News for BCM Faculty, Nov. 8, 2018
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From the Labs: November’s Image of the Month shows hour 45 of fruit fly eye development, as observed in the lab of Dr. Hugo Bellen, professor in the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and faculty senator. Photo courtesy of the Bellen lab and the American Journal of Human Genetics. You can receive twice-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.

Have Your Say: Confidentially express your opinions and contribute to improving your work environment by participating in the AAMC StandPoint Faculty Engagement Survey. On Oct. 30, all full- and part-time faculty received an email invitation from StandPointSurveys@aamc.org with a link to take the survey. Please check your email (including junk folders) to begin. For more information, visit the engagement survey website.

Faculty Kudos

Dr. Fabrizia Faustinella, associate professor of family & community medicine, will receive the American College of Physicians - Texas Chapter Laureate Award at the ACP chapter meeting in Austin later this month. The award honors internal medicine physicians who have demonstrated excellence in patient care, education, research and community service.

Dr. Toi Harris, associate provost of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion & Equity and Student Services, was named chair elect of the Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) at the Association of American Medical Colleges meeting in Austin last week. GWIMS advances the full and successful participation and inclusion of women within academic medicine by addressing gender equity, recruitment and retention, awards and recognition and career advancement.

Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, has published a new book, Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism, in which he draws on his experience as a vaccine scientist, pediatrician and autism dad to praise the effectiveness of vaccines and explain what experts are starting to learn about autism. Read his TMC News interview.

Dr. Seema Lalani, associate professor of molecular & human genetics, recently received Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute funding to support a conference for patients with TANGO2 disease, a serious genetic disorder that affects multiple organ systems in children, including brain, heart and skeletal muscles. The Houston conference will bring together families affected by TANGO2 in summer 2019.

Dr. Mike McClam, assistant professor of psychiatry & behavioral sciences, is featured in the “Meet Your Senator” profile on the faculty intranet portal. He represents his department’s faculty on the Senate.

Dr. Jeffrey Ross, associate professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, was elected as president of the Texas Podiatric Medical Association at its 101st annual meeting in Galveston last month.

College Events

Veterans Day: As part of the national Greenlight a Vet campaign, the Cullen Building at main Baylor will be lit green this weekend (Nov. 9 - 13) in remembrance and appreciation of veterans.

Art Show: The Graduate Student Council sponsors the 17th annual Art Show benefitting Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers Arts in Medicine Program Nov. 12 - 16 in the Alkek Lobby, main Baylor. Featuring artwork by members of the BCM community, the show is open to the public with the online auction starting at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 12, and closing at noon Friday, Nov. 16.

Evenings with Genetics: Dr. Arthur Beaudet, Henry and Emma Meyer Chair and Professor of Molecular & Human Genetics, and Dr. Carlos Bacino, professor of genetics and part of the newly formed Angelman Syndrome Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital, lead a public seminar on research updates and treatment for children with Angelman Syndrome at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Children’s Museum of Houston. Admission is free but registration is required.

Storytelling Event: The Center for Medical Ethics & Health Policy’s Narrative Medicine Program and the UTHealth McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics host "Off Script: Stories from the Heart of Medicine," at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at McGovern Medical School, Room 2.135. This session’s theme is “Giving Thanks.”

Compassion Series: Dr. Ellen Friedman, professor of otolaryngology and director of the Center for Professionalism, presents “The Threads That Unite Us: Be Kind to Your Patients and Be Kind to Each Other,” a program she developed with a grant from the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation. This concluding session of the Compassion & The Art of Medicine series starts at noon Friday, Nov. 16, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor.

Faculty Opportunities

Women in Leadership: The deadline for chairs and center directors to submit nominations for the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program at Drexel University is Monday, Nov. 19. Women faculty members who are interested in professional development and have held the rank of associate professor for at least two years should discuss the opportunity with their supervisors. For more information, please see the website.

Call for Proposals: Proposals are sought for breakout sessions and posters for the 2019 Group on Faculty Affairs and Group on Women in Medicine and Science Professional Development Conference, "Leading and Advocating Through the Winds of Change," set for July 11 - 13 in Chicago. See the instructions and topics online, then submit your best proposals for skill-based workshops, podium presentations, ignite sessions and posters no later than Dec. 7.

Faculty Resources

Blackboard Support for Education: The Office of Faculty Development hosts two training sessions on Blackboard and its new user interface on Tuesday, Nov. 13, in McMillian Auditorium, main Baylor. "Introductory Blackboard Skills" starts at 3 p.m. and is available on Zoom. "Intermediate Blackboard Skills and New Features Demo" starts at 4 p.m. and also has a Zoom link. RSVP to faced@bcm.edu to attend.

Financial Wellness: Human Resources presents seminars designed to help keep you on track with your financial and retirement goals Monday through Thursday, Nov. 12 - 15. Earn up to 300 BCM BeWell Vitality points for attending meetings on financial planning topics like student loan and debt refinancing, tax planning and retirement savings. See the schedule for topics, locations and Zoom meetings. You also can make an appointment for a complimentary Fidelity retirement consultation and earn 200 Vitality points.

For a Good Cause

Get Your Rear in Gear: The 5K run and walk start at 7 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center on the McNair Campus. Support the Colon Cancer Coalition by joining the Baylor Booty Shakers.

Memory Walkers: With 115 participants, the Baylor team was the largest group in last weekend’s Houston Walk to End Alzheimer’s, chaired by Dr. Mark Kunik, professor of psychiatry and behavioral science. The Memory Walkers raised more than $31,000 for the Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. You still have time to make an online gift to support research into AD treatments and prevention.

Attention Clinicians: See Clinical Events

Clinical Programs

Device Demo: The TMC Innovation Institute hosts 23 graduates of its four-month medical device accelerator program as they pitch their cutting-edge technologies at noon Wednesday, Nov. 14, at TMCx, McGovern Campus. Participating Houston companies program include Intelligent Implants, Noleus Technologies, Odin Technologies, Vax-Immune and Venostent. Attend in person or livestream it.

Population Health: Dr. Chris Callahan, professor of medicine and founding director of the Indiana University Center for Aging Research and director of the Healthy Aging Brain Clinic at Eskenazi Health, speaks on “Population Health: The Space between Inertia and Audacity” at 4 p.m. Nov. 29 in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor.

Lung Disease Conference: The Advanced Lung Disease: Novel Therapies and Controversies Conference features presentations and panel sessions on cystic fibrosis, COPD, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, adult congenital heart diseases and lung transplantation, Dec. 7 - 8 at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston. Register online for the CME-eligible event, sponsored by Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and the College.

Attention Researchers: See Research Calendar

Research Seminars

DLDCCC Seminar: Dr. Jeffrey Rathmell, professor and director of the Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, presents “Fueling T Cell Differentiation in Inflammation and Cancer” at noon Monday, Nov. 12, in Room N315, main Baylor. The presentation is sponsored by the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology.

Schoolar Lecture: Dr. Bryan Roth, professor of pharmacology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical School, speaks on “Molecular Insights into Antipsychotic Drug Actions” at the Schoolar Lecture in Psychopharmacology, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, Room N315, main Baylor.

AAV Gene Therapy: Dr. Jude Samulski, director of the Gene Therapy Center at University of North Carolina and a Pfizer vice president, and Dr. Hiroyuki Nakai, professor at Oregon Health and Science University, are keynote speakers at this symposium for investigators who develop or use Adeno-Associated Virus vectors for basic science or therapeutic purposes on Dec. 10 at Rice University’s Bioscience Research Collaborative. The deadline to RSVP online is Dec. 1.

Research Resources

Mallinckrodt Scholar: The Edward Mallinckrodt Jr. Foundation will accept one institutional nomination from the College to support faculty in their fifth to eighth year of a tenure-track position as they move their research to a point where other independent funding can be obtained. Guidelines for the four-year, $100,000 grant are available online. Submit a letter of nomination from your chair, along with an NIH biosketch and research summary to the BCM internal submission portal by Monday, Nov. 19.

Physician-Scientist Training: Applications are now open for the Damon Runyon Physician-Scientist Training Award, designed to recruit outstanding U.S. Specialty Board-eligible physicians into cancer research careers by providing them a protected research training experience after they have completed all of their cancer clinical training. The award provides up to $460,000 over four years in financial support plus up to $100,000 in medical debt retirement. The program description and guidelines are online. Applications are due Dec. 3.

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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