News for BCM Faculty, July 1, 2021
Please submit items for Faculty Commons to the Communications Office.

Archive / Faculty Affairs / Today at BCM / Employee Discounts

College News

Celebrating 50 Years: The Physician Assistant Program celebrated its 50-year anniversary last week as it welcomed a new class of 40 students. There are plans for more events and activities during this cohort’s 30 months in the program. The first PA class at Baylor began in 1971 and graduated in 1973.

A New Book by Dr. Lupski: Dr. James Lupski and his former doctorate student, Dr. Claudia Gonzaga-Jauregui, are co-editors of the new book “Genomics of Rare Diseases. Understanding Disease Genetics Using Genomic Approaches.” The book offers readers a broad understanding of current knowledge on rare diseases affecting more than 350 million people worldwide from a genomics perspective. More information about the book is available in a recent post in From the Labs.

Faculty Kudos

Dr. Andrea Stolar will serve as the senior associate dean of student affairs in the School of Medicine. Stolar has served as a residency program director for psychiatry and as assistant dean for student affairs since 2017. She is a professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and a forensic psychiatrist. Stolar is the medical director of veteran court programs in the Mental Health Care Line at the Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center. A graduate of Baylor for her M.D. and residency training, she completed her fellowship at Case Western Reserve University. Stolar’s academic interests include focusing on medical students’ health and well-being.

Dr. Swathi Balaji, assistant professor of surgery, is the inaugural recipient of the H. Paul Ehrlich Rising Star in Wound Healing Award, presented by the Wound Healing Foundation. The award is given annually to a recipient who shows leadership potential in the avenue of wound healing research. Read more about her work online.

Dr. Rinki Ratnapriya, instructor in the Department of Ophthalmology, has received a Career Development Award from Research to Prevent Blindness. The four-year, $350,000 award will support her work, which focuses on age-related macular degeneration.

Faculty Opportunities

Quality improvement programs: Opportunities are available for BCM and affiliated faculty, staff and trainees in the area of quality improvement, including a six-workshop QI intermediate course and an advanced-level QI certificate program. Deadline to apply for either program is July 11; both are free of charge and offer CME. Find more information on both programs, and email CCIT-mgmt@bcm.edu with questions.

Call for Applications: The Research and Populations in Medicine (RPM) team is looking to fill a Team Based Learning (TBL) Facilitator role for 2021 – 2022. Learn more. The deadline is Friday, July 16. For additional questions, please contact Dr. Nadia Ismail.

Participants needed for Alzheimer's study: Adults 18 years and older who identify as Mexican or Mexican American are needed for a collaborative study of UH and BCM to address health disparities in Alzheimer’s disease research. The study, funded by a grant from the BCM Office of the President and part of the Engaging Communities of Hispanics/Latinos for Aging Research (ECHAR) network, is called 'Mapa de Perspectivas,' the words Spanish-speaking Mexicans and Mexican Americans use to describe Alzheimer’s. Participants can receive compensation. For more information email Jamie Fong or call (713) 798-9080.

Male surgeons needed for fertility and fatherhood study: Researchers in the Scott Department of Urology are studying patterns and opinions about fatherhood among male surgeons through an upcoming study. If interested in participating, please fill out this anonymous questionnaire. For questions regarding this survey or study, contact Dr. Larry Lipshultz at (713) 798-4001.

Call for Abstracts: The Academy of Distinguished Educators hosts a virtual annual Showcase of Educational Scholarship Sept. 17. Faculty, staff and learners are invited to submit an abstract for presentation as a virtual poster display by Aug. 2. Areas of interest include content development, instructional design/delivery, learner assessment and educational leadership.

Call for Nominations: Nominate an outstanding BCM Physician Assistant Program alumnus or BCM Physician Assistant for the Carl E. Fasser Visionary Leadership Award. This award recognizes those PA professionals who demonstrate leadership in research, education, clinical practice, administrative and/or service. This award was established in honor of Carl Fasser for his sustained demonstration of visionary leadership toward the physician assistant profession. The deadline for nominations is July 30. See more information.

Baruch A Brody Lecture in Bioethics: Nominations are now being accepted for the 2021-2022 Baruch A. Brody Award & Lecture in Bioethics. This award, a $10,000 named lectureship in Baruch Brody's honor, will recognize junior and mid-level scholars who have made important theoretical contributions to the field of bioethics. The awardee will embody the values and virtues that were central to Brody's scholarly life and work. Learn more. Deadline is July 30.

Vaccine Studies: Baylor investigators at the Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit are looking for volunteers who are age 18 and older, with no past history of COVID-19, to participate in vaccine studies. Please call (713) 798-4912, email COVID-VAX@bcm.edu or register online to get involved.

• Volunteers who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine can participate in COVID-19 vaccine studies.
• Volunteers who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can participate in COVID-19 booster vaccine studies.

Alumni Mentors: Many of Baylor's graduating medical students are seeking mentorship to help navigate the next phase of their medical career. The Office of Alumni Affairs seeks alumni mentors who can help guide these recent graduates. For any questions, please contact Nate Church.

Faculty Resources

Registration open: Clinical investigation courses: Registration is open through July 16 for the Fundamentals of Clinical Investigations (Aug. 2 - 19) and Responsible Conflict of Interest for Clinical Investigators (Aug 23 - 26), courses offered by the Clinical Scientist Training Program. Registration forms and more information are available on the CSTP courses website.

Education Grand Rounds: "Telesimulation, Teledebriefing, Telementoring, Tele-what?" is the topic of a presentation by Dr. Rami Ahmed, professor of emergency medicine and simulation division chief, Indiana University School of Medicine, at noon July 7, via Zoom. Passcode: 383992. Sponsored by the School of Health Professions and Office of Faculty Affairs & Faculty Development.

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.

Items for Faculty Commons: To submit items for this weekly email update for Baylor College of Medicine faculty, please contact us.

Connect With Baylor