NewsLink, Dec. 11, 2020
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Coronavirus & Flu Information

COVID vaccine information

With a COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon, many people have questions about its safety, distribution and more. Several resources are available, including this informative Q&A on vaccine development and safety with Baylor vaccine expert Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi. In addition, please visit Baylor's coronavirus response site for a COVID-19 vaccine FAQ for employees and learners and other information.

Baylor Medicine COVID-19 vaccine webinars

Physicians and healthcare providers, arm yourself with information about the COVID-19 vaccine so that you can address all of your patients' questions. Join any one of the webinars below to learn more about the vaccine from Baylor experts, including Dr. Jim Kelaher, director of the Occupational Health Program, Dr. Jennifer Whitaker, assistant professor of molecular virology and microbiology and of medicine, and others. Sign up early to make sure your questions get answered.

Monday, Dec. 14, at noon
Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 5 p.m.

CARES Act distribution requests

Because of financial challenges that many have faced during the pandemic, Baylor has allowed benefits-eligible employees to request CARES Act loans and distributions from retirement plans. The deadline for submitting a CARES Act Distribution request to the BCM Retirement Team for withdrawals from the 401(a) plan at Fidelity is Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. Withdrawals from the 403(b) plan at Fidelity and TIAA can be submitted to Fidelity and TIAA through Dec. 30, 2020. This will allow for CARES Act distributions to be processed and distributed by Dec. 31, 2020. For questions, contact ask-retirement@bcm.edu or call 713-798-1500.

Awards and Recognitions

Gramatges honored for cancer survivorship research

Dr. Monica Gramatges, associate professor of pediatrics – oncology and co-director of the Long-Term Survivor Program at Texas Children's Cancer Center, received the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 2021 Northwestern Mutual Award for Excellence in Childhood Cancer Survivorship. The award recognizes an early or mid-career investigator who has demonstrated commitment to survivorship research and project funding.

King earns NHLBI grant

Dr. Katherine King, associate professor of pediatrics – infectious diseases, received an Emerging Investigator Award from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the NIH. The grant of $600,000 per year for seven years will support her project, "Impact of Infection and Inflammation on Primitive Hematopoiesis."

Shah edits new textbook

Dr. Krishna Shah, assistant professor of anesthesiology who leads Baylor Medicine's interventional pain management practice, is the co-editor of a new textbook, "Interventional Management of Chronic Visceral Pain Syndromes." See more details, including a link to purchase.

Events

Health equity event

Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center with Baylor's Center of Excellence in Health Equity Training and Research Grand Rounds presents "Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adult Healthcare," today, 12:10 – 1:10 p.m. The talk will be presented by Dr. Michael Kauth, professor of psychiatry at Baylor and director of the LGBT Health Program at the DeBakey VA. Attend via Zoom (meeting ID: 990 3597 5775; passcode: 049605).

Ethics Grand Rounds: Telehealth challenges

Join Ethics Grand Rounds on Dec. 16, at 5 p.m., for a virtual presentation on "TeleMedicine: Real Challenges for a Virtual Visit," by Dr. Stacey Rose, assistant professor of medicine and assistant dean of clinical curriculum, and Dr. Savitri Fedson, assistant professor in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy. Attend via Zoom (event ID 987 9689 2139).

College News

Submissions open: MLK essay contest

Progress Notes, Baylor's student blog, has launched an essay contest, co-sponsored by the Office of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Submissions are open to all Baylor students, trainees, faculty and staff and should be in the form of narrative reflection, discussing topics related to diversity, inclusion and equity and their importance in medicine, science and our society. See essay guidelines and submit online by Jan. 2. Submissions will be published on Progress Notes.

Diabetes study enrolling patients

Patients with atypical forms of diabetes can join the new Rare and Atypical Diabetes Network, RADIANT, to help shape the future of diabetes care. Participants will complete questionnaires and undergo genetic testing, blood draws and other procedures to learn more about their own disease and to help physicians and researchers better understand all types of diabetes. Baylor is one of the lead study centers for RADIANT. Learn more.

IT news: Web filter enhancements

In accordance with BCM policy, beginning Monday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., the Office of Information Technology will be applying an updated change to BCM's web filtering to block access to categories of secure (https) websites/webpages classified as malicious or inappropriate. This policy is already in effect for non-secure (http) sites. For more information please access the IT Portal "ITSP Announcement" and this article on web filtering.

Natural science museum discount

Baylor employees and learners can get a 15% discount on membership to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Members receive unlimited free admission to the permanent exhibition halls plus big discounts on special-ticketed exhibitions such as Body Worlds, events, Butterfly Center, Planetarium and the museum store. Get your membership online using discount code BCM15; expires Feb. 28.

Faculty in the News

Check out Baylor's news media mentions, including extensive COVID-19 coverage, 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.

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