NewsLink, March 20, 2020
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Coronavirus Information

Latest updates

The Coronavirus Preparedness website remains the central source for information about the COVID-19 pandemic. Here you can find the latest updates and an archive of messages from the Incident Command Center and from Dr. Paul Klotman, as well as information for specific groups at the College.

Back-up care extended

Bright Horizons Back-Up Care has been extended to 25 days per dependent through June 30. If appropriate care is not available through the back-up care network, you also have access to Bright Horizons Crisis Care, which allows you to secure care from your own personal network of family, friends, neighbors and babysitters and receive a stipend of $100 per day. Learn more about this benefit.

Resources for coronavirus HR-related questions

For COVID-19 questions related to the following Human Resources topics, please email ASKHR@bcm.edu or call 713-798-2754. Continue to send non-HR COVID-19 questions to coronavirusinfo@bcm.edu.

• Time off (sick, family sick, vacation, floating time off or other paid time off)
  
• Leave of absence
• Medical benefits
• Back-up dependent care benefits

Dealing with social isolation

The isolation for adults and children that is resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic is not something that we as a society are used to. Baylor's Dr. Eric Storch was a guest this week on the Houston Matters public radio show to discuss coping with isolation. His tips include using technology like video apps to stay connected to others, establishing structure for those who are working and schooling from home, remembering to build exercise into the day, maintaining a sense of optimism, and finding ways to give to others, like by creating cards for nursing home residents who are even more isolated than many. Listen to the interview.

Awards and Recognitions

U.S. News rankings

The 2020-2021 U.S. News & World Report annual list of top graduate schools was released today. In the research intensive category, Baylor remains among the top 25 medical schools of the 152 medical schools in the nation at 22nd, and in the primary care category, at 4th. These rankings place Baylor College of Medicine in the top 15% of all U.S. medical schools. See more.

Burrage earns young investigator award

The Society for Pediatric Research named Dr. Lindsay C. Burrage, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics, as the recipient of the SPR's 2020 Young Investigator Award. Burrage was to give a presentation titled "From Rare Disease Gene Discovery to Therapy: Urea Cycle Disorders as a Paradigm" at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2020 Meeting in Philadelphia, which has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Koons tapped for Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

Gerry Koons, an M.D./Ph.D. student in the Baylor/Rice University Medical Scientist Training Program, was selected to participate in the 70th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting by the review panel of the meeting council. The meeting brings together the next-generation of leading scientists to foster exchange from different cultures, generations and disciplines. It is tentatively scheduled to be held in Germany this summer.

Singh co-leads WHO patient safety meetings

Dr. Hardeep Singh, professor of health services research in the Department of Medicine, co-led two working groups at a World Health Organization meeting in February to launch the WHO flagship initiative, A Decade of Patient Safety 2020-2030: Formulating the Global Patient Safety Action Plan. The groups were focused on patient safety research and innovation and global patient safety challenges. Their work will contribute to the development of a global patient safety action plan including policy advice, strategic guidance and technical support to WHO member states.

Williams honored for research

Dr. Margot Williams, assistant professor in the Center for Precision Environmental Health, has received the Chi-Bin Chien Young Investigator of the Year Award from the International Zebrafish Society. Williams has played an important role in developing zebrafish research at Baylor. Read more about zebrafish research in the TMC Pulse.

College News

BCM BeWell update

The BCM BeWell program is working to adapt its events and initiatives in response to new policies and guidelines that are in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many resources already are available online on the wellness portal or BeWell intranet page, including Vitality Reviews. For each review completed by March 31 you will be entered in a drawing to win one of four $50 Amazon gift cards (three entries max per participant).

Primary care research program taking applications

Applications are open for the T-32 Primary Care Research Fellowship in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. The fellowship is open to M.D.s, Ph.D.s, and other doctoral degree holders who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The program implements a multifaceted training program that comprehensively prepares healthcare professionals for a career in primary care research. For more information, email Dr. Roger Zoorob.

Faculty in the News

Baylor experts are being interviewed in the news frequently about COVID-19, including in the Houston Chronicle, New York Times, CNN and many other media outlets. See Baylor's news media mentions in 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.

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