News for BCM Faculty, March 31, 2022
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Caption: March 30 was National Doctors Day, a day set aside to thank doctors and physicians for their work. We asked three of our faculty members to answer some commonly searched questions about doctors, common symptoms and more.

Faculty Kudos

Dr. Pengfei Liu, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics, received the 2022 Dr. Michael S. Watson Genetic and Genomic Medicine Innovation Award from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine. This award honors an individual whose work has had a significant impact on genetic and genomic medicine through the development or implementation of innovative concepts, methods or ideas.

Dr. Richard C. Allen, professor of ophthalmology, has been elected as president-elect for the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) and will serve as president in 2023.

Dr. Murugesan Palaniappan, an assistant professor of pathology and immunology, has been awarded a $769,179 grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). His project, "Development of Next-Generation Estrogen Receptor-Mutant Inhibitors for Endocrine-Resistant Metastatic Breast Cancer" will study DNA-encoded chemical libraries to identify and develop specific drug-like probes to target estrogen receptor mutant protein in breast cancer.

This Week

Mon$yTalk: At noon April 6, the Foundation for Financial Education will host a webinar, "Financial Protection after a Security Breach." Eligible employees will receive 50 BCM BeWell points; participants may receive a maximum of 300 points for the series. Register online. Email ask-retirement@bcm.edu for more information.

CV workshop: The Office of Faculty Affairs and Development will host "Building and Refining your CV" at 4 p.m. April 11. The workshop will be virtual and show participants best practices for documenting academic achievements through a curriculum vitae. Register by emailing Debbie Fernandez at faced@bcm.edu.

National Walking Day: On April 6, Join BCM BeWell and BCM LIFE to celebrate National Walking Day. After registering, you will receive a virtual packet April 4 with resources, including walking routes, Zoom presentations and walking group opportunities. Also register to join Meghan McKay, senior athletic trainer from orthopedic surgery, as she discusses how to prevent common walking and running injuries. Topics that will also be addressed include proper footwear and local walking events. Email wellness@bcm.edu for more information.

Research symposium: The 9th annual Cardiovascular Research Institute Symposium will be from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 6. Nine renowned scientists from Baylor and the Texas Heart Institute will share their research. This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Gregg Semenza, recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Register online.

Sound of Well-Being: BCM BeWell and BCM LIFE will collaborate with the Center of Professionalism and the Texas Medical Center Orchestra to bring a series of musically inspired presentations on April 7, April 13, April 20 and April 27. Each week, presenters aim to take you on a musical journey of well-being. Register for more details. Email wellness@bcm.edu for more information.

Off-Script Storytelling Event: The Texas Medical Center's storytelling hour "Off-Script: Stories and Visual Art from the Heart of Medicine" will be from 5:30-7 p.m. April 6 in MSB 5.001 at McGovern Medical School. The event theme is "Lost or Found," and will feature stories and poems by Nancy Glass, Deborah Harter, Aliah Lavonne Tigh, Ann Stout, Hachem Bey and Murali Premkumar. Sponsored by the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy's Narrative Medicine Program, the event will be inspired by the experiences of loss, recovery, serendipity or discovery. All members of the Houston and TMC communities are invited to attend.

Coming Up

Blood drive: Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12 in Rayzor Lounge. Those who donate will receive a free T-shirt. Reserve your spot by signing up online. Earn 50 Vitality Points each time you give blood. BCM BeWell participants can earn points for donating blood up to four times per year.

Pathways to Promotion: The Office of Faculty Affairs and Development will host "Pathways to Promotion" at 4 p.m. April 18. The workshop will be virtual and will provide an overview of Baylor's promotion guidelines. Register by emailing Debbie Fernandez at faced@bcm.edu.

Huntington's Disease research: Evenings with Genetics will present "Huntington's Disease: Presymptomatic to Diagnostic Testing and Care" from 7-8:15 p.m. April 12. The webinar will discuss the background, genetics and care after diagnosis of Huntington's Disease, as well as the family journey and intricacies of learning about the genetic disease. Register online.

Alumni reunion: The 2022 Baylor College of Medicine Virtual Alumni Reunion will be April 21-22. The theme for the reunion and awards ceremony will be "What a Journey!" to reflect Baylor's 120-year history. The virtual event enables alumni to reconnect safely with each other and share exciting developments in the mission areas of healthcare, research, education and community. Register online to gain access to 20 live sessions, including many that offer complimentary CME and MOC credits.

Earth Day: From April 4-22, recycle your non-soiled scrubs, lab coats, clothes and shoes on campus. Trade your car for walking shoes for short trips around your neighborhood and see the many environmental benefits. Check out how to recycle on campus. Find more from BCM BeWell.

Oshman Lecture: The Department of Molecular and Human Genetics is hosting Dr. Ardem Patapoutian, molecular biologist, neuroscientist and Nobel Laureate, as the speaker for this year's Oshman Lecture at noon April 12 in the Cullen Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public; a reception will follow. A "Conversation Hour" featuring Dr. Patapoutain will be at 8:30 a.m. April 13 in the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute Auditorium, 1250 Moursund Street.

Faculty Opportunities

Collaborative research: Dr. Manish Shah, associate professor of pediatrics in emergency medicine, is leading a collaborative research project, which aims to improve the usage of anti-seizure medication dosages by paramedics in emergency situations that involve pediatric patients. The study, the Pediatric Dose Optimization for Seizures in Emergency Medical Services (PediDOSE), requires exception from informed consent (EFIC) and is in need of feedback from the community. You are invited to learn more about the Houston area collaborators and the study procedures and to give feedback.

Mentors needed: The Department of Molecular and Human Genetics is seeking Baylor faculty to participate as mentors in the All of Us Evening with Genetics Research Program. Mentors will assist underrepresented early career (senior post-doc and new faculty) investigators in advancing their research projects using NIH All of Us Research Program data. The program will kick off with an Underrepresented Biomedical Researcher Faculty Summit on May 19-21. Send questions to AllofUsEveningswithGenetics@bcm.edu.

Open Positions

CTAPS Faculty Facilitator: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (CTAPS) is presented during the fall semester of the MS1 year. The course teaches skills related to self-regulated learning, problem solving and critical thinking like a physician. The candidate must have an M.D. or D.O. and board certification or eligibility in their specialty. See eligibility criteria. Please send application by close of business on April 6 to Jazmin.Martinez@bcm.edu. For more information, email Dr. Sarah Bezek at bezek@bcm.edu.

Assistant Dean for Admissions, M.D. Program: The Senior Dean of the Schools of Medicine and Health Professions is seeking applications for assistant dean for admissions for the M.D. program. The assistant dean oversees the operation of the admissions office, recruitment, admissions committee, and development and implementation of the admissions policies, processes and procedures.

The ideal candidate must have an M.D. and board certification in their specialty. Interested applicants can view the full job description. Applicants should complete the SOM Education Leadership Role Application and include all required documents listed above into the application's "File Attachment" section by the close of business April 8. For more information, please email medschool@bcm.edu.

Announcements

More than 200 faculty members signed a letter and sent it to Attorney General Merrick Garland to express concerns about the Department of Justice China Initiative. This open letter, signed by 219 faculty, was adopted from the letter initiated by the Stanford University faculty group and signed by faculty groups from Stanford, Yale, University of California Berkeley and other colleges. On Feb. 23, the DOJ announced an end to the China Initiative and is making changes to its programs that aim to protect against economic espionage.

Grow. Perform. Succeed with E-Learning: Learning G.P.S. is the online learning system that offers a wide range of professional and career development courses designed to help faculty and staff grow in their current positions and prepare for the future. Benefits-eligible employees have access to a comprehensive catalog of courses, videos, books and certifications. Get started .

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