News for BCM Faculty, Aug. 19, 2021
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College News

White Coat Ceremony Class of 2025: Baylor College of Medicine held its 25th School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 13. Family was invited to watch virtually this year, as those in attendance donned the iconic symbol of becoming a physician, the white coat, representing their firsts steps toward their medical career. Class breakdown: 98 females, 87 males; 59 students considered underrepresented in medicine, including 22 African American students, 35 Hispanic and two American Indian students. Be sure to congratulate the class of 2025!

#StickItToCovid: Share your support for the COVID-19 vaccine on social media by using the #StickItToCovid Facebook frame. Learn how to add it to your profile picture.
Don't forget to attest! If you are vaccinated, don't forget to complete the attestation through the Vaccine App. If you are not vaccinated, the deadline to request exemptions is Sept. 1, and the deadline to be vaccinated is Sept 15. There are less than 900 members of the Baylor community who have yet to attest; encourage your colleagues to do so today!

Mental health resources support services: BCM has developed options to assist its learners, trainees, staff and faculty with coping during the COVID pandemic. Read more about the services available on the Coronavirus Response website mental health section. Call 713-798-0292 for more information or to access these resources such as individual conversation with an experienced counselor for support, 1:1 counseling sessions to help manage distress or evaluation and treatment by a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner.

Support group via Zoom: The Psychiatry Service at Harris Health is offering a daily 8 a.m. support group through Zoom through Sept. 30. Open to all healthcare professionals at BCM and Harris Health, it is designed to provide support for healthcare professionals dealing with pandemic-related stress and may include psychological first aid if applicable and referral to professional help when needed. Healthcare providers can access the support group through Zoom.

Faculty Kudos

Dr. Kelly Bijanki, assistant professor of neurosurgery, has been awarded a $3.5 million R01 Research Project Grant from the National Institutes of Mental Health to support her research focused on the neural circuitry underlying affective function. Of note, Bijanki's work received consideration as a promising project, allowing her to apply for more funding than a typical R01 grant and her application was accepted on the first submission, where nearly 90% of first submissions require revision and resubmission.

Dr. Diana Monsivais, assistant professor of pathology and immunology, and Dr. Kathryn Patras, assistant professor of molecular virology and microbiology, each earned grants from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund through its Next Generation Pregnancy Initiative. The grant program is designed to stimulate both creative individual scientists and multi-investigator teams to approach healthy and adverse pregnancy outcomes using creative basic and translational science methods.

Dr. Joseph Mills, professor and chief of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy, served as guest editor of a new Diversity Supplement published as an addition to the August issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery. Titled "Creating Success in Comprehensive Surgical Care through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion," the supplement includes a broad range of perspectives on the challenges the Society for Vascular Surgery faces to improving opportunity and health outcomes for all. Read it online.

College Events

School Supply Drive: The TMC is holding a school supply drive on behalf of the Baylor Biotech Academy at Rusk and the Baylor Academy at James D. Ryan Middle School. Donate to the schools by fulfilling a wish on Rusk and Ryan's Amazon Wishlist. The deadline is Sept. 1.

Voter Registration: Need to register to vote in Texas or update your address? The volunteers from the League of Women Voters, a non-partisan public service group, will be at Main Baylor on Tuesday, Aug. 24, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the E-Hallway outside Morrison's Cafeteria to assist you with any needs regarding voter registration. Questions? Email Katie Holtman.

Faculty Opportunities

Call for Applications CVRI pilot awards: The Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) is offering pilot awards for proposals in cardiovascular research in clinical, translational or basic science that will promote collaboration between investigators and that are likely to lead to externally funded grants in the future. The awards, up to $15,000 in unrestricted funds, are open to faculty who are members of the CVRI. The deadline in Monday, Sept. 13. For more information go to the CVRI website and the application portal.

Call for Applications for Student Appeals and Grievances Committee: Additional faculty members are needed to serve on the Student Appeals and Grievances Committee. Interested? You must have at least three years of experience in teaching, evaluation or assessment of student performance, mentorship of students, and at least one year of prior experience serving on another BCM institutional committee. Please submit a cover letter and your CV to studentservices@bcm.edu. Questions? Contact Dr. Toi Harris at studentservices@bcm.edu. Deadline for applications is Aug. 31, 2021.

Advanced practice providers needed for COVID clinic: Advanced practice providers are needed to help staff the COVID Clinic@Home to meet the needs of the increasing number of COVID-19 positive patients. The Baylor Medicine COVID Clinic@Home provides care to non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Interested APPs can email Isabel Valdez, PA-C.

Professional development courses: BCM Human Resources has launched a new online learning system called "Learning G.P.S. - Grow. Perform. Succeed." to all faculty and staff. Employees will have the ability to access flexible, on-demand learning content that aligns with professional development needs. Topics will include core competency, including community and collaboration; performance management; customer service skills; leadership/management; and Microsoft Office skills. Access courses.

Academic Council Highlights

Dr. Paul Klotman and Dr. Jennifer Christner welcomed Dr. Alejandro "Alex" Arroliga as the Regional Dean of the School of Medicine's first regional campus in Temple, Texas. An authority in the management of critical care and lung diseases, Dr. Arroliga is Chief Medical Officer at Baylor Scott & White Health. Read more about Dr. Arroliga.

Dr. Klotman had a reminder that the mandatory compliance training is due by all faculty and staff by Aug. 30. To date, the response rate was 57%. Log onto SuccessFactors to find your assigned training.

The LCME virtual site visit is scheduled for Sept. 27-29. Dr. Christner said faculty with education leadership positions will receive additional information about the schedule, prep sessions and materials.

AAMC Graduation Questionnaire had the highest ever completion rate and results showed increased satisfaction in multiple areas compared to prior years. Results are still being interpreted and action items developed.

Dr. Nancy Moreno announced a new Baylor College of Medicine partner school, the Stafford STEM Magnet Academy in the Stafford Municipal School District. Currently serving grades 3 – 8, the school eventually will expand to grade 12. A similar demographic as our HISD partner schools, the Stafford magnet school is a new model at a small-school campus.

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