in Cullen Auditorium.

  • The Senate Elections Committee certified the 2018 elections materials and calendar. It will accept nominations for department/center seats and at-large seats until May 1. Faculty Senate elections for electoral units are May 14 – 21. At-large elections are June 4 – 11.
  • Ombuds Melanie Jagneaux described the ombuds as a resolution practitioner who provides independent, neutral, informal and confidential assistance with conflict situations and violations of the law.
  • Associate General Counsel Patrick Turley discussed his successful defense of a faculty member sued for defamation, showing how the general counsel advocates for faculty and for academic freedom.
  • The Senate Curriculum and Educational Mission Committee announced that the J1 Visa interview process, developed and piloted by the Senate, has transitioned to Human Resources to expand capacity. Departments will be charged $200 per applicant interview.

Faculty Senate Elections: This is the last weekend to submit your self-nomination and CV for a seat on the Faculty Senate. Elections for the 22 departments and centers that have open positions start May 14. Information about how to get involved in College governance and a link to the nomination form are online.


Faculty Kudos

imageDr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, associate dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, will accept the 2018 Trajectory in Research Award from the Foundación Carlos Slim at a ceremony in Mexico City in June. She will be honored for her more than 20 years of work developing vaccines for parasitic diseases such as Chagas, hookworm and schistosomiasis that affect more than a billion people worldwide.

 

imageDr. Jennifer Christner, dean of the School of Medicine, was selected as a co-leader of the Student Wellness Collaborative of the Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics. Chosen by the council’s executive committee, she will serve a two-year term focused on advancing the organization’s goals of providing resources and support to medical educators.

 

imageimageDr. Ann Marie Marciel and Dr. Sangeetha Kumar, assistant professors of radiology, had their experience reading images as part of the rideout team during Hurricane Harvey documented as a case study in practice management, quality and informatics for the American College of Radiology.

 

imageDr. Lindy McGee, assistant professor of pediatrics – academic general, discusses how training and working at the College has influenced her life and career in the latest Growing Up Baylor blog post.

 

imageDr. Julie Nangia, assistant professor in the Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, is featured in this week’s Meet Your Senator article on the faculty intranet portal. She represents the faculty at large on the Senate.


College Events

Quality & Safety Conference: Baylor's 5th Annual Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference, offering health professionals and students an opportunity to present their ideas in an interactive forum, is set for 4 – 8 p.m. today, April 26, at Onstead Auditorium, 6767 Bertner Ave. Directed by Dr. Emily Sedgwick, associate professor of radiology and chief quality officer for the Faculty Group Practice, the conference highlights a peer-reviewed selection of quality and safety research projects and program innovations.


Team Discovery: “Finding Your Seat on the Bus: Negotiation Skills for Minimizing Conflict and Maximizing Team Effectiveness,” with Dr. Margaret Conner, associate professor of virology and microbiology, Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, associate dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, and Dr. Jill Weatherhead, assistant professor of pediatrics – tropical medicine, begins at 3:30 p.m. today, April 26, in Room M323, main Baylor. Team Discovery is part of the Team Launch program.


Charity Bowling Ball: If bowling is right up your alley, don't miss the annual student-organized Charity Bowling Ball benefiting the H.O.M.E.S. clinic. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, at the University of Houston Game Room. Team and individual tickets are available at the door or you may purchase or donate online.


Faculty Orientation & Promotions Reception: Learn about resources available across Baylor’s mission areas, and hear career tips and strategies from a faculty panel at New Faculty Orientation, 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, in Kleberg Auditorium, main Baylor. Then attend a reception in Alkek Lobby to recognize new faculty members and those recently promoted to the ranks of associate professor and professor. Both events are open to all faculty members. RSVP to Deborah Fernandez.


Faculty Opportunities

Curriculum Committee: The Medical School Curriculum Committee is soliciting nominations for one faculty member position. Interested faculty members from all disciplines are encouraged to consider applying for this important leadership role by close of business Monday, April 30. The Curriculum Committee has the integrated institutional responsibility for the overall design, management and evaluation of a coherent and coordinated curriculum. For more information, please see the announcement.


Inclusion & Excellence Council: The Office of the President seeks to fill an at-large faculty position on the Inclusion and Excellence Council, a forum for engaging trainees, faculty and staff and supporting the diversity and inclusion goals of the College. Meetings are held once a quarter and subcommittee meetings are once a month. The position’s term runs through June 30, 2019. To apply, please submit a CV and a completed application form to president@bcm.edu and copy institutionaldiversity@bcm.edu by Wednesday, May 2.


Curriculum Workgroup Members: The School of Medicine is recruiting seven faculty members to support the Undergraduate Medical Education curriculum by serving on the Curriculum Renewal Workgroup. The school is looking for innovative faculty members (assistant professor or higher rank) who have experience in developing curricula or an interest in medical education. This is an administrative appointment and efforts will be supported by the Office of Curriculum. More information is available online. Applications are due by May 31.


Faculty Resources

Faculty Portfolio: The Office of Professional Development offers an introduction to portfolios for academic promotion and awards, 2 – 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, in Room N317, main Baylor. To attend, RSVP to Deborah Fernandez.


Team Projects: Student applications for Team Projects will be accepted through Monday, April 30. Please encourage your students to take advantage of this unique opportunity to prepare for success across the broad spectrum of career paths in healthcare and science. Learn more about the Team Projects course and the Team Launch initiative online.


Lunch & Learn Series: The Faculty Senate presents the inaugural Lunch & Learn session, “Finance 101,” with Dr. Paul Klotman, president, CEO and executive dean, and Julie Nickell, chief financial officer, discussing academic medicine funding and the College budgeting process at noon May 8 in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. All faculty are welcome to attend this quarterly brown bag series.


Faculty Awards Day: Cheer for your peers at this omnibus awards ceremony encompassing the Clark Faculty Service Award, Norton Rose Fulbright Faculty Excellence Awards, Barbara and Corbin J. Robertson, Jr. Presidential Award for Excellence in Education, John P. McGovern Outstanding Teacher Award, Faculty Awards for Excellence in Patient Care, and Ben and Margaret Love Foundation Bobby Alford Award for Academic Clinical Professionalism. The event is set for 4 to 5:30 p.m. May 17 in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor, with a reception to follow.


For a Good Cause

BP MS 150: Team BCM rides to Austin this weekend, April 28 – 29, with Club 300 member Dr. George Hutton, medical director of the Maxine Mesinger MS Comprehensive Care Center. Show your support by making an online gift to the MS 150 campaign.

Attention Clinicians: See Clinical Calendar

Clinical Events

SPARK for Autism: Enjoy a sensory friendly morning at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and register with SPARK, an autism research program, from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at the museum, 5555 Hermann Park Drive. Participation involves completing an online registration (20-30 minutes) and providing a saliva sample. Individuals with autism as well as their biological family members are invited to join SPARK. Families will receive up to $50 in gift cards. RSVPs are required to attend.


Asthma Town Hall: Patients, healthcare professionals, policy makers and community members are invited to attend the first-ever Houston-area Town Hall on Asthma, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, at United Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Drive. The event is free but you must RSVP to attend.


Attention Researchers: See Research Calendar

Research Event

Outstanding Women in Science: The Association for Women in Science hosts Dr. Bonnie Baskin, founder and CEO of ViroMed Laboratories, Inc. and AppTec Laboratory Services, Inc. and founder and chair of Science Mill, a tech-based laboratory for kids, at its Outstanding Women in Science Seminar Series, 6 – 9 p.m. today, April 26, at Hickey Auditorium, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Register online for the seminar and award presentation with a reception to follow.


Research Resources

Pew Scholars Program: One College nomination is allowed for the Pew Scholars Program, which supports assistant professors (appointed after June 29, 2015) of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health. Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and innovative approaches. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles, but brings in concepts and theories from more diverse fields, are encouraged to submit materials to the internal portal by 5 p.m. May 23, for the Faculty Committee on Awards’ review.


Mallinckrodt Grant: Baylor may submit one proposal for the Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation Grant, which supports early stage investigators engaged in biomedical research that has the potential to significantly advance the understanding, diagnosis or treatment of disease. Applicants should be in their first to fourth year of their tenure track faculty position and not have current RO1 funding. Internal submissions to the online portal are due by 5 p.m. June 4.


From the Labs: Read how Dr. Joanna Jankowsky, associate professor of neuroscience, molecular & cellular biology, neurology and neurosurgery and a faculty senator, found that a combined therapy improves brain function on a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease in this blog post. You can receive weekly articles on Baylor's research and innovation highlights as they are posted by going to From the Labs and entering your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the right. Or get a digest at the end of the month with links to the articles posted that month by emailing science writer Ana Rodríguez with "Subscribe me to From the Labs" in the subject line.


Funding Opportunities: See the Office of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion and Equity’s list of funding opportunities for research on healthcare disparities and social determinants of health. The Office of Research offers a list of privately funded awards currently accepting applications for May.

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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