Before we know it, the next legislative session will take place in Santa Fe. The senate and house interim committees are meeting this fall. Justin McHorse, Dr. Lente and Dr. Pieratt did an excellent job representing our College at the Indian Affairs Committee. I, along with Dr. Pieratt and Dr. Hayes, will be testifying jointly with UNM Health Sciences Center at the October Senate Finance Committee. The main issues we will advocate for are the continued funding for new GME programs and loan forgiveness programs for our graduates who establish their future practice in New Mexico. To learn more, click here.
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- Our drive-thru pumpkin distribution was a big success – 300 pumpkins were passed out last Friday afternoon. Apologies to anyone who did not get one before we ran out, and best of luck to all who entered the carving contest.
- The past two weeks reminded us that COVID-19, to quote Monty Python, is not dead yet. A huge thank you to everyone for your flexibility, understanding, and resilience. I continue to believe that we will be defined by how we respond during this challenge, not by the pandemic itself.
- A big thank you to Heather Jao and Miley Grandjean for inviting me along on the first Health & Wellness Club hike. Everything from the weather to Soledad Canyon to the company made for an awesome morning. Looking forward to the next one at Slot Canyon on Oct. 24 – see you on the trail!
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Institutional Advancement |
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The first annual BOO-rell Pumpkin Carving Spooktacular was a huge success. A total of 300 pumpkins and 200 carving kits were distributed during this fun drive-thru event. Thank you to the following volunteers for assisting us with day-of distribution: President John Hummer, Dean Bill Pieratt, AVP Jeff Harris, Dr. Mike Woods and Janet Woolsey.
We received 59 submissions to the carving contest and social media is helping us narrow down the winners. You can see the 21 finalists here.
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Administration & Operations (HR, IT and Finance) |
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The Facilities and IT departments have helped to coordinate a number of recent events, including student labs and the filming of the Class of 2024's White Coat Ceremony.
HR is finalizing the market salary review and preparing for employee benefits renewal, both to be shared next month. HR would like to encourage all employees to get a flu vaccine this week!
Finance has been working with the Southwest Foundation for Osteopathic Education and Research (SWFOER) and the Student Government Association (SGA) to assume accounting responsibilities in house for both organizations; this will allow an expansion of reporting and services to benefit employees, students and external stakeholders.
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Laboratory Standard & Hazard Communication Training will be offered online on Oct. 30 from 1 – 3 p.m. All persons wishing to work in the BioScience Laboratory must complete this required training. Registration is now open to faculty, staff and students. Contact Kalli Martinez.
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Save the Dates! The Department of Clinical Medicine will host the next Distinguished Researcher Seminar Series on Oct. 28. The Department of Physiology & Pathology will host the DRSS on Nov. 13. Seminars are at noon.
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Elijah Ibadlit has been elected OMS-1 student research representative and will represent the student body on the Research Advisory Council. The next meeting of the RAC is Friday, Oct. 23.
- Dr. JoAnne Dupre, NMSU Manager of Safety & Export Controls, has joined the Institutional Biosafety Committee.
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Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology |
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The ACB Department was thrilled to host Dr. Maria Mylopoulos on Oct. 1st as our Distinguished Research Speaker. Her talks were inspiring and thought provoking and we appreciated all of the hard work from the Research Office, the Office of IT, and Dr. Jackson, that went in to helping schedule, moderate and support that event.
We'd also like to recognize and congratulate Dr. Steven Ontiveros on his acceptance into the "Practice of Research Administration and Management" education track that will be hosted online throughout this month from the Society of Research Administrators International. We look forward to all of the great information he'll learn throughout this experience that he'll then be able to share and incorporate into his work here at Burrell.
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Department of Biomedical Sciences |
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Department of Clinical Medicine |
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Department of Physiology and Pathology |
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- Monday, Oct. 12, was Indigenous People’s Day, which is recognized as a state holiday in New Mexico.
- On Friday, Oct. 23 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Faculty Affairs invite you to join us for a guest presentation entitled, “Navajo Area COVID-19 Response.” Our guest presenters are Loretta Christensen, MD, Chief Medical Officer, and Ms. Shawnell Damon, EPI-Chief and Health Promotion Disease Prevention Coordinator of the Indian Health Service (IHS), Navajo Area. In their presentation, they will cover the following topics:
- The COVID-19 response in Navajo Area will be discussed in regard to the preparation and execution of their pandemic strategies.
- The medical management and public health approach including the EPI response in dealing with the pandemic will also be discussed.
- In addition, the challenges of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in an area deeply affected by health disparities and health inequity will be reviewed.
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Office of Enrollment Services |
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Interviews of applicants for the Class of 2025 are underway. Thank you to those who are assisting in interviews and in our recruitment efforts. Several standing operating procedures in the Office of the Registrar have been revised and/or created for clarification. Please see the Office of Compliance section for details.
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Upcoming Events:
Oct. 23: The Office of Student Affairs will be hosting a panel for the Class of 2024 on health and wellness strategies.
Oct. 24: The White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2024 will be airing Saturday, Oct. 24th at 2 p.m. on the College's Facebook page.
Oct. 30: SOMA, in collaboration with Student Affairs, will be hosting the 2nd virtual DO for a Day of the semester for interested pre-medical students.
Oct. 30: The Office of Student Affairs will be hosting a virtual Halloween costume contest open to all Burrell Students. More information forthcoming!
Career Counseling:
Oct. 23: Meeting with the Class of 2021 on Virtual Residency Interview Guidelines.
Trainings:
Dec. 11: Stephanie Trujillo, Educational Specialist, will be hosting a QPR Training. Contact Stephanie at strujillo@bcomnm.org if you are interested in participating.
Tutoring:
Practical OMM tutoring for the Class of 2024 starts on Friday, Oct. 16.
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Accreditation and Compliance |
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New/Revised Standard Operating Procedures:
- RSP.016.00 Student Research Support Fund- New
- LIB.003.00 Student Anatomical Bone Box Sanitizing- New
- RR.018.00 Administrative Withdrawal (Academic or Disciplinary)- New
- RR.016.00 Academic Suspension- New
- FAF.005.01 Maintenance of Regular, Affiliate, and Non-Preceptor Adjunct Appointments- Revised
- HR.015.01 Grievance Process for Faculty, Contract Faculty, and Preceptors- Revised
- RR.004.02 Voluntary Withdrawal- Revised
- RR.002.02 Leave of Absence- Revised
Burrell staff members are attending Title IX Advisor trainings throughout the month of October to continue the NMSU and Burrell collaboration for Title IX investigations and hearings.
The College continues to monitor directive from the State of NM and NMDOH for COVID procedures. Please continue to check our COVID webpage for the latest updates.
If you missed the e-mail regarding the 2020 Annual Safety and Security Report (Clery Report), please take a moment to review the report.
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- We have three upcoming guest speakers for faculty development:
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Oct. 23, 10:30-11:30 a.m.: Navajo Area COVID-19 Response, Dr. Loretta Christensen, MD, and Ms. Shawnell Damon of the Indian Health Service (IHS), Navajo Area. This is co-sponsored with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
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Nov. 4, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Humanism and Professionalism in Medical Education, Stuart Slavin, MD, MEd, ACGME Senior Scholar for Well-Being.
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Dec. 4, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.: NBOME Item-Writing Workshop, Adrienne Ables, PharmD, MS (MedEd), Assistant Dean for Faculty Development, VCOM Carolinas.
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Three Faculty Focus groups are off and running: Online Teaching, Item-Writing, and Book Club: Remediation of the Struggling Medical Learner.
- Collaborations with Clinical Education and Jerry Gaber have helped us make great progress streamlining preceptor appointment and credentialing processes.
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The Library has also expanded its hours to the following. {lease check the Library website for updates:
Mon - Fri: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sat: 8 a.m. to Noon
Sun: Closed
Different anatomical models, such as hearts and kidneys, are now available for 24-hour checkout, with the possibility of renewal if there is not a waitlist for the items.
The Library has recently had textbooks and other materials donated that are now available for giveaway to faculty and students. The books are located on a labeled truck inside the Library and are available first come first serve.
The Library staff remains available virtually outside of posted hours; please email with questions or to make appointments.
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The next Faculty Council meeting will be Friday, Oct. 23 from 9-10 a.m. Please see the Faculty Council Teams page on MS Teams for the meeting link, agenda, and any other documents (to be posted soon). For recent updates, refer to the email sent by Dr. Gosselink on Oct. 3.
Still seeking: Faculty Council member to serve on the Appointment and Promotions Committee.
As we plan for Spring 2021, please communicate challenges and problem solving ideas with your Faculty Council Leadership. We’d like to share in your teaching and course directing discoveries and support your efforts!
Faculty, staff, students, and families enjoyed our first-ever Faculty Council-sponsored “Trunk-Or-Treat” event last year. We still intend to make this an annual event, but we respect current Covid-19 restrictions and will decline to hold the event this year. We wish you a Happy Halloween and look forward to seeing some spook-tacularly carved pumpkins!
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The NMSU Wellness, Alcohol and Violence Education (WAVE) Program is hosting a Drug and Alcohol prevention presentation via Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 12-1 p.m. The session is open to Burrell students, faculty, and staff. We will be sending another notification with the Zoom link as the date approaches.
The College continues to monitor directive from the State of NM and NMDOH to update the College’s procedures related to COVID-19. Please click here to see flowcharts on COVID requirements. If you receive a positive COVID test result, are exposed to a COVID case, or have COVID/flu like symptoms please follow the College requirements as described on our COVID page on our website.
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"Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” -Abraham Lincoln
"I am sure that every one of my colleagues — Democrat, Republican, and Independent — agrees with that statement. That in the voting booth, every one is equal." -Barbara Boxer
“Autumn leaves are falling, filling up the streets; golden colors on the lawn, nature’s trick or treat!” -Rusty Fischer
“Pumpkins, hot apple cider, warm sweaters, fluffy scarves, boots… these are all things we have to look forward to in the coming weeks” -Unknown
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Laughter Can be the Best Medicine |
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I like my coffee like I like my voter turn out. Strong!
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Why don’t skeletons ever go trick or treating? Because they have no-body to go with.
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What do mummies listen to on Halloween? Wrap music.
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What's a vampire's least favorite meal? A steak!
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BEAR:
Building Expectations of Alliance and Respect
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