NewsLink, Aug. 21, 2020
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Coronavirus Information

Temperature screening

A new temperature screening process has been implemented at main Baylor and may be launched in other locations on campus. Thermal cameras are now scanning body temperature. Security or screening personnel will notify you if a fever is recorded. Please continue to complete the symptom-attestation app, or sign in if you do not have the app on your phone.

Face covering requirements

Masking is required by all faculty, staff, trainees and students in Baylor facilities, with special mask requirements for those in patient-facing roles. Beginning Monday, Aug. 24, bandannas, gaiters/neck sleeves and masks that have an exhalation valve are not allowed. Face shields can be worn over appropriate masks. A graphic is available to explain these changes.

Awards and Recognitions

Ettinger advancing pediatric critical care

Dr. Nick Ettinger, assistant professor of pediatric clinical care, recently received a grant from the Texas Chapter of the Society of Critical Care Medicine to support his work with the Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center's Global HOPE Program, a partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb to expand pediatric cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa. Through the grant he will undertake a project, "Teaching Critical Care Skills Remotely in a Resource Limited Setting: A Pilot Study." In addition, Ettinger was re-elected to a second three-year term on the American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Critical Care Executive Committee. This group represents pediatric critical care providers, advocates for important issues in the field, contributes to national practice guidelines and provides mentorship to trainees. In this role, he is the lead author on a revision of the "Guidelines for Admission to Pediatric Intermediate Care."

Mo earns NCI transition award

Graduate student Feiyan Mo is the recipient of a highly competitive National Cancer Institute Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award, providing funding for the remainder of her graduate and postdoctoral studies in cancer research. Her current work focuses on allogenic cell therapies for cancer, and she has developed an engineered receptor to prevent immune rejection and improve their therapeutic benefit. Her postdoctoral work will investigate the biology of the tumor microenvironment for effective targeting of solid tumors using allogenic cell therapies. Mo studies in the laboratory of Dr. Maksim Mamonkin in the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy with additional mentorship from Drs. Malcolm Brenner and Helen Heslop.

Vallejo named to AHA diversity group

Dr. Jesus Vallejo, associate dean of admissions, diversity, equity and multicultural affairs in the School of Medicine and professor of pediatrics, has been invited by the American Heart Association to join its new working group to address the important need to increase the number of women and people from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in science and research. The working group will submit recommendations to the Funding Subcommittee and AHA Research Committee by December 2020.

Events

Aug. 25: Blood Drive

Where can you get a COVID-19 antibody test and free ice cream? The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center blood drive, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Baylor gym in garage 6. Schedule an appointment.

Aug. 26: Ethics Grand Rounds on moral distress & COVID

Baylor and Houston Methodist continue their Bioethics Grand Rounds series with "Supporting Families and Managing Moral Distress during COVID-19," Wednesday, Aug. 26, 5 – 6 p.m. Speakers include Drs. Andrew Childress, Charu Agrawal, Eric Storch and Claire Horner, all with Baylor, and Dr. Deborah Whisnand with Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. To register, text 713-903-7277 and enter ID FABBAT, then attend via Zoom.

Aug. 27: Compassionate Conversation on bystander intervention

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity will host a virtual Compassionate Conversation on bystander intervention, Thursday, Aug. 27, 6 – 7:30 p.m., presented by Dr. Ali Abbas Asghar-Ali, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. Register online by Aug. 25 to receive the Zoom information. Questions? Email Kimberly Lopez.

Join BCM team for virtual Komen Race

This year's Susan G. Komen Houston Race for the Cure, Oct. 3, is going virtual! Join the BCM team by next Friday, Aug. 28, for a free T-shirt. Learn more about the event that supports breast cancer research and patient care.

College News

LCME monthly newsletter

The School of Medicine's August LCME Newsletter features recent subcommittee work and an overview of Element 4.3—Faculty Appointment Policies, and Element 4.5—Faculty Professional Development. Read the August newsletter.

HR news: Performance management

The Staff Performance Management Program has been redesigned to make the annual performance assessment easier. See a summary of what's new with the program, and make a note of these key dates. Questions? Contact performancemanagement@bcm.edu.

• Sept. 1: Employee self-evaluations launch in SuccessFactors
• Sept. 15: Employee must finish form and route to manager in SuccessFactors
• Oct. 31: Managers must finish forms, hold staff discussions and complete all signature steps in SuccessFactors

More HR news: Financial services

Access solutions to financial stress by connecting with an Ayco coach. All coaches are trained and knowledgeable about your BCM benefits and are available to educate, motivate and guide the way to financial wellness. Earn 250 BCM BeWell Vitality points when you complete a financial assessment and connect with an Ayco coach. Questions? Email ask-retirement@bcm.edu or call 713-798-1500.

Faculty in the News

Baylor experts continue to lead the way in keeping the public informed about COVID-19 through the media. Read the coverage 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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