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News for BCM Faculty, Sept. 13, 2018
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From the Labs: September’s Image of the Month shows distinct populations of neurons in the retina that comprise the first synapses in the visual system. Read about the research conducted by Dr. Melanie Samuel, assistant professor of neuroscience in the Huffington Center on Aging, in this blog article. Image courtesy of Courtney Burger, a graduate student in the Samuel lab, and Cell Reports. You can receive twice-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.

 

Performance Reviews: The 2017-18 Faculty Performance Assessment and Development Planning forms will be available for self-review starting Monday, Sept. 17. You are encouraged to update your CV before completing the self-review; see CV Tips and Guidelines for suggestions to help ensure your CV is working for you. All self-reviews will be forwarded to evaluators for review and discussion on Oct. 18. The deadline for you and your evaluator to complete the process is Dec. 14.


Educational Scholarship: The Academy of Distinguished Educators has awarded Norton Rose Fulbright Educational Grants to four faculty members for educational research. Recipients are Dr. Ali Abbas Asghar-Ali, associate professor of psychiatry, for "Recognizing and Responding to Elder Abuse," Dr. Michelle Barajaz, assistant professor of pediatrics, for "Mental Health Morning Report – Ongoing Support for Physician Training to Expand Primary Care Mental Health Services," Dr. Mary Esther Rocha, associate professor of pediatrics, for "Assessing Validity Evidence for an Observed Structured Clinical Examination Assessing Communication Skills Involving Transitions of Patient Care," and Dr. James Suliburk, associate professor of surgery, for "Leveraging Mobile Technology to Improve Outcomes in Surgical Care." Award winners will submit poster abstracts to the Academy’s Showcase of Educational Scholarship in 2019.


Faculty Kudos

imageDr. Mayar Al Mohajer, associate professor of medicine, has been elected a Fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America, one of only 105 distinguished physicians and scientists selected this year for their professional excellence and significant service.

 

imageDr. Peter Nielsen, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, received a five-year, $2 million grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for a collaborative effort to develop the National Pregnancy Resuscitation Program, simulation-based training for specialists and emergency responders who treat women who experience cardiac arrest during pregnancy.

 

image imageDr. Antony Rodriguez, assistant professor of medicine, and Dr. David B. Corry, professor and Fulbright Endowed Chair in Pathology, were awarded a five-year, $2.1 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Lung Injury, Repair, and Remodeling study section to determine the role of the let-7 microRNA family in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

 

imageDr. Michelle Schmidt, assistant professor of medicine, is featured in the Meet Your Senator article on the faculty intranet portal. She represents the interests of the faculty at large on the Senate.

 

imageDr. Steven Starks, assistant professor of psychiatry and neurology, was selected as a Health and Aging Policy Fellow. The program provides a unique opportunity to gain the experience and skills necessary to make a positive contribution to the development and implementation of health policies that affect older Americans.

 

imageAlicia Turner, nurse practitioner and instructor in molecular and human genetics, has been awarded a Betsy Love McClung, RN, MN Travel Grant from the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. The award supports the professional development of nurses and allied health professionals caring for patients with osteoporosis.

 

College Events

Flu shots are being offered across the Baylor campus this month. More dates and locations will be added; please check the Occupational Health Program calendar for updates. You also may get your flu shot from your physician’s office or at a pharmacy or walk-in clinic. Wherever you get vaccinated, be sure to complete the online verification to show you complied with Baylor’s policy requiring flu vaccination for all employees and trainees.

  • Alkek Lobby, main Baylor: 2 – 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, and 1 – 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20
  • Ben Taub Hospital, fourth floor conference room: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18
  • St. Luke’s Tower (formerly O’Quinn Medical Tower), suite 1800, room 1869: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 19
  • Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center McNair Campus, conference room A: 2:30 – 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19

Healthcare Simulation Week: The Clinical Simulation and Standardized Patient Program hosts two open-house mornings to demonstrate low-mid fidelity simulators and surgical simulation tools and introduce simulation staff and standardized patients. The events are set for 9 – 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, and 9 – 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in Room M421, main Baylor.


Compassion Series: Tamisha Piper, program director of Refugee Health Screening Services with Harris County Public Health, speaks on "Refugee Care, Tuberculosis and Women’s Health in Public Health" as part of the Compassion & The Art of Medicine series at noon Friday, Sept. 21, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor.


Educational Scholarship Showcase: The Academy of Distinguished Educators' Annual Showcase of Educational Scholarship displays peer-reviewed posters including those that received the Educational Scholarship Recognition Award. Stop by to view posters, talk to presenters and enjoy refreshments from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, in Rayzor Lounge, main Baylor.


Biden Cancer Community Summit: Join a community discussion on local efforts to accelerate progress in cancer prevention, research, treatment and clinical trials, featuring panel discussions led by Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center faculty, researchers and physicians. The event is set for 2 - 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. RSVP online.


Faculty Resources

Biotech in China: The Asia Society presents "Biotechnology & Medical Innovation: Developments in China’s Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong & the U.S." with speakers Simon Sze of the biomedical technology cluster at Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, and Stephen Phillips, director general of investment promotion at Invest Hong Kong. The event begins at noon Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Asia Society Texas Center. Register online.


DocTalk: Dr. Mark Kunik, professor of psychiatry research, presents "Alzheimer's: What you need to know," at noon Tuesday, Sept. 25, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. Bring your lunch, join the conversation and earn BeWell points.


Management Certificate: The College and Rice University offer the Graduate Certificate in Health Care Management, a CME credit-eligible program designed for physician- and nurse-executives, medical directors and senior administrators to develop their leadership and management skills. The six-weekend course begins Nov. 9 and runs through May 4, 2019. You can read more about the program and apply online.


For a Good Cause

Blood Drive: The College hosts a blood drive with Baylor St. Luke's Blood Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, in Rayzor Lounge, main Baylor. T-shirts, cookies, juice and a cholesterol test will be provided. Contact Rudy Lopez for more information.


Komen Houston Race: Join the BCM Team as it raises funds for breast cancer research on Oct. 6 at Sam Houston Park, 1000 Bagby St. Register and donate online.

Attention Clinicians: See Clinical Calendar

Clinical Seminars

Trauma Support: The "Restorative Support for Families after Traumatic Death: Building a Bereavement-Informed Community" conference is set for Sept. 21 – 22 at Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion for Women. Speakers include Dr. Bella Schanzer, associate professor, Brown Foundation Endowed Chair and director of the Baylor psychiatry clinic, Dr. Julie Kaplow, associate professor of pediatrics and director of the Trauma and Grief Center at TCH, and Dr. Ted Rynearson, professor at the University of Washington and medical director of Virginia Mason Separation and Loss Services. Registration is open online.


Liver Failure: Texas Children's Hospital sponsors "Managing a Critically Ill Child with Liver Failure," featuring Baylor pediatricians discussing etiopathogenesis, diagnostic evaluation, intensive care management, extracorporeal support, anesthesia, liver transplantation, long-term outcome and research in children with liver failure, on Oct. 4 at the TCH Conference Center in the Pavilion for Women. Register online.


Attention Researchers: See Research Calendar

Call for Abstracts

CVRI Pilot Awards: The Cardiovascular Research Institute is accepting proposals in cardiovascular research – clinical, translational and basic – that will promote collaboration between investigators and are likely to lead to externally funded grants. Faculty members of the CVRI are eligible to apply for a $25,000 pilot award. For more information, contact CVRI. The deadline for proposals is Monday, Sept. 17.


Research Seminars

GI Research Forum: Dr. Jun-ichi Abe of the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, speaks on "Membrane-associated guanylate kinase with inverted domain structure-1 and chronic inflammatory disease" at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in Room M112, main Baylor. The Texas Medical Center Digestive Diseases Center GI Research Forum is a weekly event. See the full schedule online.


TBMM Lecture: Dr. Janine M. LaSalle of the University of California, Davis, presents the keynote lecture, "An Epigenetic Journey of Insights into Neurodevelopmental Disorders," at the Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Research Retreat, 4 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor.


Research Resources

Device Design: TMCx and JLABS host a lunch and workshop with Carbon, a Silicon Valley-based digital 3D manufacturing company, from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at TMC Innovation, 2450 Holcombe, Suite X. Learn how medical device entrepreneurs and manufacturers are leveraging additive manufacturing to accelerate product development cycles, reduce costs and simplify product designs. Register online.


Building a Research Program: Send your trainees to hear Dr. Brendan Lee, Robert and Janice McNair Endowed Chair in Molecular and Human Genetics, talk about building a sustainable research program at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. The Career Development Center and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs are sponsoring the event, which includes faculty-facilitated roundtable discussions on the academic job search for students and postdocs from 5 to 7 p.m. Trainees may register online.


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 September.

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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