Faculty Commons, March 1 - 7, 2018
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Celebrating Women in Science & Medicine: March is Women’s History Month and the College is celebrating with engaging events for faculty, staff and trainees:

• Networking Event for all members of the BCM community to build new contacts and relationships and join group discussions on leadership and advancement at the College, 5:30 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, in Room M112 and Alkek Lobby, main Baylor. To attend, RSVP today, March 1, to InstitutionalDiversity@bcm.edu.
• Health Equity Grand Rounds featuring Dr. Margaret Nosek, professor of physical medicine & rehabilitation, speaking on “Women with Disabilities at Your Doorstep” at noon March 20 in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. CME credit is available.
• Women of Excellence Lecture, “Share the Vision Leadership: Facing the Future Together” by Dr. Ruth Simmons, the first African-American woman to lead an Ivy League institution and now president of Prairie View A&M University, at noon March 30 in Kleberg Auditorium, main Baylor. Box lunches are available for the first 75 attendees.

Doximity Hospital Vote: The U.S. News & World Report Hospital Rankings voting period has begun on Doximity.com. These rankings are important to hospitals – including the College’s joint venture hospital, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center – and their specialty areas. Physician voting influences hospital reputation, one of the criteria used in the rankings. All physicians are encouraged to participate in the 2018-19 rankings and to vote for Baylor St. Luke’s.

STAT Madness: The team of Dr. Stephen Curley, professor of surgery, Matthew Ware, instructor of surgical research, and Dr. Stuart Corr, assistant professor of surgery, are contenders in the STAT Madness bracket-style competition to find the past year’s best medical and scientific innovations. Their CorleyWare device offers the potential to better remove and treat cancer tumors that grow around vital veins and arteries. You can vote online.

Faculty Kudos

CPRIT Grants: The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas has awarded College researchers $3,568,639 for three new grants focused on tobacco control, cancer screening and novel treatments for cancer in children and adults:

Dr. Roger Zoorob, the Richard M. Kleberg, Sr. Professor and Chair in Family Medicine, received a $1,472,918 tobacco control and lung cancer screening grant to achieve equitable access to lung cancer screening and smoking cessation treatment through a comprehensive primary care and community health approach.

Dr. Richard Hurwitz, associate professor of pediatrics - oncology and member of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, was awarded a $1,195,721 grant as an individual investigator for cancer research in children and adolescents. His project will study the viability of using microwafers as a novel drug or gene delivery vehicle for non-invasive treatment of retinoblastoma.

Dr. Yongcheng Song, associate professor of pharmacology and chemical biology and faculty senator, received $900,000 as an individual investigator to support his work in using small molecule probes to target histone acetyltransferase enzymes, which play a role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Song is also a DLDCCC member.

Dr. Jason Ahuero, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery, is featured in this week’s Meet Your Senator article on the faculty intranet portal. He represents the interests of the faculty at large on the Senate.

Dr. Mary Estes, Cullen Endowed Chair of Molecular and Human Virology, will receive two American Gastroenterological Association awards during Digestive Disease Week in June. She was awarded the William Beaumont Prize in Gastroenterology, recognizing a unique, outstanding contribution to the field, and the Distinguished Mentor Award, marking the first time an AGA member has been awarded two recognition prizes in the same year.

Dr. Sameer Sheth, associate professor of neurosurgery, has been named the newest McNair Scholar at the College. As a functional neurosurgeon, he treats disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and epilepsy. These procedures often involve placing electrodes that can detect abnormal brain activity or can deliver electrical stimulation to restore dysfunctional brain circuits. Sheth's research uses these opportunities to learn how the brain solves complex problems and makes difficult decisions.

College Events

DLDCCC Symposium: Dr. Cornelis Melief of Leiden University Medical Centre and Dr. Luc G.T. Morris of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are keynote speakers at the 15th Annual Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Symposium, Friday, March 2, in Cullen Auditorium and Rayzor Lounge, main Baylor. Register online.

Huckins Lecture: Dr. Kevin Eva, associate director of health education and senior scientist with the University of British Columbia, presents the Claire Huckins Medical Education Lectureship at 9 a.m. Friday, March 2, in Room M112, main Baylor. His topic is "What Learning to Diagnose Pneumonia Can Teach Us About Judging Competence in the Health Professions."

Early Voting: You may vote in the Democratic or Republican Party Primary Elections in any early voting location through 7 p.m. tomorrow, March 2. Election Day is Tuesday, March 6.

Alford Service: The memorial service for Dr. Bobby R. Alford has been set for 1 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors, 1010 Bering Drive. Dr. Alford, Distinguished Service Professor, chancellor emeritus and longtime chair of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the College, died Tuesday, Feb. 20. Read about his legacy on the website.

Honor Society Ceremonies: Two national medical honor societies will recognize outstanding faculty, students and trainees at induction ceremonies Wednesday, March 7:

• Thirty-one medical students, 19 residents and three fellows will be inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society from noon to 1 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. Gold Humanism Honor Society recognizes, supports and promotes the values of humanism and professionalism in medicine.
• Alpha Omega Alpha will initiate 25 medical students, three residents, one fellow, one alumna and four faculty members in a ceremony and banquet starting at 6:30 p.m. at Third Coast Restaurant in the Texas Medical Center Commons. AΩA members are invited to attend; contact Yvette Pinales to RSVP. A lifelong honor, membership confers recognition for a physician's dedication to the profession and art of healing.

Medical Student Symposium: The 18th annual Henry J.N. Taub & James K. Alexander Medical Student Research Symposium is set for 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. Dr. Brendan Lee, Robert and Janice McNair Endowed Chair in Molecular & Human Genetics, delivers the keynote address on “Translating Discovery to Therapy in Genetic Diseases of the Skeleton” at 12:15 p.m.

Faculty Opportunities

Precision Medicine RFA: The deadline has been extended to 5 p.m. tomorrow, March 2, for precision medicine and population health applications from multi-disciplinary teams. The project must leverage large data sets that are currently available at BCM or at an affiliated hospital or health network and must be relevant to population-based clinical care, such as diagnosis, risk prediction, treatment, prevention and healthcare delivery. Guidelines are available online.

Curriculum Committee: The Medical School Curriculum Committee is soliciting nominations for the vice chair position, which will be open in July 2018. Interested faculty members from all disciplines are encouraged to consider applying for this important leadership role by close of business Friday, March 2. The Curriculum Committee has the integrated institutional responsibility for the overall design, management and evaluation of a coherent and coordinated curriculum. For more information, please see the announcement.

Health Equity Scholars Program: Applications are now being accepted for the Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training and Research Scholars Program 2018-2019 cohort of undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students, clinical fellows and junior faculty. The center seeks scholars who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting social justice and health equities and leadership in addressing educational, societal and healthcare needs of racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. Information is available online. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 2.

Faculty Resources

Life Science Entrepreneurship: Rice University’s Dr. Jack Gill and Dr. Paul Cherukuri lead this course that discusses the major trends and innovations driving the creation of products in established companies and venture capital-backed startup companies. Live, ongoing case studies are presented by guest entrepreneurs of biotech, medical device and healthcare informatics companies. The course is 4 – 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 12 – April 19, at the BioScience Research Collaborative. Search for "MGMT/BIO 633" on the website or contact Rice Business for more information.

CSTP Applications: The Clinical Scientist Training Program currently is accepting applications for the session starting in August. The program trains junior faculty, sub-specialty fellows and senior residents for careers in academic research. It awards Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in clinical research and a one-year Certificate of Added Qualification in clinical investigation through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Find more information online or contact Kelly Levitt.

For a Good Cause

Marfan Walk: Dr. Joseph Coselli, professor and chief of cardiothoracic surgery, invites you to join Coselli's Crusaders at noon Saturday, March 3, at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St., for the 3rd Annual Walk for Victory benefitting The Marfan Foundation. To help raise awareness for Marfan syndrome, see the website.

BP MS 150: Team BCM seeks riders and volunteers for the BP MS 150 bike ride April 28 – 29. Participants will receive a free team jersey, catered lunches, massages and more! Riders should complete the internal cycling team registration and register for the BP MS 150 using the password: BCM. To volunteer, complete the volunteer registration. The team will hold a silent auction of sports memorabilia, gift cards and more on April 5, with proceeds benefiting the MS 150 campaign. If you would like to donate an auction item or have questions, email wellness@bcm.edu.

Attention Clinicians: See Clinical Calendar

Call for Nominations

Love Award: Nominations are open for the Ben and Margaret Love Foundation Bobby Alford Award for Academic Clinical Professionalism. Candidates are considered for their professionalism in patient care, clinical research and education as well as their humanism. The opportunity to nominate a faculty candidate for this prestigious award is limited those at the highest levels of leadership at the College or affiliated institutions. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, March 9. Nomination information is available online.

Clinical Seminars

TMC Health Policy Course: Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, is a panelist on “The Public Health System,” 5:30 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, on the 6th floor of 6550 Bertner Ave. Attendance is free and open to the public. More information is available online.

Global Surgery: Dr. Ray Price of the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery is the keynote speaker and a number of Baylor faculty members are special guests at the Global Surgery Symposium, 12:30 – 7 p.m. Friday, March 9, at Jones Business School, Rice University. Register online. The symposium is part of the 6th Annual Global Health Conference March 9 – 10 at Rice. More information is available online.

Neuromuscular Disorders: The 4th Annual Neuromuscular Disorders Seminar: Diagnostic Modalities is scheduled for April 7 at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center McNair Campus. Dr. Aziz Shaibani, clinical professor of medicine, is the course director for this CME activity. The deadline to register online is April 1.

SDS Congress: The 9th International Congress on Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome is set for April 8 – 11 at the Rice BioScience Research Collaborative. Chaired by Dr. Tarek Elghetany, professor of pathology, and Dr. Alison Bertuch, associate professor of pediatrics – hematology & oncology and molecular & human genetics, the conference focuses on the latest information about this rare condition that affects the bone marrow, pancreas and skeletal system. Early registration ends Thursday, March 8.

Policy Prescriptions: The 5th Annual Policy Prescriptions Symposium, directed by Dr. Cedric Dark, assistant professor of emergency medicine, is scheduled for April 20 at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center McNair Campus. It provides communities and clinicians with timely and insightful evidence-based analysis designed to shape policy governing healthcare. Online registration is open now.

Attention Researchers: See Research Calendar

Call for Applications

Junior Faculty Seed Funding: Full-time, tenure-track assistant professors appointed on or after Jan. 1, 2015, are eligible to submit a clinical or basic science research proposal for a $30,000 seed award for use in fiscal year 2019. Application instructions and frequently asked questions are available online. The application deadline is 5 p.m. April 9.

Research Forum

Neuroscience Seminar: Dr. Ryohei Yasuda, scientific director of the Max Planck Florida Institute, speaks on "Biochemical computation in single dendritic spines" at 11 a.m. Friday, March 2, in Room N315, main Baylor.

Physiology Seminar: Dr. Andrea Berman, assistant professor of biological sciences at University of Pittsburgh, presents "Governing Translation: LARP1 Inhibits Protein Synthesis at the Most Fundamental Level" at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 6, in Room 409B, main Baylor.

Core Lab Class: The Human Stem Cell Core offers a three-day training class on the "Basics of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Culture" each quarter. The class includes didactic instruction and lab practice. The next session will be held in late March or early April. For more information about registration and tuition, please email core director Dr. Jean Kim.

Research Resources

From the Labs: Read how Human Genome Sequencing Center members and faculty senators Dr. Jeffrey Rogers, associate professor, and Dr. Kim Worley, professor, found that sooty mangabeys are resistant to simian immunodeficiency virus in this week’s blog post. You can receive weekly articles on Baylor's research and innovation highlights as they are posted by going to From the Labs and entering your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the right. Or get a digest at the end of the month with links to the articles posted that month by emailing science writer Ana Rodríguez with "Subscribe me to From the Labs" in the subject line.

Funding Opportunities: See the Office of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion and Equity’s list of funding opportunities for research on healthcare disparities and social determinants of health. The Office of Research offers a list of privately funded awards currently accepting applications for March.

Questions or Comments?

Faculty Senate: Please contact your Senator for faculty-related questions or suggestions.

Institutional Policy Committee: Contact the Policy Committee to learn more about College policies and procedures.

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