As we continuously commit ourselves to meeting our mission and pursuing our vision, I would like to share a new document that we recently published and are utilizing with key stakeholders and for scholarship fundraising purposes. To view, please click: Our Social Impact. I would encourage everyone to share this message far and wide.
I would like to thank everyone who came to our Towne Hall meeting last week. It is my hope that you found it to be informative and provided you with a clear picture of our commitment to growth and our firm resolve to continuously strengthen our mission and pursuit of our vision. To replicate our collective and significant accomplishments since inception, we must all commit to maintaining a positive mindset and solution-oriented attitude towards any obstacle or doubt that attempts to impede us. Based upon our past, I have no doubt that we will.
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In case you missed Towne Hall Friday:
- We are on the agenda of COCA’s August 26-28 meeting to address our application for a class size increase. If approved, we will be able to admit up to 200 students for the Class of 2026.
- It was a pleasure meeting many of our Las Cruces preceptors at our faculty development event on Aug. 11. Thanks to our Clinical Education team of RAD Dr. Bill Baker, Summer, Heather, and Wendy, as well as Dr. Gabor Szalai, our Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs, for helping put on a very successful evening.
- I am looking forward to visiting with students and preceptors in our Eastern New Mexico RAC this week, and doing the same in Albuquerque and Gallup next week!
- It was great to enjoy conversation and good food at our first Staff “Lunch with the Dean,” and I’m looking forward to similar events with our students and faculty members in the near future.
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Institutional Advancement |
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We are in the final stages of rolling out our new virtual campus tour! This virtual walkthrough tour highlights the many features of the college while providing a panoramic view of the campus facilities. This new virtual option will increase the college’s visibility online, allowing future students and their families a more convenient way to see what the College has to offer. To view a video of the current tour, click here. The tour will roll out officially in the next several weeks and will be available to access on our website.
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Administration & Operations (HR, IT and Finance) |
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HR/Finance: Since the beginning of 2021, the Office of HR has posted a total of 19 positions (faculty and staff) receiving a total of 229 applications. Of those 19 positions, 9 have been filled (158 applications) and 10 (71 applications and counting) are still actively posted and being recruited for. Student financial aid disbursements were processed through early August, including over $19 M in draws from the US Department of Education.
Facilities/IT:
- Construction is well underway for the new Library building.
- The west side storage yard project is now complete.
- New IT security protocols and monitoring tools have been implemented.
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- The Office of Research welcomes Dr. Harald Stauss to our team as Director of Student Research.
- Research Office Student Town Hall: We will hold a town hall meeting to discuss our plans for the 2021-2022 academic year. Topics include the creation of a medical student research organization. Tuesday, August 17th from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., Room 160. All students and interested faculty/staff are invited.
- The Research Laboratories are hosting a debriefing session with Principal Investigators on Tuesday, August 24th, 10:00 am in Room 306. We ask attendees to come prepared to provide feedback on the strengths and limitations of the Research Facilities as they experienced it during the Summer Research Experience to help us better support your research endeavors in the future.
- The September Distinguished Researcher Seminar Series will feature. Dr. Theresa Byrd, TTUHSC Lubbock. The seminar is titled “What is Public Health: Research Example AMIGAS.” September 24th, 12:00 noon. Room 160.
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Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology |
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Dr. Miriam Donohue presented a virtual lecture last month entitled "Thoracic Pedicle Screw Stimulation: Benefits, Barriers, and Mis-beliefs.” The audience consisted of neurologists, neurophysiologists, and surgeons from Nuvasive, a corporation focused on advancing technological aspects of spine surgery. |
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Department of Biomedical Sciences |
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Biomedical Sciences department have started off the academic year for the first-year students by directing and/or participating in the Molecules to Person (M2P) course as well as contributing to the Gastrointestinal system II course (GI II). Dr. Scott Ochs completed his credentialling to be an item writer for NBOME. Dr. Gabor Szalai has taken on the role of Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs. Also, he has attended the 2021 Advanced Course in Immunology organized by the American Association of Immunologists to enhance his instruction. The Department would like relate how proud they are of all the students who worked diligently on their summer research projects and celebrates together with the students mentored by Biomedical Sciences faculty who received research awards. |
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Department of Clinical Medicine |
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Department of Physiology and Pathology |
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Two faculty searches (1 Pathology, 1 Physiology) are ongoing. We have one phone interview planned and expect additional interviews in the coming months. Dr. Woods is serving as a member of the NMSU search committee for a Dean of the new College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation.
Sincere thanks to Dr. Woods for stepping up to lead the Curriculum Committee, and to Robbie Miskimin for her continued administrative support as the committee works to finalize Spring 2022 courses. There have been many changes in the distribution of teaching sessions and some shifts in Course Directorship due to recent faculty departures. The Chair of Physiology and Pathology would like to recognize her faculty for their collegiality in taking on extra loads this year, and send a shout-out to others who have made a difference on a short timeline – particularly Drs. Tano, Eastwood, and the other faculty contributing to IHL-2.
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The Diversity Council is pleased to announce the availability of the Diversity Advocacy Team (DAT), comprised of faculty and staff members.
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The purpose of DAT is to support and maintain a sense of belonging for all members of the Burrell College community, especially underrepresented and diverse students.
- As advocates, DAT members serve as a support team that is in place to listen and learn from a student, staff, and faculty member’s experience(s) or challenge(s) and provide guidance on navigating and engaging with areas of concern that may currently seem inaccessible or unapproachable.
- The Diversity Advocacy Team can also assist with connecting students, faculty, and staff with local and regional cultural and community resources, organizations, and outlets.
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Faculty, staff, and students can submit a need for advocacy, support, engagement, collaboration, or inquiry via the DAT webpage.
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Office of Enrollment Services |
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Students, please be on the lookout for information regarding HEERF II emergency grant funds that will soon be made available. The Office of Financial Aid will provide information regarding this opportunity soon, via email.
Thank you to all those who attended the FAME session for interviews. The session has been posted in LEO for those who were unable to attend. We ask that faculty continue to utilize/update the shared Interviewer Scheduling calendar to sign up for interview slots, forming teams of 2, to accommodate 28 interview candidates per interview day. If there are enough interviewer teams already scheduled to cover 28 candidates for an interview date, please sign up for slots on an alternative date that does not yet have the necessary number of interviewers. Please make sure to utilize your personal Outlook calendar to block out all interview time slots you've scheduled. Zoom meeting links for individual interviews will not be distributed until closer to the actual interview dates. For those that are interested in learning more about participating in recruiting/retention efforts, please email Courtney Lewis at clewis@burrell.edu -or- admissions@burrell.edu.
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- In-person student organization events are taking place on the Burrell campus! A reminder to check the LEO calendar frequently for the latest event information.
- Our 4th-years are finalizing their residency application for submission on September 29th.
- Career Counselor, Michelle Devora, will be attending a Match/NRMP guidelines webinar with the 4th-years on August 24th. This will help regarding processes and guidelines for the upcoming cycle.
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On August 16th, Educational Specialists facilitated a workshop for OMS-1 and OMS-2 called Developing Resilience by Creating a State of Well-being. It’s the first in an Educational Specialist series focused on resiliency during medical school (and beyond).
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The second Mindfulness session, Imposter Syndrome: Practices to help minimize self-doubt, will be held Monday evening on the back patio.
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Accreditation and Compliance |
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Updated Policies and Standard Operating Procedures
· Policy B7530 Drug Alcohol Use/Drug Screening
· ES.003 Scholarship Awarding and Distribution Process
· CE.018 Course Grade Reporting: Years Three and Four
· PE.012 Collaborative Exams
· PCE.016 Make-Up of Scored Activities
· PCE.017 Post Examination Review
· PCE.019 Vetting Written Exams
· PCE.020 Exam Day Reporting
· PCE.021 Assembling an ExamSoft Exam
· PCE.022 Delivery of an ExamSoft Exam
· HR.010 Employee Compensation
Updates to Student Handbook
· 6. Professional Attire
· 23. Clubs and Organizations
· 33. Substance-Free Campus
· 36. College-Owned Resources
· 41: Logo Use and Photography/Videography
The Office of Compliance welcomes everyone back to campus! As a reminder, please be sure to continue to submit a College Incident Report if you are in close contact (6ft and >15 minutes) with a confirmed positive case OR if you test positive for COVID-19.
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- Faculty Affairs has been working on the continuous appointment of new preceptors.
- The preceptor Faculty Development program was hosted in Las Cruces. The Albuquerque, Four Corners, and Eastern NM faculty development events have been scheduled.
- We are working on scheduling campus visits for potential faculty hires.
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The Library was happy to welcome back the Therapaws group for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic and is looking forward to their next visit on the first Thursday of the month, September 2nd. Please stop by for some puppy love and a variety of treats!
Year 1 students can check-out anatomical models in the library and can find their required and recommended resources at:
Year 2 students can access their required and recommended resources at:
The Library is staffed and our services are offered during the following hours (the Library space will be available as study space during open building hours):
- Monday – Friday, 8 am to 8 pm
- Saturday – Sunday, 8 am to 3 pm
Outside of books and journals, we offer models, whiteboard markers, noise-canceling headphones, and desk cycles to help you study.
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The Class of 2025 has arrived! Be sure to welcome them and get involved with your Advisory College activities as they arise. Also, please make an effort to engage more fully with the Class of 2024 as they are finally able to join us on campus. They persisted through a very challenging first year and making connections with faculty has not been easy for them. On that note, special thanks to all of the lab and clinical faculty who showed exceptional commitment to our students throughout the pandemic.
The Faculty Council Leadership team for the 2021-2022 academic year is: Chair – Miriam Donohue; Vice-Chair – Steve Ontiveros; Past Chair – Kristin Gosselink; Parliamentarian – Kris Vaudrey. We are seeking a replacement for the office of Secretary. We appreciate the level of faculty participation in our regular and special elections processes.
Sincere thanks to our outgoing leadership members: Drs. Selinfreund, Kania, and Tano.
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Please join the Staff Council in the Lecture Hall at 2:00 pm on Friday, September 10 for a fun engagement opportunity with Burrell Leadership. Root beer floats and ice cream will be provided, with opportunities to win prizes!
As a reminder, sign-ups to have lunch with the Dean are open but are filling up quickly! More dates will be offered soon. If you would like to sign up, you can do so from this link.
Happy August!
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August brings into sharp focus and a furious boil everything I've been listening to in the late spring and summer.
Henry Rollins
There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.
Celia Thaxter
Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.
Roger Miller
Give thanks for the rain in your life which waters the flowers of your soul.
Jonathan Lockwood Huie
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Laughter Can be the Best Medicine |
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Where do sharks go for summer vacation? Finland!
What do you get when you combine an elephant with a fish? Swimming trunks!
What do books wear on a wet and rainy day? Rain quotes.
What often falls but never gets hurt? Rain.
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BEAR:
Building Expectations of Alliance and Respect
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