This Week at Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

October 22, 2023

Campus Announcements

Alumni Medical Library: Fall Fling Clothing Drive

Help BU students dress for success this fall! As you transition your wardrobe for cooler temperatures, please consider supporting the Professional Clothing Closet’s Fall Fling Clothing Drive! The Professional Clothing Closet—a collaboration between the Center for Career Development and the Newbury Center—provides BU students with free professional attire appropriate for interviews, networking events, career fairs, and the workplace.

A donation bin will be located at the Alumni Medical Library on L-12 from Oct. 23-Nov. 2.

If you have any questions regarding the clothing drive, please contact [email protected]. If you have any questions about accessing the library’s donation bin, please contact [email protected].

W Building Construction Project Update

Week of Oct. 23

Crews will continue demolition of duct work and associated systems on floors 10 and 11. They also will be on the roof demolishing sound screens. The expected impact for next week will be similar to what the occupants of W-building experienced the week of the 16th.

Advance Notice for Oct. 30 – On Monday, Oct. 30, a sound engineer will be performing a sound and vibration monitoring study to better understand the sound/vibration impacts building occupants may experience over the project term. This work will significantly impact upper floor occupants.

If you would like to receive a detailed plan of this work to better understand the impact to a specific area, floor or lab in the building, please contact Dylan McIntosh at [email protected].

News

A 75-Year History of Altruism Drives Historic Framingham Heart Study Science

Researchers laud the dedication of 15,000 participants over three generations.

In the Media

ABC News

The Gaza crisis, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a new treatment‌

Denise Sloan, PhD

New Guidance Issued on the Determination of Brain Death AAN, AAP, CNS and SCCM Develop Consensus Practice Guideline

David Greer, MD

Boston Herald

Were college campuses COVID hot spots? Boston University study shows that test-trace-isolate strategies prevented spread for most COVID cases

John H. Connor, PhD; Jackie Turcinovic, PhD candidate

CBS News

FDA plans to propose ban on formaldehyde in hair smoothing, straightening products — here's what to know.

Kimberly Bertrand, ScD

Health

What Is CKM Syndrome? American Heart Association Identifies New Medical Condition

Ashish Verma, MD

Health Day

Use of Hair Relaxers Raises Women's Odds for Uterine Cancer‌

Kimberly Bertrand, ScD

NBC News

FDA proposes ban on hair relaxers with formaldehyde

Kimberly Bertrand, ScD

The New York Times

What to Know About the Health Risks of Chemical Hair Straighteners

Kimberly Bertrand, ScD

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

For LGBTQ people, friendly health care is important but can be hard to find

Carl Streed, MD, MPH

USA Today

Declaring a child brain dead can prompt showdowns. New rules seek to resolve those doubts.

David Greer, MD

Events

// UPCOMING

Provost Workshop on ChatGPT and other Generative AI

Date: Thursday, Oct. 26

Time: 3-5 p.m.

Location: Instructional Building, Hiebert Lounge (L14)

This workshop will educate staff and faculty about ways to use ChatGPT and other Generative AI tools effectively and ethically. Participants will walk away with concrete action items that can be implemented in educational and research settings. This is an entry-level workshop with learning opportunities for new and experienced users.

// SAVE THE DATE

Visiting Professor Lecture: Sophie Paczesny, MD, PhD

Date: Monday, Oct. 30

Time: 10:15-11 a.m. (presentation) 11-11:15 a.m. (Q&A)

Location: Instructional Building, Hiebert Lounge (L14), or via Zoom

“ST2, a journey from Proteomics to Therapeutics”

Dr. Paczesny is professor and chair of microbiology and immunology, professor of pediatrics and oral health sciences, co-leader of the Cancer Immunology Program at the Hollings Cancer Center, and Sally Abney Rose Endowed Chair in Cancer Stem Cell Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Her laboratory is internationally recognized for its expertise and achievements in the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) field. She has pioneered the study of proteomics/biomarkers for complications post allogeneic HSCT and is now transitioning the laboratory work into clinical practice. She also has extensive expertise in the cancer immune tumor microenvironment, inflammation and alarmins, T lymphocyte biology and mechanisms of immunity and tolerance as well as translating novel drug-targetable biomarkers to treatment.

Boston Public Library eCard Signup Program

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 31

Time: 10 a.m.-Noon

Location: Instructional Building Lobby

Come join the Alumni Medical Library and the Boston Public Library and register for a BPL Library eCard! An eCard from the Boston Public Library offers you access to digital resources including OverDrive/Libby and Hoopla for ebooks, audiobooks and more. Boston University strives to be accessible, inclusive and diverse in our programming. Your experience in this event is important to us.