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News for BCM Faculty, April 25, 2019
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CVRI Symposium: The Seventh Annual Symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Institute offered faculty and trainees from Baylor and across the Texas Medical Center the opportunity to learn about the latest, most innovative research related to heart disease. In addition to keynote lectures from Dr. Mariell Jessup, chief science and medical officer of the American Heart Association, and Dr. Mark Sussman, director of the Integrated Regenerative Research Institute at San Diego State University, the April 10 symposium featured eight lectures and 81 posters. Read more about it in From the Labs.

Faculty Senate Action: The Faculty Senate this week approved a resolution on Faculty Group Practice compensation implementation outcomes that arose from senators' discussions with faculty constituents. The resolution recommends that the College conduct an annual, detailed analysis of the impact of the new FGP compensation plan on FGP faculty member engagement across mission areas.

Senate Elections: If you have a passion for Baylor College of Medicine and have served on the faculty since at least July 1, 2017, you could be a Faculty Senator!

  • Nominations are open through noon Wednesday, May 1, for the Senate officer positions of Chair-Elect and Secretary as well as for seats representing faculty in Family & Community Medicine, Medicine (2 seats), Molecular & Human Genetics, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Center for Space Medicine, Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Institute for Clinical & Translational Research and faculty at large.
  • Additionally, the School of Health Professions, School of Medicine, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Ben Taub Hospital and DeBakey VA Medical Center have open seats on the Senate. Information and a link to the application are online.

Faculty Town Hall: Join President Paul Klotman for a town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. The meeting focuses on results of the Faculty Satisfaction Survey that almost 60 percent of Baylor faculty completed last fall. A Zoom link - (713) 798-9666, meeting ID: 869 345 645 - is available for those who cannot attend in person.

Faculty Kudos

Dr. Xanthi Couroucli, associate professor of pediatrics – neonatology, was honored with the Clinician Educator Award by the Pediatric Assembly of the American Thoracic Society in recognition of her outstanding and innovative clinical and teaching abilities. She will accept the award at the ATS International Conference May 19 in Dallas.

Dr. Carla Davis, associate professor of pediatrics, chief of the section of immunology, allergy and rheumatology at Texas Children's Hospital and director of the Food Allergy Program, was appointed to the board of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. She will serve as an at-large director from the interest sections.

Dr. Hashem El-Serag, professor and chair of medicine, becomes the 114th president of the American Gastroenterological Association in May. Read about his journey from “stateless Palestinian refugee” in Libya to renowned physician-scientist and leader at the College in this Gastroenterology profile by Dr. Fashia Kanwal, professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology & hepatology.

Dr. Ellen Friedman, professor of otolaryngology and director of the Center for Professionalism, received a Triological Citation award at the Triological Society Section Meeting in San Diego earlier this year in appreciation for career mentorship and leadership. The Triological Society is the leading professional organization in the field of otolaryngology.

Dr. Yohannes Ghebre, associate professor of radiation oncology, has been invited by the National Institute of Health Center for Scientific Review to serve as a member of the Lung Injury, Repair and Remodeling Study Section through June 30, 2025. Membership in NIH's Study Section is merit based and provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the national biomedical research effort.

Dr. Sanjay Mathew, professor and vice chair for research in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, was elected to the Board of Directors for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America at its annual conference in Chicago. He also received a Member of Distinction Award.

image The NIH Genomic Centers of Infectious Diseases Program has awarded the College a grant of up to $19.5 million to study mucosal infection (bacteria, viruses and parasites) through the use of genomics and organoid model systems – cell-derived, in vitro 3D organ models that enable the study of biological processes. Dr. Joseph Petrosino, professor and interim chair of molecular virology & microbiology, and Dr. Richard Gibbs, Woffard Cain Chair and director of the Human Genome Sequencing Center, are co-principal investigators for the grant.

Faculty Awards Day: Cheer for your peers at this omnibus awards ceremony encompassing the Clark Faculty Service Award, Norton Rose Fulbright Faculty Excellence Awards, Barbara and Corbin J. Robertson, Jr. Presidential Award for Excellence in Education, John P. McGovern Outstanding Teacher Award, Faculty Awards for Excellence in Patient Care, and Ben and Margaret Love Foundation Bobby Alford Award for Academic Clinical Professionalism. The event is set for 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor, with a reception to follow. See 2019 Norton Rose Fulbright and Patient Care award winners online.

College Events

McLean Lectures: The 47th Annual Verna and Marrs McLean Lectures in Biochemistry are this afternoon, April 25, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. At 2 p.m., Dr. Nahum Sonenberg, professor and Gilman Cheney Chair in Biochemistry and the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, speaks on “TOR’s translational branch: a key regulator of cancer progression and neuronal function.” He is followed at 3:35 p.m. by Dr. Michael N. Hall, professor of biochemistry at the University of Basel and 2019 recipient of Brupbacher Prize for Cancer Research, whose topic is “mTOR signaling in growth and metabolism.”

Quality & Safety: The College’s Sixth Annual Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference is set for 4 - 8 p.m. today, April 25, at Onstead Auditorium, 6767 Bertner Ave. Led by Dr. Nana Coleman, assistant dean for GME, the event focuses on the value of teamwork in improving healthcare quality and safety as well as preparation, accreditation and educational compliance. Register at the door.

Refugees: The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services and Physicians for Human Rights at Baylor College of Medicine sponsor the Second Annual Refugee Mental Health and Wellness Conference, Saturday, April 27, at United Way of Greater Houston. This year's keynote speaker is Qusay Hussein, an advocate for refugees and people with disabilities and mental health problems. Special topics of the conference this year will include border health and human trafficking. Register online.

Alumni Awards: Join the Alumni Association in celebrating the College’s alumni and faculty for excellence in achievement and service. The Alumni Association Awards Dinner starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at the St. Regis Hotel Houston. Online registration is open.

Faculty Opportunities

Curriculum Committee: The Medical School Curriculum Committee is soliciting nominations for three faculty member positions. Interested faculty members from all disciplines are encouraged to consider applying for this important leadership role by close of business Friday, May 10. 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.

Call for Posters: The Center of Excellence in Health Equity, Training and Research invites submissions for poster presentation proposals from faculty, staff, trainees and students for the COE Summer Research Summit June 18. Posters should highlight innovative research in health equity or health disparities that will contribute to the promotion and improvement of minority health and the elimination of health disparities. For consideration, please email your abstract by Tuesday, April 30. Requirements and additional information are available on the COE website.

Call for Papers: The American Medical Association Journal of Ethics seeks manuscripts exploring the ethical complexities of cancer prevention as a global public health imperative for an upcoming theme issue edited by Dr. Zachery Tabb, pediatrics resident. More information can be found online (scroll to the February 2020 issue). The deadline for submissions is May 31 and there is no charge with either submission or publication.

Faculty Resources

Digital Assets: The BCM Digital Governance Subcommittee has launched a new webpage to address the use of the College’s digital assets. It provides a reference on standards for use and management of BCM-owned websites, mobile apps and social media. Topics covered include accessibility, analytics, branding, content and style, information security, mobile app development, social media, and web design and creation. The Digital Governance Subcommittee is an arm of the Information Executive Committee, chaired by Chief Operating Officer Joe Doty, with mission leaders and other executives serving as members. Email the group with thoughts, questions and suggestions.

Financial Wellness Week: Human Resources hosts workshops on a wide range of retirement and financial planning topics Monday through Thursday, April 29 – May 2. Employees can earn up to 200 BCM BeWell Vitality points for attending. Workshops offered at the Kleberg, Cullen and McNair locations will be available for viewing through Zoom. (Vitality points are not available for Zoom workshops.) For additional information, email ask-retirement@bcm.edu or call (713) 798-1500.

History of Medicine: Dr. Victor Saenz, executive director of the Houston Institute, speaks on “A brief history of research ethics: From Nuremberg and beyond” at noon Tuesday, April 30, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor, as part of the elective course sponsored by the College, McGovern Medical School and TMC Library.

Refining Your CV: The Office of Faculty Development offers a workshop to help you develop and strengthen your Curriculum Vitae, 3:30 - 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, in Room N317, main Baylor. RSVP to attend.

Professionalism: Dr. Nalini Nadkarni, University of Utah-based botanist, speaks on the importance of teamwork and compassion from the patient’s point of view at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 9, in Room 201A, main Baylor. A number of years ago, she sustained a life-threatening injury while conducting research in the Costa Rican rainforest canopy and has become a powerful speaker about the recovery experience. Please note that today’s Profiles in Professionalism talk by Dr. Lobsang Tenzin Negi has been cancelled.

Medical Ethics & Health Policy: Dr. Savitri Fedson, associate professor in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, presents "Raising Consciousness? Minimally Conscious States, Brain Death and Our Growing Understanding of Disorders of Consciousness," 6:30 - 8 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at Damian’s Cucina Italiana. Register online to attend.

For a Good Cause

Career Day: Healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, medical assistants, social workers and others, are invited to share information about their careers with 8th grade students at the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan annual Health Career Day, noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 21. The health science magnet middle school, located in the Third Ward, is one of the BCM-HISD partner schools. Learn more online about this opportunity or for additional information, email Beatriz Perez-Sweeney.


Attention Clinicians: See Clinical Events

Clinical Seminars

Venom: Learn how to recognize and treat snake bites, spider bites, scorpion and jellyfish stings and other envenomations in this conference led by Dr. Spencer Greene, director of medical toxicology consultation services. The event is Tuesday, April 30, in Cullen Auditorium, followed by a tour and reception at the Houston Zoo. Register online to attend.

Pri-Med Southwest Conference, developed in partnership with the College and course directors Drs. Stephen Greenberg, Michael Fordis and Richard Hamill, offers more than 40 educational sessions designed to equip healthcare professionals and trainees with the latest knowledge and tools in patient care; up to 21 CME credits available. The event is Wednesday through Friday, May 1 – 3, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Register online at a special rate (code BaylorVIP); students and residents may attend free of charge.

Oropharynx Cancer: Dr. Andrew Sikora, associate professor of otolaryngology – head & neck surgery, and Dr. Vlad Sandulache, assistant professor in the department, lead “Innovations in Risk Stratification and Treatment of Veterans with Oropharynx Cancer” Thursday and Friday, May 9 – 10, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. The conference, sponsored by The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and the College, summarizes OPC epidemiology, clinical outcomes and disease management in veterans and presents preclinical and translational research into molecular and immune mechanisms of OPC etiology, progression and treatment resistance.

Clinical Event

Evenings with Genetics: Dr. Lorraine Potocki, professor of molecular & human genetics at Baylor, and Dr. Jordan Kemere, assistant professor of medicine present “When everyone’s a friend: How teens with Williams syndrome can develop independence as adults.” The public seminar starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, at the Children’s Museum of Houston. Admission is free but registration for this event is required.


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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