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News for BCM Faculty, July 2, 2020
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Happy Fourth of July: In observance of Independence Day, Baylor College of Medicine will be closed on Friday, July 3. However, the OHP call center, COVID-19 test scheduling team, McNair collection site and the Respiratory Virus Lab will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday due to the continued prevalence of disease in the community.

  • Stay safe and be a role model this holiday weekend. Email a photo of you out and about in your Baylor mask to Anna Kiappes and it may be shared on social media. #CalledToCare
  • Should any pandemic questions arise, see the Employee Coronavirus Resource Center for guidelines on COVID-19 testing, social distancing, healthcare benefits, time off, travel restrictions and more.

Primary Runoff Elections: Texas holds its runoff elections Tuesday, July 14, to finalize which Democratic and Republican primary candidates for statewide, congressional and legislative offices will be on the ballot for the November general election. Early voting is underway through Friday, July 10. See early and Election Day voting information for Harris County, Fort Bend County and Brazoria County. View the Election Guide from the League of Women Voters.

Faculty Kudos

Dr. Joseph Lubega, assistant professor of pediatrics - hematology & oncology, has been selected to serve on the U.S. Pharmacopeia Healthcare Safety & Quality Expert Committee through 2025. Lubega plans to focus on issues relating to appropriateness, safety and access to pharmaceutical products for children in the U.S. and around the world.

Dr. Tamara Ortiz-Perez, associate professor of radiology, has been elected clinical sciences representative to the Faculty Senate. A senator since 2015, she serves as chair of the Faculty Affairs & Benefits Committee. Ortiz-Perez joined the faculty in 2012 after completing her residency and breast imaging fellowship at Baylor.

Dr. Russell Ray, assistant professor of neuroscience, McNair Scholar and faculty senator, received the Respiration Section New Investigator Award from the American Physiological Society. The award recognizes outstanding investigators in the early stages of their career based on their publications and other factors. Ray's research focuses on how neurons and glia in the brain may be involved in diseases ranging from SIDS to panic disorders.

Dr. Steve Scherer, professor in the Human Genome Sequencing Center, has been elected basic sciences representative to the Faculty Senate. He co-chairs the Communications & Public Affairs Committee and has been a member of the Strategic Planning and Constitution committees since becoming a senator in 2015. Scherer, a Baylor alumnus, has served on the faculty for 22 years.

College (Virtual) Events

Wellness Webinar: Join Baylor Medicine experts Dr. Julie Holder-Haynes, Dr. Peter Jian, Emily Monfiletto and Dr. Irvin Sulapas for a panel discussion on long-term habits for staying healthy at home at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 7. Register to view on Zoom.

Blood Donations: Thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s blood drive. With 40 units collected, it was such a success that Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is hosting another appointment-only session from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, in the BCM gym, 8th floor of Garage 6, main Baylor. Please schedule your time at giveblood.org (sponsor code 4402) or by contacting Lauren Warren. You can find a mobile donation site near you online.

Cancer Grand Rounds: Dr. Gustavo Rivero, assistant professor of medicine – hematology & oncology and a member of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses therapeutic advances for adult acute myeloid leukemia at 12:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, via Zoom.

Faculty Resources

Library Update: The TMC Library will be closed Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 19. The library will reopen on Monday, July 20, with new hours - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and a new entrance - the front door on John Freeman Blvd. All library services continue to be available virtually; use the website for assistance.

Journal Club: The Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy and the Office of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion and Equity are launching the Journal Club on Social Determinants of Health, Medicine and Ethics. Its aim is to bring together faculty, staff, students and trainees across Baylor to discuss issues related to health disparities, inform research and teaching and explore opportunities for collaboration. The club will meet bi-monthly and asks those who commit to participate in at least 75% of sessions and be willing to lead at least one. If interested, please email Dr. Hadley Stevens Smith.

Clinical Research: The Clinical Scientist Training Program offers two courses this summer for physicians interested in pursuing clinical research. Registration is open through Thursday, July 9, for the Fundamentals of Clinical Investigation (Aug. 3-20) and Responsible Conflict of Interest for Clinical Investigators (Aug. 24-27). Registration forms and more information are available on the CSTP webpage.

The Nancy Chang, Ph.D. Award for Research Excellence, which funds investigators with exceptional basic, clinical or translational research projects at the College, is accepting applications through 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 22. One or two $45,000 grants endowed by Chang, a Baylor scientist, philanthropist and entrepreneur, will be awarded in fiscal year 2021. For more information and to apply, please see the website.

Machine Learning Bootcamp: Rice University hosts a virtual introduction to Machine Learning Aug. 6-7 geared toward managers in medicine, manufacturing and energy and taught by computational sciences professors. For more information and to register, see the website.

From the Labs: Read how research by Dr. Jeremy Schraw, instructor of pediatric oncology and part of the Center for Epidemiology and Population Health, is helping to understand the cancer risk in children with birth defects in this week’s post. 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.


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