News for BCM Faculty, Dec. 13, 2018
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Ask Me About My Research: Dr. Eric Storch, professor of psychiatry research, and his friend Mike Christner show just how easy it is to start a conversation about your research in this video. Talking about the great work going on at Baylor not only informs the public but also might inspire the next generation of scientists. You can pick up an “Ask Me About My Research” button in the Office of Communications and Community Outreach, Room 176B, main Baylor.

Academic Council: Provost Alicia Monroe reminded chairs and center directors that faculty evaluations are due Friday, Dec. 14. The chair goal is 95 percent completion of Faculty Performance Assessment and Development Planning by the deadline.

• Research Dean Adam Kuspa announced that the National Institutes of Health are enforcing federal policies that require interactions and collaborations with foreign researchers be reported and pre-approved for NIH-funded projects. The College is held responsible for faculty noncompliance and will develop a policy mandating disclosure of international collaborations.
• Dr. Tom Wheeler, chair of the Faculty Appointment and Promotions Committee, presented the committee’s recommendation for a new stand-alone, non-ranked, non-tenured faculty appointment of “Faculty Clinician.” The appointment would apply to full- and part-time medical providers (M.D. and other terminal degrees) who are employed by the College and practice at an affiliate healthcare location, such as Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Group. Academic Council voted to endorse the title, which will go to the Board of Trustees for final approval.
• General Counsel Bob Corrigan introduced the new government relations team: Brian Jammer, vice president for state government relations, and Herb Butrum, vice president for federal and local relations. Tom Kleinworth will serve as a consultant for the 2019 state legislative session.

Top Hospital: Baylor St Luke's Medical Center has been named one of 35 Top Teaching Hospitals nationally by the Leapfrog Group. Leapfrog listed Texas Children's Hospital West Campus as one of 13 Top Children's Hospitals. To be eligible for the national Top Hospitals list, hospitals had to complete the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey and report on 28 individual performance measures within the six areas Leapfrog evaluates: medication safety, inpatient care management, infections, maternity care, inpatient surgery and pediatric care.

Faculty Kudos

Dr. Mary Estes, Cullen Foundation Endowed Chair of Human and Molecular Virology, Dr. Bert O’Malley, chancellor, and Dr. Huda Zoghbi, professor, director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, have been elected fellows of the National Academy of Inventors. They are among 148 renowned academic inventors selected for having created or facilitated outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.

Dr. Timothy Porea, associate professor of pediatrics – hematology & oncology and clinical director of the Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, is featured in “Growing Up Baylor” on the Baylor blog. A retired Navy physician, he attended medical school and completed his fellowship at the College before joining the faculty in 2014.

Dr. Debra Shetlar, associate professor of ophthalmology and pathology, was elected as president-elect of the American Association of Ophthalmic Oncologists and Pathologists at the society’s recent meeting in Chicago. She will serve as president of the society in 2020-2022

Dr. Matthew Wall Jr., professor of cardiothoracic surgery and a faculty senator, was selected as a founding member of the new American College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. Its goals include emphasizing the importance of surgical education and training, defining new trends and steering advances, fostering innovation and collaboration and supporting faculty development and recognition. The Academy’s first induction ceremony for 91 master surgeon educators was held in October in Chicago.

College Events

Show Your Holiday Spirit: Remember to email a photo of your festive office, lab or clinic to Social Media Manager Anna Kiappes by 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14. Be sure to include your names and departments. Photos will be shared on Baylor's social media accounts the week of Dec. 17. Not connected to Baylor on social media? It’s easy to do on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Have Your Say: The relative quiet of the holidays is the perfect time to confidentially express your opinions about compensation and benefits! Contribute to improving your work environment by participating in the AAMC StandPoint Faculty Engagement Survey. On Tuesday, Dec. 18, Baylor-paid faculty who have not completed the survey will receive a final reminder email from StandPointSurveys@aamc.org. For more information, visit the engagement survey website.

Faculty Opportunities

Cardiology Course Associate Director: The School of Medicine seeks an innovative clinical faculty member to serve as associate course director for the second-year course, Transitions to Clinical Rotations, which begins in early October and ends in early December. This position assists Dr. Meghan McClure, the course director, and has 10 percent FTE support. See the website for more information; applications are due Friday, Dec. 28.

Community Engagement Director: The associate provost of Institutional Diversity, Inclusion and Equity & Student Services seeks to identify a community engagement director to enhance, improve and strengthen inclusion and diversity engagement efforts. This part-time position will provide leadership, implementation and coordination of programs to foster engagement in K-12, undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students seeking to enhance their preparedness for subsequent training in the health professions and biomedical sciences. See Faculty Opportunities for more information; the deadline to apply is Monday, Dec. 31.

Diversity Training Director: The associate provost also is hiring a diversity, inclusion and equity training director to enhance, improve and strengthen inclusion and diversity educational and training efforts. This part-time position will lead, implement and coordinate educational programs to raise awareness in BCM community members and teach them to learn and work collaboratively within diverse groups. It also will support students preparing for health professions and biomedical sciences training. See the website for more information; applications are due Monday, Dec. 31.

Call for Posters: The College is hosting the Texas Medical Association’s Physician Health and Wellness Exchange on March 2. The focus is on creating and promoting a culture of wellness for faculty, trainees and staff in the state’s health sciences universities. A poster session is part of the day’s activities. Students, post docs, residents, fellows and faculty are eligible to submit a poster; the deadline is Jan. 31. For more info, see the TMA website.

For a Good Cause

Alzheimer's Trials: Researchers in the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center are seeking clinical trial volunteers for new Alzheimer’s disease prevention and treatment studies. Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, you can still be a part of the work to understand this debilitating disease and find a cure. Trials include evaluating medications to reduce symptoms of agitation and which imaging test might be used to best assess mild cognitive impairment and progression. To learn more about these and other opportunities as well as eligibility, contact the ADMDC at (713) 798-5328.

Spin for Gyn: Help raise funds for the BCM Woman to Woman gynecologic cancer support program and earn 100 Wellness points by cycling for a cure from 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 26 in the spin class at LA Fitness, 2130 W Holcombe Blvd. Sign up online.

Attention Clinicians: See Clinical Events

Clinical Seminars

Surgical Jeopardy: A team-based, Jeopardy-style competition between residents, faculty and all-star resident teams is set for 7 a.m. Jan. 9 in Room N315, main Baylor. The competition is in preparation for the upcoming ABSITE tests.

Girls Elevated: Teen and preteen girls and their parents are invited to an event focused on living a healthy adolescence. Hosted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the interactive sessions cover the critical topics girls want and need to know about, such as healthy relationships, mood management and personal safety. The event begins at 8 a.m. Feb. 23 at the United Way – Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Dr. Purchase tickets online.

Clinical Notes

Sunshine Act: Since 2013, the Physician Payment Sunshine Act has required applicable manufacturers to report certain payments made to physicians and teaching hospitals. The 2017 data was published on June 30 and will be updated in January 2019 based on reports from drug and device manufacturers. Physicians should review the amounts that have been attributed to them and challenge any that may be misleading or inaccurate by Monday, Dec. 31. The Office of Compliance has provided a Physician Sunshine Act summary to assist physicians in logging in to their account to validate and, if necessary, dispute inaccurate payment attributions. Physicians also may access the full Open Payments User Guide from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

Attention Researchers: See Research Calendar

Research Seminars

Neuroscience: Dr. Christopher Gregg, assistant professor of neurobiology, anatomy and genetics at the University of Utah, discusses “Phylogenomics and epigenomics to unravel the basis of complex economic behavior patterns” at noon Monday, Dec. 17, in the First Floor Conference Room of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute.

Cell Biology: Dr. Alissa Weaver, professor of cell & developmental biology & pathology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, speaks on “Secreted Exosomes: Critical Mediators of Cell Migration and Communication” at noon Monday, Dec. 17, in Room M112, main Baylor.

Proteomics & Metabolomics: Mass Spectrometry proteomics and metabolomics discovery of biomarkers and therapeutic targets, targeted proteomics by reverse phase protein array and integrated multi-omics data analysis are the topics of the inaugural CPRIT Proteomic and Metabolomic Facility Symposium, hosted by the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center on Jan. 11 in Kleberg Auditorium, main Baylor. Register online to attend.

Research Resources

Precision Medicine RFA: The College is accepting applications for a second round of grants for precision medicine and population health proposals until 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14. Projects must leverage large data sets that are currently available at BCM or an affiliated hospital or health network and must be relevant to population-based clinical care (such as diagnosis, risk prediction, treatment, prevention and healthcare delivery). Guidelines are available online. Read about the first round of grant-winning proposals in Faculty Commons.

Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator: The College may nominate up to five early career physician-scientists with junior faculty appointments for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Clinical Investigator Award. The three-year, $600,000 award supports the development and application of new diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies for cancer and cancer prevention. The internal deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, via the online portal.

From the Labs: Read how Dr. Hai Wang, instructor in the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, and Dr. Xiang Zhang, associate professor of molecular & cellular biology in the breast center, found a potential Achilles’ heel of breast cancer bone metastasis in this week’s post. 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. Or get a digest at the end of the month with links to the articles posted that month by emailing science writer Ana Rodríguez with "Subscribe me to From the Labs" in the subject line.

Questions or Comments?

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