Coronavirus Information
COVID public health guidelines
Baylor College of Medicine will continue to follow public health guidelines in all its facilities to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, including masking, physical distancing and hand sanitizing, for all employees, learners, patients and visitors. See more on our COVID-19 Response website. Show your support in helping stop the spread of COVID-19 by adding our 'Stick to Science, Mask Up' frame to your Facebook profile picture. You can also send photos showing you wearing a mask to Anna Kiappes to be shared on Baylor's social media.
Winter Weather Recovery
Storm relief
A function has been added in SuccessFactors to request support from the Employee Relief Fund for those affected by the winter storm. The form is accessible to paid faculty/staff/trainees at BCM and is located on the employee's profile (see "Emergency Relief Request" in the profile links). Once submitted, it routes to the employee's manager in SuccessFactors and then to HR for further review, approval and processing of amount. Donations can be made online to the fund.
Awards and Recognitions
Bottazzi named to committee on vaccine research
 Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, associate dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at BCM, was appointed to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine committee aimed at developing recommendations to optimize vaccine research and development for future seasonal and pandemic influenza events. The committee is sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Echeverria earns breast cancer grant
 Dr. Gloria Echeverria, assistant professor in the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, was awarded the 2021 Breast Cancer Alliance Young Investigator Grant. She will receive $125,000 for her project titled "Characterizing and targeting mitochondrial metabolism in chemoresistant triple negative breast cancer."
Fernbach honored with Impact Award
 Susan Fernbach, assistant professor and co-director of the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics Office of Community Engagement and Diversity, received the Rare Impact Award from the National Organization for Rare Disorders. She and other award winners will be honored at a virtual event on June 28.
Kirk recognized for work as PA
 Susan Kirk, assistant professor of pediatrics - hematology and oncology and physician assistant at Texas Children's Hospital, was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow by the American Academy of PAs for her outstanding dedication to her profession.
Events
DocTalk on adrenal fatigue
DocTalk will address adrenal fatigue with Dr. Ruchi Gaba, March 9, noon – 1 p.m., by Zoom (Passcode: 943944). Adrenal fatigue is a collection of symptoms including fatigue, body aches, sleep and digestive issues and more. Earn BCM BeWell points for attending and correctly completing the follow-up survey.
CVRI events
- The Cardiovascular Research Institute Seminar Series presents "Translational Control of Cardiac Disease: Act on the Messenger RNA," with Dr. Peng Yao of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, March 10, noon – 1 p.m., by Zoom (Passcode: 000021).
- Abstracts are being accepted for the eighth annual CVRI Symposium, which will be held virtually April 7 – 8, offering CME credits. Learn more and register.
Center for Medical Ethics & Healthy Policy events
- Submit a story for the Texas Medical Center's storytelling hour on the theme of "family and how it has been impacted by the pandemic." Your story may be true or imaginary. Sponsored by the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy's Narrative Medicine Program. Submit an entry by March 15.
- Join Bioethics Grand Rounds, March 17, 5 p.m., for a presentation on "One Patient, Two Minds: Clearing up Confusion about 'Ambivalence'" by Dr. Bryanna Moore, assistant professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and Dr. Ryan Nelson, clinical ethics fellow at Baylor. Access by Zoom; or dial 713-798-9666; event ID 938 2116 4125. Jointly sponsored by Baylor's Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy and Houston Methodist Hospital.
College News
Vote in STAT Madness
Vote for Baylor's research in STAT Madness, an annual bracket-style competition that looks for the best innovations in science and medicine. Research on restoring vision to the blind and scent and obesity are being highlighted in the competition in first-round matchups with Duke University and Cleveland Clinic. Vote online by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 7.
LCME monthly newsletter
The School of Medicine's March LCME Newsletter features upcoming events and an overview of Element 3.3— (Faculty & Staff) Diversity/Pipeline Programs and Partnerships and Element 7.5 —Societal Problems. Read the March newsletter.
IT news: New service catalog
An updated look and feel of IT's "Request a Service" page will be released on March 15. It will provide a cleaner, intuitive view of request items, allowing users to select the most applicable item for their needs. For additional information, visit the IT Portal.
HR news
- The Flexible Spending Account deadline to file for reimbursement of eligible expenses incurred during 2020 is March 31, 2021. Complete the FSA claim form and submit it along with your receipts to UnitedHealthcare for processing. There is a separate claim form for dependent care expenses and healthcare expenses to submit claims for the eligible expenses incurred. See an FAQ or for questions, call UnitedHealthcare at 1-877-311-7849 (group #704431).
- Join Fidelity for live educational webinars to help you manage your financial future. View the registration link for next week's webinar and additional Fidelity retirement readiness resources. Eligible employees will receive 50 BCM BeWell points for attending a quarterly Fidelity virtual webinar. Click here to see the schedule of webinars for the year. Questions? Email ask-retirement@bcm.edu or call 713-798-1500.
Faculty in the News
Dr. James McDeavitt spoke to local and national media this week about the Texas mask mandate. Check out this and Baylor's other news media mentions in this week's Faculty in the News, and follow BCMHouston_News on Twitter to keep up with our experts in the media. Interested in science news? Read the latest in From the Labs.
Follow BCM
     
| 