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Faculty Commons, Sept. 14 - 20, 2017
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Recovery and Resilience: Whether you served on a ride-out team, triaged a shelter clinic or mucked out a neighbor’s house, you have a Hurricane Harvey story to tell. Meet some of our Harvey Heroes in this month's BCM Family and learn how they used their skills and smarts to make the situation better. Pictured are evacuees rescued from rising waters and given a dry place to stay by Dr. Jenny Despotovic, associate professor of pediatrics – hematology, and her family.

 

Academic Council: Provost Alicia Monroe announced that deadlines for elements of the Faculty Evaluation process have been extended, due to Hurricane Harvey. Faculty now have until Oct. 17 to enter their goals in the online form and the month from Oct. 18 to Nov. 17 to complete their self reviews. Chairs, center directors and designated evaluators will conduct evaluations and feedback discussions from Nov. 18 through Jan. 31.

  • Title IX Coordinator Mikiba Morehead told Academic Council members that they and everyone with a director’s title or higher rank are “responsible employees” and will be trained in appropriate responses to reports of sex-based discrimination and harassment at the College. Completion of the online training modules by Nov. 31 is required for accreditation.
  • Dean Jennifer Christner provided an update on the School of Medicine’s accreditation report, the 2017 AAMC Graduation Questionnaire results and procedures for special reviews in graduate medical education. She and Risk Management Director James Banfield introduced new guidelines for student observers. The Noncredit Introductory Clinical Experience (NICE) Program will be regulated by Student Affairs and includes a mandatory orientation session.
  • President Paul Klotman led a discussion of the College’s response to Hurricane Harvey and quick return to business as usual in clinics, labs and classrooms. He said policies developed after Tropical Storm Allison informed decision-making on reopening the campus Aug. 30.

Official Harvey Status Letter: Research faculty report that funding agencies have been requesting an official status update on the impact that Hurricane Harvey had on research at the College. These questions are surfacing because the agencies recall the devastation to research from Tropical Storm Allison. To address this issue, Dr. Adam Kuspa, senior vice president and dean of research, and Dr. Klotman have prepared a letter that you can provide to any funding agency requesting this information. If you have any questions or need additional information for a particular agency, please contact Dr. Kuspa.


Data Impact Awards: The Human Genome Sequencing Center is a finalist in the societal impact category of this year’s Data Impact Awards. The awards are presented by Cloudera, Inc., the cloud-based platform for machine learning and analytics, to recognize organizations using Cloudera to develop innovations across a wide variety of industries.


Constitution Week activities across the country recognize the creation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, and celebrate the freedoms provided in this landmark document, together with all the privileges and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship for both native-born and naturalized citizens. In 2004, a federal law was passed mandating that all schools receiving federal funds provide education on the U.S. Constitution.


Celebrate Postdocs: The College recognizes the contributions of postdoctoral researchers during National Postdoc Appreciation Week, Sept. 18 - 22. Please be sure to express your appreciation to all the postdocs for the significant contributions they make to BCM research.


Faculty Kudos

imageDr. Carlos Galvani, an expert in bariatric and robotic surgery, has joined the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery as chief of metabolic and bariatric surgery. He will conduct surgeries at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. His goal is to build a multidisciplinary bariatric center of excellence at the hospital to include bariatric endoscopists, internal medicine physicians, dietitians, psychologists and nurse coordinators. He comes to Baylor from the University of Arizona.

 

imageDr. Manisha Gandhi, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, is featured in this week’s Meet Your Senator article on the faculty intranet portal. She represents the interests of the department’s faculty on the Senate.

 

imageSarah Keyes, assistant professor in the Physician Assistant Program, has received a grant for more than $400,000 from the Health Resources and Services Administration for the Lifestyle Medicine Development Project. This new medical specialty focuses on using lifestyle modalities such as nutrition, physical activity, stress management and tobacco cessation, to prevent and treat chronic disease into the Physician Assistant Program curriculum and faculty development initiatives.

 

imageDr. Norman Sussman, associate professor of surgery and a Faculty Senator, will present a TED Talk on “How to Get a Liver Transplant in El Paso” at the MetaECHO Global Conference in Albuquerque from 5:05 to 5:25 p.m. today, Sept. 14. View it live online. He will explain how Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and the College are using Project ECHO telehealth to offer organ transplantation in communities that lack a transplant center.

 

College Events

Flu Shots are being offered by the Occupational Health Program across the Baylor campus. Upcoming dates are listed below. More dates and locations will be added; please check the OHP calendar for updates. All Baylor employees and students are required to get a flu vaccine by Nov. 30. Don’t forget to complete the online flu shot form that serves as documentation of your vaccination.

  • Today, Sept. 14: 2 - 5 p.m., Room 1869, O’Quinn Medical Tower
  • Friday, Sept. 15: 1 - 4:30 p.m., Alkek Lobby, main Baylor
  • Tuesday, Sept. 19: 8 a.m. - noon, Alkek Lobby, main Baylor
  • Wednesday, Sept. 20: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Abercrombie Auditorium, Texas Children’s Hospital; 2 - 5 p.m., CNRC Lobby

Medical Scientist Training Program: The 40th anniversary celebration and symposium features a keynote address by Dr. Huda Zoghbi, Ralph D. Feigin Chair and professor of pediatrics, HHMI investigator and director of the Jan & Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, as well as MSTP alumni presentations by Dr. Howard Foyt, CMO of ViaCyte; Dr. Farzaneh Sorond, Northwestern Medicine Feinberg School of Medicine; Dr. Timothy Benke, University of Colorado School of Medicine; Dr. Kathleen Burns, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Dr. Kelvin Moses, Vanderbilt – Ingram Cancer Center. The event is set for 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor.


Machine Learning and the Mind: The Partnership for BCM Luncheon Series presents Dr. Wayne Goodman, professor and D.C. and Irene Ellwood Chair in Psychiatry, and Dr. Andreas Tolias, associate professor and Brown Foundation Chair in Neuroscience, discussing current events and advances in mental health from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Briar Club, 2603 Timmons Lane. Register online to attend.


Education Grand Rounds: All students and faculty are welcome to attend “Incorporating Technology into the Classroom,” presented by Dr. Tyson Pillow, associate professor of emergency medicine, at noon Wednesday, Sept. 20, in Cullen Auditorium. The School of Allied Health Sciences and the Office of Faculty Development sponsor this inaugural grand rounds for education.


Cybersecurity Apps: Beginning Oct. 23, anyone who uses a mobile device to access Baylor email must have installed the Mobile Device Management (MDM) app. If you use VPN or MyApps externally to access College systems and services, you must install the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) App. The Information Technology office has prepared step-by-step instructions and videos to assist you. A series of information sessions is planned across multiple College locations, or view them via Zoom videoconference.

  • Monday, Sept. 18: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., Conference Rooms A&B, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center McNair Campus
  • Tuesday, Sept. 19: 11 a.m. – noon, Cullen Auditorium
  • Wednesday, Sept. 20: 11 a.m. – noon, Rooms 821 & 822, Greenway
  • Thursday, Sept. 21: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., 11D A&B, Baylor Clinic

Diversity and Inclusion Week is Oct. 2 - 6, and trainees, students, faculty and staff are invited to be interactive participants in the week’s events. Here are some of the ways to get involved:

  • Diversity Map: Help to complete the map that showcases the amazing diversity of our BCM community. Please take a few minutes and go to the digital map and add your birthplace "map pin." To add a pin:
    • Hover over the "Additions" tab
    • Select "Add Marker - Simple"
    • Put your initials, first name or "Anonymous" in "Entry Name"
    • Enter your birth location in "Location"
    • Click "Submit." The map automatically saves your pin.
  • Diversity Photo Gallery: Submit a high-resolution photo showing what diversity at Baylor look like to you to diversity-inclusionweek@bcm.edu with your name and the names of those included. A selection of the photos submitted will be featured in a display in the A hallway at main Baylor.

Faculty Resources

Teaching Portfolio Workshops: The Office of Faculty Development offers two Norton Rose Fulbright Portfolio Preparation Workshops this month. To attend, RSVP at faced@bcm.edu

Free Photo Sessions: Have your portrait taken for your bcm.edu bio when the Office of Communications hosts free sessions in various campus locations next week:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 19: 9 - 10 a.m. and 2 - 3 p.m., DeBakey Library and Museum, main Baylor
  • Thursday, Sept. 21: 9 - 10 a.m. and 2 - 3 p.m., First Floor Lobby, Children’s Nutrition Research Center
  • Friday, Sept. 22: 9 - 10 a.m. and 2 - 3 p.m., First Floor Lobby, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, McNair Campus

Pathways to Promotion: Dr. Nancy Moreno, associate provost for faculty development and institutional research, leads a workshop on preparing for academic promotion at noon Sept. 26 in N311, main Baylor. For more information or to RSVP, contact faced@bcm.edu.


Quality and Safety Course: The AAMC Certificate Program in Teaching Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QI/PS) will be offered as a two-day workshop at the College Nov. 9 - 10. This faculty development program is designed to train clinical faculty to teach QI/PS concepts effectively and build strategies and infrastructure for QI/PS projects in academic medical centers. Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25. For more information or to apply please go online.


Early and Mid-Career Advancement: The Career Advancement Series offers professional development opportunities in three categories for assistant professors, associate professors and individuals seeking to participate in an assistant professor women’s faculty group. The Office of the Provost, Office of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and Office of Faculty Development sponsor the series. More information and application instructions are available on this website. The deadline for applications is Oct. 15.


Hurricane Harvey Recovery

imageHarvey Recovery Effort T-Shirts: The Harvey Relief Fund is raising money exclusively for the benefit of our students, trainees, faculty and staff who have suffered loss due to Hurricane Harvey. Your $25 T-shirt purchase will benefit members of the Baylor community in their time of need. Buy your shirt from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Recovery table in front of Rayzor Lounge, main Baylor. Or order online.

 

Emergency Vacation Sharing: Any Baylor employee who has at least 48 hours of vacation time may donate one day (8 hours) of time to a designated pool for those who experienced a catastrophic event and have exhausted their available vacation, personal and floating time. To donate time, submit this form by Sept. 30. Those needing vacation time should fill out a request form by Sept. 30. See the website for more information on the program from the Office of Human Resources.


BCM Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund: Make a gift to help Baylor students, faculty, employees and their families who have suffered loss during Hurricane Harvey. If you would like to donate online, please go to the BCM Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. To make a gift by check, make the check payable to Baylor College of Medicine, print and complete the gift form and mail both items to: Baylor College of Medicine Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations, MSC #800, P.O. Box 4976, Houston, Texas 77210.


Emergency Assistance: To apply for funds from the BCM Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, complete and submit the Emergency Assistance Fund form.


Attention Clinicians: See Clinical Calendar

Clinical Conferences

Transition Medicine: Registration is open for the 18th annual Chronic Illness and Disability Conference: Transition from Pediatric to Adult-based Care, set for Oct. 5 - 6, in Onstead Auditorium, 6767 Bertner Ave. The conference is open to healthcare providers and parents and caregivers; CME credits available. Register online by Oct. 1.


Suicide Prevention: Dr. John Oldham, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and the Barbara and Corbin Robertson Jr. Endowed Chair for Personality Disorders, is the activity director for this Advances in Clinical Psychiatry 2017 CME activity scheduled for Oct. 20 in Conference Rooms A & B, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, McNair Campus. Register online by Oct. 15.


Attention Researchers: See Research Calendar

Research Conference

Ewing Sarcoma: The 2nd Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma International Conference is set for Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 27 - 28, at the BioScience Research Collaborative. Presented by Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, the conference will bring together leading investigators to foster meaningful research collaborations with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of patients affected by Ewing sarcoma. Registration is required but there is no fee for this event.


Research Resources

Advanced Technology Cores: Core facilities provide state-of-the-art instrumentation and technologies to support research for all faculty on a fee-for-service basis. For more information about any of the cores visit the ATC website.


From the Labs: You can receive weekly articles on research at Baylor as they are posted in our newsletter by going to From the Labs and entering your email address in the 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 manages 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.


Items for Faculty Commons: To submit items for this weekly email update for Baylor College of Medicine faculty, please contact us.

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