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News for BCM Faculty, Oct. 31, 2019
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Astros + Halloween: It’s a big week for festivities at Baylor College of Medicine. Team members from the Weight Loss and Metabolic Center combine the best of both worlds in their spirited display, pictured here.

Baylor Medicine has received a Gold TMF Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award for improving patient outcomes in high-priority clinical areas while applying innovative strategies to advance quality healthcare. The clinical operations team is among 41 healthcare organizations in seven states and the territory of Puerto Rico to be recognized. The TMF Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award is based on the four categories of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Merit-based Incentive Payment System: Quality Measures, Promoting Interoperability, Improvement Activities and Cost/Utilization. Practices were assessed on clinical outcome measures for the 2018 calendar year.

Faculty Town Hall: Plan now to attend the Faculty Town Hall at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, in Cullen Auditorium or via Zoom. The agenda includes a Strategic Plan update from President Paul Klotman, a Research Mission report by Dean Mary Dickinson and a vote on updates to the Faculty Bylaws.

Faculty Kudos

Dr. Trevor Bibler, assistant professor of medicine in the Center for Medical Ethics & Health Policy, discusses the role of the clinical bioethicist and his research on faith in “For Heaven’s Sake,” the latest episode of Body of Work, the podcast where Baylor scientists and physicians explore the impact of hot button issues on healthcare, research, community and education.

Dr. Arthur Bracey, professor of pathology and chief of clinical pathology at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, received the President’s Award at the annual meeting of the American Association of Blood Banks in San Antonio this month. The award acknowledges his dedication to the association and his work chairing the meeting’s Education Program Unit.

Dr. Kimberly Davis, assistant professor of pediatrics – psychiatry, is this week’s highlighted senator. Read about her professional interests and her service on the Faculty Senate on the faculty intranet portal.

Dolores "Lollie" Garay, instructor in the School of Health Professions and the Center for Educational Outreach, is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation. This is the highest award given by the U.S. government to K-12 teachers of math and science. Garay is being honored for her 30-plus year career at the Redd School.

Dr. Robert McLaughlin, dean of the School of Health Professions, was named a fellow of the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions at the organization’s annual conference in Charleston, S.C., this month. The designation recognizes McLaughlin’s leadership and contributions in the health professions.

Dr. Melanie Samuel, assistant professor of neuroscience, was selected to receive the Nancy Chang, Ph.D. Award for Research Excellence for her project, “The molecular basis of neuronal susceptibility and resiliency in Kctd7-driven epilepsy.” Chang, a Baylor scientist, philanthropist and entrepreneur, endowed the award to support investigators with exceptional basic, clinical or translational research projects at the College.

College Events

Compassion Series: Dr. Sherrie Onyiego, assistant professor of family & community medicine, and her husband discuss “Water Shortage and the Health & Economic Impact in Rural Communities in Kenya,” at noon Friday, Nov. 1, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. The Onyiegos started a nonprofit that focuses on providing access to clean water for rural Kenyans.

The TMC Orchestra presents a concert featuring Peter Boyer’s “Ellis Island: The Dream of America,” at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at Zilkha Hall in the Hobby Center. The Texas Medical Center Orchestra, one of a very few orchestras with its origin in the health professions, has twice won the American Prize for best community orchestra. Purchase tickets online to attend.

Transgender Awareness: Baylor Student National Medical Association and Pride present two events highlighting Transgender Awareness Week; meals provided, RSVP to attend:

  • Lunch & Learn on transwomen’s health, Tuesday, Nov. 5, Neuropsychiatric Center Auditorium, Ben Taub Hospital.
  • Screening of “Pose” and conversation on safety and support for transwomen, Wednesday, Nov. 6, Room 201A, main Baylor.

Alzheimer's Update: Dr. Joseph Kass and Dr. Melissa Yu, director and associate director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center, provide an annual update on the latest research for patients and caregivers at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor.

Faculty Resources

Election Update: You can vote early for local leaders and state constitutional amendments through Friday, Nov. 1, or on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5. Visit the non-partisan League of Women Voters site for voter guides in English, Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese. The site also allows you to enter your address to locate your polling place, create a personalized voters' guide and find everything you need to vote and make your voice heard.

Flu Shots: The Occupational Health Program offers the flu vaccine in the OHP clinic, Suite 1375, Baylor Clinic, this week; check the OHP calendar for additional places and times:

  • Thursday, Oct. 31: 1-4:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 1: 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 5: 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Promotion Portfolio: Learn tips and strategies for preparing clinical and educational portfolios for awards and academic promotion in an Office of Faculty Development workshop, 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, in Room N311. RSVP to attend.

National Compliance Week: The Office of Compliance visits Baylor locations Nov. 4-8 to increase awareness of the College’s compliance and ethics efforts. Stop by the table to show off your knowledge in a round of "Jeopardy," earn prizes and grab some goodies! See the full schedule of events online.

Faculty Reviews: Tuesday, Nov. 5, is the deadline for faculty members to complete self-evaluations. Those accessing the Performance Assessment Form through non-BCM networks will need to use multi-factor authentication; instructions are available on the IT Service Now portal. Additionally, faculty at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Ben Taub Hospital and some other locations may need to upload supporting documents using a different network or through MyApps. If unable to upload, please email your CV and any other documents to your evaluator. For help, please contact the Performance Management team.


Attention Clinicians: See Clinical Events

Clinical Seminars

Blood Cancers: Baylor St. Luke’s and the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center sponsor the Acute Hematologic Malignancies Symposium on Saturday, Nov. 2. Dr. C. Kent Osborne, professor and director of the DLDCCC, Dr. Martha Mims, Dan L Duncan Professor of Medicine, and Dr. Gustavo Rivero, assistant professor of medicine – hematology & oncology, head the symposium committee with topics including clonal hematopoiesis, myelodysplasia and acute AML pathogenesis and therapy. Register online to attend.

Surgery Grand Rounds: Dr. Todd Rosengart, professor and DeBakey-Bard Chair of Surgery, delivers the 7th annual State of the Department of Surgery Report at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, in Room N315, main Baylor, or via Zoom.

Bioethics Grand Rounds: "Medical Marijuana: Getting into the weed" is the topic of a talk by Dr. Stacey Berg, professor of pediatrics and medical ethics & health policy, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, in the Rio Grande Conference Room, Houston Methodist Hospital.


Attention Researchers: See Research Calendar

Research Seminars

Molecular Biology: Dr. Rachel Arey, assistant professor of molecular & cellular biology and the Center for Precision Environmental Health, presents “Mining the mind of a worm – using c. elegans to uncover pathways that regulate learning, memory and cognitive decline” at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, in Room N315, main Baylor.

DLDCCC Lecture: “Loss of immune control of cancer in immunosuppressed populations” is the topic of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Distinguished Lecture by Dr. Eric Engels, chief of the Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch of the National Cancer Institute, at noon Monday, Nov. 4, in Room M112, main Baylor.

GSBS Symposium: Dr. Denise Montell, professor of molecular, cellular & developmental biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, discusses “Life and Near-Death Experiences at the Cellular Level, as the Joseph Melnick Distinguished Guest Speaker during the 31st annual Graduate Student Symposium, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor.

Precisely Speaking: The President’s Office and the Faculty Senate sponsor “Precisely Speaking: Spotlight on Science,” a College-wide event featuring posters, presentations and a reception with winners of the first round of the Precision Medicine & Population Health RFA, 3:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, in Cullen Auditorium and Rayzor Lounge. All are welcome!

Research Resources

Drug Discovery: The Gulf Coast Consortia hosts a roundtable workshop on “Emerging Screening Technologies for Drug Discovery” with Lisa Marcaurelle of GlaxoSmithKline and Dr. Damian Young, assistant professor of pharmacology & chemical biology, 3-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at the BioScience Research Collaborative at Rice University. Register to attend.

From the Labs: Read how Dr. Hugo Bellen, professor of molecular & human genetics and neuroscience and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, identified mutations in IQSEC1 that cause a neurodevelopmental disorder 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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