News for BCM Faculty, Oct. 20, 2022
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College News

Caption: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its COVID-19 guidance. The updates apply to all employees, trainees and students and relate to testing before returning to work or school. Read more on the Return to Work and Return to Training guidelines.

• Employees and learners with symptoms consistent with COVID need a negative test before returning to work/school; there are several testing options.
• Employees and learners in close contact in the past 10 days with someone positive for COVID can continue work or school while masking for a 10-day period, while testing on days 1, 3 and 5.
• Employees and learners with a positive COVID test can return to work or school on day 8 with a negative test on day 5-7, or day 11 if the negative test on day 5-7 was still positive.

Faculty Kudos

Norton Rose Fulbright: The Academy of Distinguished Educators has awarded three Norton Rose Fulbright Educational Grants to six faculty members.

• Dr. Betty Del Rio Rodriguez, assistant professor of pediatrics, and Dr. Jennifer Benjamin, assistant professor of pediatrics for "What is in that Ear? A Blended Approach for Diagnosing Ear Infections in Primary Care Clinics Utilizing Digital Otoscope."
• Dr. Doris Lin, associate professor of medicine, and Dr. Joslyn Fisher, associate professor of medicine, for "Implementing a Facilitated Peer Mentoring Program to Foster Career Advancement and Bridge a Critical Gap in Academic Hospital Medicine."
• Dr. Bani Maheshwari Ratan, associate professor of obstetrics & gynecology, and Dr. Teri Turner, professor of pediatrics for "Mind Makeover: An E-Learning Module for Residents to Foster Growth Mindset in Medical Students."

Isabel Valdez, PA-C, assistant professor of medicine, and Elissa Love, PA-C, assistant professor in the Physician Assistant Program in the School of Health Professions, are the 2022 recipients of the Carl E. Fasser Visionary Leadership Award. Named for the former longtime director of the Physician Assistant Program at Baylor, the award recognizes excellence by a physician assistant in education, research, clinical practice and service.

The National Arab American Medical Association Houston Chapter has named Dr. Hana El Sahly, professor of molecular virology and microbiology, the Houston Ben Qurrah Honoree for 2023, for her work during the pandemic, which affected national and global health policy and mRNA vaccines. The 12th Biennial Ben Qurrah Award gala will be Feb. 4, 2023.

Dr. Sanghamitra Misra, professor of pediatrics, has been elected chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics section on integrative medicine for a two-year term. As chair-elect, Misra was instrumental in creating the first strategic collaboration between the AAP, Academic Pediatric Association and the National Institutes of Health to improve the quality of rigorous research in integrative pediatrics.

Dr. Rachel Arey, assistant professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Precision Environmental Health, has been awarded the National Institutes of Health Director's New Innovator Award. She will receive a $1.5 million grant to study the molecular mechanisms of learning and memory in nematodes.

Coming Up

Transition Healthcare: The 23rd annual Chronic Illness and Disability Conference: Transition from Pediatric to Adult-Based Care will be Oct. 27-28, presented virtually by Baylor and Texas Children's Hospital. Geared toward healthcare providers, as well as young adults with a chronic illness or a disability and their parents or guardians, the conference will address the knowledge, skills and services needed for a successful transition from pediatric to adult care. Register now.

DeBakey Video Testimonials: To celebrate the DeBakey High School for Health Professions 50th anniversary, we're collecting video messages from our alumni. Wish DeBakey High School a happy anniversary alongside your fellow alumni in
video that will be featured at the celebratory gala on Oct. 29. Submit a video.

Fun Run and Walk: At 7 a.m. Oct. 29, join DeBakey High School for Health Professions for a free fun run and walk. Participants can either run or walk a route that starts at DeBakey High School, 2545 Pressler Street, and tours the Texas Medical Center. Snacks, water and a timer will be provided for those interested. Please complete the RSVP form.

Faculty Opportunities

Education Hackathon: The Hackathon's kickoff event will be at noon Nov. 17 in Kleberg Auditorium. There will be a keynote from Dr. Louis Deslauriers, director of science teaching and learning at Harvard. Teams will then work to form innovative solutions to the hackathon problem and share their ideas in a competitive pitch event on March 8 for the chance to win $25,000 in grant support for their idea. This second annual Education Hackathon is sponsored by the Department of Education, Innovation & Technology.

Associate Course Director for Infectious Diseases Course: The Dean of the School of Medicine is soliciting nominations for an associate course director for the MS1 Infectious Diseases course. Email Chloe Nguyen at chloe.nguyen@bcm.edu for the job description. Please upload electronic versions of the application materials using the Curriculum Education Leadership Role Application Form no later than Oct. 28. For questions, please contact Chloe Nguyen at chloe.nguyen@bcm.edu; Dr. Stacey Rose at srrose@bcm.edu; Dr. David Rowley at drowley@bcm.edu; Dr. Cara Foldes at cfoldes@bcm.edu.

Forensic Evaluation Training: From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 19, the Physicians for Human Rights at Baylor will host forensic evaluation training. Learn to conduct medical and psychiatric forensic examinations to document compelling evidence of physical and psychological trauma for asylum seekers. The in-person training will be in rooms N311 and N315 in the Alkek building at main Baylor. Registration is $20 for faculty and staff, but free for students. The activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Register and find more information.

Available services

Wellness Focus Group: Baylor is seeking faculty to participate in a focus group on faculty engagement and wellness, with the goal of identifying actionable ways leadership can better support the community. Participation involves a time commitment of 45-60 minutes, with a virtual meeting on Microsoft Teams. All participant responses will be confidential. If interested, please complete a 1-2 minute survey. For questions, email Steve Caloudas at steve.caloudas@bcm.edu.

White coat recycling: The annual lab coat and scrubs recycling event, sponsored by Baylor's Resource Stewardship and Sustainability Program will be Oct. 24-28. Clean and uncontaminated garments will be accepted at the first floor mailboxes in the McNair building and in the E hallway located between Rayzor Lounge and the courtyard at main Baylor.

HPV study: Researchers are looking for male participants between the ages 50 and 64 for a screening trial aimed at early detection of HPV-related throat cancer. If interested, please register here. For any questions, please contact Giselle Santillana at (713) 798-3261 or hpvtrial@bcm.edu.

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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