BCM Family NewsLink, Jan. 16, 2015
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Awards and Recognitions

Johnson named one of Houston’s most influential women

Dr. Deborah Johnson, dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, has been named one of Houston’s 50 most influential women of 2014 by Houston Woman Magazine. Each honoree is nominated by a subscriber of the magazine and then selected by the staff of the publication. Johnson and other honorees were celebrated at an afternoon tea on Sunday, Jan. 11, at the St. Regis Hotel, co-hosted by Houston Woman Magazine and Chevron, and are being featured in a special edition of the magazine.

O’Malley receives award from Endocrine Society

Dr. Bert O’Malley, chair of molecular and cellular biology, was named as the recipient of the Endocrine Society’s Outstanding Innovation in Science Award. The award was established in 2013 and recognizes endocrinologists who have demonstrated innovation in scientific endocrine research or practice in support of the field of endocrinology, patients and society at large. See the Baylor press release about the award.

Wood honored by American Heart Association

Dr. Lekki Wood, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor, was the recipient of the Mark Bieber Award for Excellence in Nutrition Research by the American Heart Association. The award recognizes an early career investigator for outstanding nutrition-related research. She will be honored at the AHA’s EPI/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health conference in March. Wood is the director of an infant twin study to develop a biobehavioral model of obesity from infancy through childhood, and she also has a research interest in health disparities, particularly in Latino populations.

Events

Market Days today in Rayzor Lounge!

Stop by Market Days in Rayzor Lounge today between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to shop fresh, organic and sustainable products. Vendors are Salinas Salsa Co. (locally produced salsa), Sustain Juicery (cold-pressed organic juices) and Texas Hill Country Olive Company (olive oils, vinegars). Payments can be made by cash or credit card. Market Days at BCM is a monthly event hosted by BCM’s Resource Stewardship & Sustainability Program.

MLK Day event

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, the BCM Student National Medical Association will host “A Conversation on the Social and Political Determinants of Health,” Wednesday, Jan. 21, from noon to 1 p.m. in Kleberg Auditorium. The event will include introductory comments by Dr. Alicia Monroe, provost and senior vice president of academic and faculty affairs, followed by a faculty panel discussion. Lunch will be provided for the first 75 people in attendance.

Global Health Symposium Jan. 22

The Baylor Global Health Symposium will be held Jan. 22 in Rayzor Lounge and Cullen Auditorium. The symposium will include poster presentations by students, residents and fellows who received funding through the Baylor Global Innovation Center and presentations by faculty recipients of global health pilot project grants. The Distinguished Lecture will feature Dr. Michael Merson, founding director of the Duke Global Health Institute. See the full schedule online. RSVP for the event to global@bcm.edu with your name, title and institution.

Register for Intensive Bioethics Training Course

Healthcare professionals at Baylor who are interested in developing knowledge, skills and competence in clinical ethics can register for the weeklong Intensive Bioethics Course offered by Houston Methodist Hospital and the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor. The course, which will be held in May, consists of lectures, case discussions and panels led by nationally recognized experts in bioethics. Course topics are unique, practical and will provide immediate benefit to your work. Early bird registration ($400 savings) ends Feb. 1. Register online.

Health care policy webinars

Baylor faculty and students are invited to join weekly webinars with national healthcare policy experts on “The U.S. Healthcare System and Its Place in the World.” The webinars will be held Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. from Jan. 22 to April 23. Topics will include healthcare spending in the U.S. compared to other developed countries, access and coverage under the Affordable Care Act, challenges facing hospitals, quality innovations, provider payment and accountability models, patient safety and more. Faculty and students will be able to listen to the dialog, but not ask questions. Log on starting 15 minutes prior to each webinar. For more information and to obtain the full schedule, contact Dr. Tim Garson, director of the Health Policy Institute at the TMC, at garson@texasmedicalcenter.org.

Event to support childhood cancer research

BCM, UT Houston and Texas Children’s Hospital are teaming up to put on the third annual St. Baldrick’s head shaving event to raise money for childhood cancer research. The event will be held Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at The Ginger Man, 5607 Morningside Dr. Sign up or donate online.

Faculty development workshops

The Office of Faculty Development supports the growth of BCM faculty members as teachers, mentors and educational scholars. The office has scheduled faculty development workshops through June 2015. See the schedule and register online. For more information, email faced@bcm.edu.

College News

Scholarship info for students available in new resources

Dr. Samir Desai, assistant professor of medicine, has authored a book titled “Medical School Scholarships, Grants & Awards: Insider Advice on How to Win Scholarships” with the goal of helping students reduce the cost of attending medical school and saving them time by compiling scholarship and award information in one place. As a companion to the book the website MedSchoolAwards.com has been created to keep students updated on the latest scholarship and award news.

Getaway to Good Health

Want to get a free Fitbit to track your health? Join the Getaway to Good Health campaign sponsored by BCM BeWell! Once you sign up, you’ll receive points through Vitality, the BCM BeWell wellness portal, which you can redeem for a Fitbit Zip in the Vitality Mall to track progress. If you log miles equivalent to walking to Panama City, Fla., by the end of the campaign, you’ll receive great prizes and a chance to win a free trip. That’s about 5,000 steps per day. Incentives also are available for reaching the half-way point, New Orleans, midway through the campaign. Registration is open through Jan. 31 to benefits-eligible faculty, staff and residents. To register, visit the “Community” tab at www.powerofvitality.com. The campaign runs from Feb. 2 to Nov. 30.

Faculty in the News

A study on aspirin use by Baylor researchers was featured widely in the news this week, including in the New York Times. See Baylor's news media mentions in this week’s Faculty in the News.

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