NewsLink, Dec. 16, 2016
Please submit items for the weekly Newslink to Dana Benson.

Archive / BCM Family / BCM News on Twitter

Awards and Recognitions

College awards

Baylor College of Medicine recently landed top spots in two significant rankings – the World's Most Innovative Universities and Houston's 2016 Top Workplaces. At No. 67 on Reuter's list of innovative universities, Baylor was noted for its new licensing transactions and patent applications in fiscal year 2016, with a highlight on the College's partnership with Cell Medica for development of immunotherapeutic products based on Baylor's natural killer T-cell technology. Baylor was ranked No. 25 among Houston's 2016 Top Workplaces by the Houston Chronicle. Top Workplaces are based on the results of an employee feedback survey administered by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement. Several aspects of workplace culture were measured, including alignment, effectiveness, leadership and engagement, as well as issues such as pay, benefits and flexibility.

Best named to TMA Foundation board

Dr. Jessica Best, assistant professor of medicine – emergency medicine, was appointed to serve on the Texas Medical Association Foundation Board of Trustees. The foundation, the philanthropic arm of TMA, raises funds to support the public health, quality of care and science initiatives of the association and the field of medicine. Best will represent the TMA Resident and Fellow Section on the board. She has chaired the section since 2014, and she represents TMA in the American Medical Association Resident and Fellow Section.

Rabin appointed to COG committee

Dr. Karen Rabin, associate professor of pediatric oncology and director of the Texas Children's Cancer Center's Leukemia Program, was recently appointed to the Children's Oncology Group Nominating Committee. The COG Nominating Committee is responsible for selecting candidates for consideration for COG leadership positions.

Sikora named to cancer groups

Dr. Andrew Sikora, associate professor of otolaryngology and Carolyn Weiss Law Translational Research Scholar, recently was appointed to the steering committee of two national cooperative trials groups. He now serves on the Primary Untreated Locally Advanced subcommittee of the National Cancer Institute Head and Neck Cancer Steering Committee, and the NRG Oncology Head and Neck Cancer Core Committee.

Events

Breakthrough Prize ceremony featuring Dr. Huda Zoghbi to air Sunday

Fox will air a one-hour version of the Breakthrough Prize ceremony, at which Dr. Huda Zoghbi was one of the prize recipients in the area of life sciences, on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. locally. It also will be shown globally on National Geographic in 171 countries and 45 languages. Read more about Dr. Zoghbi's research and the Breakthrough Prize.

Managing to the Mission training

Managing to the Mission, a training class for those who are in a management role or on a career track to become a manager, will be held Jan. 11-12 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Topics will include leadership assessment, teambuilding, communication skills, effective meeting presentations, delegation, best practices at BCM and an overview of key policies. Register online. Additional classes will be held throughout spring 2017. Class size is limited to 20 participants. For more information, email Tomeka Stewart.

College News

Holiday shuttle schedule

Due to anticipated low ridership, the BCM Shuttle Service will be operating on an abbreviated schedule on Friday, Dec. 23. Only the Red Shuttle Route will be in operation, starting at main Baylor at 6:45 a.m. and making its final stop at main Baylor at 4 p.m. Its route will be main Baylor – Baylor Clinic – Jamail Specialty Care Center – Baylor Medical Center – VA – McGovern. For questions, contact Jemi Purcell at 713-798-5747.

Making changes to benefits

If you or one of your dependents has experienced a major life event or qualified change in status you can make certain corresponding changes to your benefits. Examples include marriage, birth of child, termination of employment, etc. If you need to make a change to your benefits, remember that for most life events you must submit your request within 31 days from the date of the qualifying event. Visit the benefits Changes during the Year page to find instructions on how to submit a change in benefits request. Questions? Email ask-insurance@bcm.edu or call 713-798-1500.

Faculty in the News

Dr. Julie Nangia was interviewed widely in the news on her study on a device worn during chemotherapy to reduce hair loss. Read Baylor's news media mentions in this week's Faculty in the News. Interested in science news? Read the latest in From the Labs.

Follow BCM