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NewsLink, April 3, 2020
Please submit items for the weekly NewsLink to Dana Benson.

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Coronavirus Information

Introducing 'Baylor COVID-19 Diaries'

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to see how the Baylor community is staying positive. Please share photos of your workspace at home, anecdotes about or photos of your healthcare hero at Baylor (a doctor, nurse, medical assistant or other provider as well as our support staff), kudos to your colleagues, tips on "What I've learned during COVID-19," or just a positive note to help your colleagues know that in these challenging times, we are all in this together. Email to Dana Benson. Our 'Baylor COVID-19 Diaries' will be shared in College communications and social media.

Well-being Index

In its continued response to the mental health needs of the Baylor community during the COVID-19 pandemic, the College is offering a valuable resource, the Well-Being Index. This brief online self-assessment provides immediate individualized feedback, tools and national/local resources to support well-being. Visit the Well-Being Index login page and use your specific invitation code below to sign up. Find additional mental health resources online.

  • Physician Faculty: BCM PHYSICIAN
  • Scientists (Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.): BCM GSBS
  • Resident and Fellow Physicians: BCM HOUSESTAFF
  • School of Health Professions Faculty: BCM HEALTHPROF
  • School of Health Professions Students: HEALTHPROF STUDENTS
  • Medical Students: BCM MEDSTUDENT
  • Graduate Students / Postdoctoral Basic Science Research Fellows: GSBS STUDENT/POSTDOC
  • Educational Staff: BCM EDUCATION
  • All Other BCM Staff: BCM STAFF

April 7: DocTalk Q&A on COVID-19

A DocTalk will be held via Zoom Tuesday, April 7, at noon, with physician assistant Isabel Valdez, a faculty member in the Department of Medicine, who will answer questions related to COVID-19. Register to receive the Zoom information and to send questions. BCM BeWell Vitality points available when you submit the verification survey and verification code given during the presentation. Questions? Email wellness@bcm.edu.

HR COVID-19 update: Financial planning resources

As global financial markets are experiencing volatility, it's a good time to review your current asset allocation for diversification and risk tolerance. Baylor has several resources to provide assistance. Questions? Email ask-retirement@bcm.edu or call 713-798-1500.

  • Live webinars presented by Fidelity can help you understand what the uncertainty means for your retirement savings; see the schedule. You can also view this on-demand workshop on navigating market volatility.
  • Ayco resources include on-demand webinars on "Weathering the Storm: Understand Your Investing Habits" and "Maintaining Confidence during a Challenging Financial Crisis." View the webinars, and visit Ayco360 to complete the risk tolerance assessment to identify a mix of investments based on your goals and other factors. To speak to a financial coach, call 866-487-9446.

Awards and Recognitions

Women of Excellence awards

A group of women from across all mission areas and roles at Baylor College of Medicine were honored as Women of Excellence for their leadership, mentorship and commitment to academic medicine. In addition, allies who support women in their roles at Baylor also were recognized. See the award video and list of winners.

BCM physicians partner on award-winning project

Dr. Michelle LudwigDr. Alexander HananiaDr. Michelle Ludwig, associate professor, and Dr. Alexander Hanania, a resident physician, both in radiation oncology, partnered with Rice University students Sanika Rane, Elisa Arango, Susannah Dittmar, Krithika Kumar and Lauren Payne on a project focused on cervical cancer treatment that earned second place at the Rice 360 Institute for Global Health Design Competition. Their project aims to create an applicator for cervical cancer brachytherapy that improves patient outcomes through more efficient needle placement. Brachytherapy is a curative treatment for late-stage cervical cancer, but the procedure currently relies on the use of transcutaneous needles that increase the risk of complications. Read more about the competition.


College News

LCME monthly newsletter

The School of Medicine's March LCME newsletter features recent subcommittee work and an overview of Element 3.4 – Anti-Discrimination Policy, Element 3.5 – Learning Environment/Professionalism, and Element 3.6 – Student Mistreatment. The newsletter contains pertinent policies and procedures. Read March’s newsletter.

Census participation

Wednesday, April 1, marked Census Day, underscoring the importance of participating in the 2020 Census. Mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, the Census counts every resident in the United States and takes place every 10 years. It determines congressional representation, informs hundreds of billions in federal funding every year and provides data that will impact communities for the next decade. Your Census invitation should have already arrived by mail. When you respond to the Census, you'll tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020. The public is strongly encouraged to respond online, but phone and mail options also are available. Due to COVID-19, the deadline to complete the Census has been extended to Aug. 14, 2020. Learn more.

Rodeo ticket information

If you purchased Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo carnival packs, food cards, general admission tickets or season passes from Baylor's Office of Communications and Community Outreach, note that refunds cannot be made by Baylor College of Medicine. The College sells these items on behalf of the rodeo as a courtesy to employees and trainees. Refund and rollover to 2021 information can be found on the HLSR website.


Faculty in the News

This is an important tool for getting the right information to the community! 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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