NewsLink, May 28, 2021
Please submit items for the weekly NewsLink to Dana Benson.

Archive / BCM Family / BCM News on Twitter

Coronavirus Information

New mask guidelines

New BCM guidelines around masking will go into effect Tuesday, June. 1. In summary, unvaccinated people must continue to wear masks and practice physical distancing; vaccinated people are not required to wear a mask in non-healthcare settings, with some exceptions, but must still wear masks in healthcare settings. You must complete the attestation to be considered vaccinated. Read the updated guidelines.

Volunteers needed for COVID trials

Volunteers age 18 and older, with no history of COVID-19, and who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine are needed to participate in COVID-19 vaccine studies. Volunteers who are age 18 and older, with no history of COVID-19, and who have received a COVID-19 EUA vaccine are needed for COVID-19 booster vaccine studies. Studies are through BCM's Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit; to participate, call 713-798-4912, email COVID-VAX@bcm.edu or register online.

Awards and Recognitions

Arya wins health campaign contest

Dr. Monisha Arya, assistant professor of medicine – infectious diseases, was one of 16 people nationally selected to participate in Boys to Men: A Communications Design Jam on HPV Vaccination, sponsored by the Society for Health Communication and Westat. Her team won the health campaign design contest for their campaign, "The Mouth Matters," to promote HPV education in dental offices. Judges were from the NIH, CDC and St. Jude's.

Gardner elected to role in ASE

Dr. Aimee Gardner, assistant dean of evaluation and research in the School of Health Professions, has been elected as treasurer of the Association for Surgical Education. She will serve in this role for a two-year term before continuing in one-year terms of vice president and then president elect. Gardner will be president of the ASE beginning in 2025. She also is the program chair for the ASE Annual Conference being held on May 3-7, 2022, in San Antonio.

Pautler named ISMRM fellow

Dr. Robia G. Pautler, associate professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, was among the 2021 ISMRM Fellows of the Society announced at the organization's annual meeting May 15 – 20. She was recognized for her contributions to preclinical manganese-enhanced MRI for neuronal tract tracing and for outstanding service to the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Rasband earns NINDS grant

Dr. Matthew Rasband, professor and Vivian L. Smith Endowed Chair in Neuroscience was awarded an eight-year, $7.2 million R35 research grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The project, titled "The molecular architecture of axons in health and disease," will use discovery proteomics and genetically modified mice to uncover the mechanisms regulating the functional organization of axons.

Rivera honored through conference

The first international congress of the Central American and Caribbean Forum on Multiple Sclerosis and the launching of the Central American Committee for Treatment and Research in MS was held virtually from May 6-10. Sixteen countries participated and the event was named in honor of Dr. Victor M. Rivera, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Neurology and founding director of the Maxine Mesinger MS Clinic at Baylor.

Events

Blood Drive

Get a free COVID-19 antibody test when you donate blood at Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center's drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, in the Baylor gym on the 8th floor of Garage 6. Appointments are required.

DocTalk on men's health

DocTalk continues Tuesday, June 1, noon – 1 p.m., on men's health with Dr. Mohit Khera, professor of urology. Preregister or join day of (Meeting ID: 947 4618 7629; Password: 093730).

Institutional Diversity, Equity & Inclusion events

• Health Equity Grand Grounds on Wednesday, June 2, noon – 1 p.m., will focus on "Expanding Diversity Efforts to Include Learners with Disabilities," with Dr. Lisa Meeks, assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical School. CME credit available. Attend via Zoom (Passcode: 867116).
• A Compassionate Conversation on "Gender Affirming Language and Allyship: Creating Inclusive Environments in Healthcare," led by Dr. Michael Kauth and medical students Newsha Nikzad and Benjamin Solder, is June 2, 5 – 6 p.m. Register online to join the conversation.

Autism webinar on barriers to independence

The BCM and Texas Children's SPARK for Autism program in partnership with Social Motion Skills is hosting a webinar on common barriers to independence in young adults with disabilities and how to prevent them, Friday, June 11, at noon, via Zoom. Register in advance.

College News

Introducing new intranet

The offices of Communications and Community Outreach and of Information Technology are partnering to improve the employee experience by delivering a new intranet. This BCM digital workspace will be known as InTouch and will streamline internal communications, allow seamless collaboration and offer improved sharing and searching of information. Most of the current intranet content will be migrated to the new site. Other new features include improved departmental pages, easy access to widely used applications, and the future capabilities for targeted content and communications most relevant to the various job roles of BCM employees.

Stop Asian Hate Rally

Members of the BCM and TMC communities gathered on the lawn in front of the Jewish Research Institute for the Stop Asian Hate Rally, Friday, May 21. It was organized in response to the increase in hatred and violence toward Asians, Asian Americans and those of Asian identity, including the shootings in Atlanta, largely owed to the xenophobia and anti-Asian sentiment surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch this video recap of the event.

Faculty in the News

Check out all of Baylor's 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