As you will recall from prior Towne Hall meetings, we are in the process of undergoing a change in minority ownership. At the August COCA meeting, and as a required step in the process, the change in ownership was approved by the COCA. The next step in the process is preliminary feedback from the US Department of Education prior to any change in minority ownership. As a reminder, our largest shareholder, Rice University, via their endowment managed by the Rice Management Company, will remain as our single largest shareholder. The anticipated new shareholder is the Rise Fund, a social impact fund. Click this link to learn more: Rise Fund
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback via the Storm Board located on the third floor. As part of updating our Mission, Vision, and Values, we want to make sure we capture maximum feedback throughout the college. The deadline to provide feedback is September 30th. The next steps will be for the stakeholder review team to review the feedback and submit the revised, recommended version to the Board of Trustees for their final approval.
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- I appreciate the input on our mission, vision, and values. We look forward to the next steps in updating these elements of our overarching strategic plan.
- Our application for a class size increase was discussed at the August COCA meeting. We anticipate formal approval at the December meeting and will keep everyone apprised in the interim.
- I want to thank everyone for their continued diligence to observe safe practices as we deal with the ongoing realities of COVID. Please refer to our website for ongoing updates about policy and procedures as we monitor our local, state and national resources.
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Institutional Advancement |
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The official campus virtual tour is live! To view our tour, visit our prospective students page on our website! This virtual tour will better serve our Office of Admissions as they recruit and interview students to attend our school.
September kicked off with a surprise gift to our employee givers! Our employee givers received a Burrell College water bottle along with some fun stickers to decorate them. If you are interested in joining our employee giver campaign, click here. We always love to show our appreciation for our givers!
The new website for our supporting foundation, the Coalition for Osteopathic Excellence is live, featuring our updated mission and principal tenets, which will help the foundation better serve our medical students. To view our new website, click here!
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Administration & Operations (HR, IT and Finance) |
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Facilities - The Facilities department continues to support the construction of the new library and student services building; the project is progressing, with walls framed and utility excavation about 75% complete.
A series of major IT upgrades have been occurring in the background, including the phone system and central server systems, with minimal disruptions to users.
HR reminds all employees to complete their employee training by 9/24/21!
The Finance department is assisting in the distribution of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grant funds received under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) which benefits our students. We have recently processed a total of $139,000 in awards to 277 students.
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Distinguished Researcher Seminar Series
The Office of Research & Sponsored Programs is pleased to announce the continuation of our Distinguished Researcher Seminar Series. The Seminars feature accomplished researchers who are invited to our campus to speak. Seminars are free and open to the public. In-person and online attendance is welcome. We look forward to an exciting year of research presentations and hope you will be able to join us.
Theresa Byrd, R.N., Dr.P.H.
Department of Public Health, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock, TX
“What is Public Health?: Research Example AMIGAS”
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
September 24, 2021
12:00 – 1:00 p.m M.D.T
Dr. Byrd’s visit is hosted by the Department of Biomedical Science.
Student Research Town Hall
The next Student Research Town Hall is September 28, 2021, at noon in Room 160. Dr. Kania will be speaking on OMM Research.
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Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology |
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Dr. Jennifer Eastwood of the Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology, has been accepted to be part of the 17th cohort of the Costin Institute for Osteopathic Medical Educators. The year-long program focuses on development in the areas of teaching and learning, research, self-awareness, and leadership in osteopathic medical education. |
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Department of Biomedical Sciences |
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The Department of Biomedical Sciences has been very active within the Advisory Colleges this month. The Cimarron River college-sponsored an outing to a Chihuahua’s baseball game in El Paso and the Animas River College had an outing to the Hatch Chile Festival. Dr. Stauss is revitalizing the Burrell Cardiology club lead by student doctor Dheeraj Atmakuri. The department has invited Theresa Byrd, Dr.P.H., Associate Dean and Chair, Department of Public Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX to be the first distinguished researcher seminar speaker for the year, September 24 at 12:00. A review article co-authored by Dr. Szalai entitled “Animal reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2: calculable COVID-19 risk for older adults from animal to human transmission” is published in the journal GeroScience (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-021-00444-9).
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Department of Clinical Medicine |
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The Division of Clinical Medicine would like to recognize the first-year students for their superb performance on their early Standardized Patient Encounter whereby they interviewed a patient and presented them to the attending physician in the room. We were impressed by the preparation and quality of work for such an early exercise of the year.
The second-year students have been doing a great job in OMM, and have been learning case-based learning and clinical decision making in their clinical course. Students are learning more complex differential diagnosis interpretation of lab and X-Ray Data. We look forward to continued and improved preparation and hard work as the year progresses. The students also had an excellent session with the EMT’s during the cardiac block with identification of arrhythmias in Simulation.
Our goal is to create an anchor to keep students engaged and focused on the importance of clinical thinking during the intense preclinical years and emerge ready to perform on COMLEX and rotations in the 3rd year.
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Department of Clinical Education |
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We are excited to announce that our 3rd and 4th year students are completing their 3rd block of rotations without any interruptions due to COVID! Our preceptors are doing a great job in sharing all their knowledge with our students and mentoring them throughout our 7 Regional Academic Centers (RACs).
In our efforts to gear up for our upcoming class of 2024 RAC (Hub) Day, we have been conducting interviews with Preceptors, Students, and Hospital/Clinic staff throughout our 7 Regional Academic Centers (RACs) to highlight the opportunities within our Clinical Teaching Sitaes. We will be welcoming our RAD’s and coordinators to campus October 22nd.
Preceptors are such an integral part of our student learning process. We appreciate them sharing their knowledge, demonstrating compassion towards our students, and encouraging them as they become part of their healthcare team.
Each year our students vote for Preceptor of the year in each RAC. At this time we would like to congratulate Burrell’s Preceptors of the year! Thank you for mentoring the next generation of Physicians!
2020-2021
- Albuquerque – Daniel Duhiggk, DO (Psychiatry)
- Eastern NM – John Dacanay, MD (OBGYN)
- El Paso – Benjamin Gonzalez, MD (Family Medicine)
- Las Cruces – Kamran Kamali, MD (General Surgery) 3rd year in a row
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Tucson – Howard Comstock, MD (General Surgery) 3rd year in row
- Rockledge – Ravi Raman, MD (Pediatrics)
Congratulations!
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Department of Physiology and Pathology |
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Dr. Woods has been selected for the Leadership New Mexico Core Program, which brings together leaders from across New Mexico to learn about issues affecting our communities and state. Program participants experience the unique culture of each community, weaving a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing a state with such geographic diversity.
Dr. Del Corral has been invited by the NBOME to review questions for content.
On October 1st, the Gila River Advisory College will host the Director of the Heart of the Gila conservation organization, and screen a documentary film in the lecture hall in recognition of ongoing efforts to establish the Gila River as a federally-designated Wild and Scenic River.
On September 10th, the Pecos River Advisory College hosted a group hike on the local Sierra Vista Trail. Participants were few, but hearty, successfully navigating the heat, many thorny plants, and a barbed-wire fence at one point.
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Join us as we celebrate Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, September 15 – October 15
- In 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson, the observance of Hispanic Heritage Week began and was later expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 31-day period starting on September 15th and ending on October 15. Hispanic Heritage Month was enacted into law on August 17th, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402
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September 15th is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18. Día de la Raza is observed on October 12. To learn more: https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/
- Ways to celebrate, experience, and learn more about Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month
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Dunkin’ of El Paso will release its Dulce De Leche Donut
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National Hispanic Cultural Center – Albuquerque: https://www.nhccnm.org/
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PBS Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
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Office of Enrollment Services |
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Interviews are underway to seat the Class of 2026 and we appreciate the faculty who have signed up to interview applicants. The Office of Admissions still has several slots for faculty interviewers in October and November. Please sign-up via the shared doc or reach out to the Office of Admissions if you can assist.
The Office of Admissions will begin hosting various virtual events to share information and build relationships with offered and/or waitlisted applicants. These virtual events will occur throughout the admission cycle. If you are interested in participating in a future event to engage with applicants or have an idea for an event topic, please contact the Office of Admissions.
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- On September 11th, Student Affairs teamed-up with the Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks and our own Wilderness Medicine Club to lead a hike through the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument. (pic below)
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Don’t Slump on the Hump – Walking Wednesday kicked-off the first of September. Students, staff, kids in strollers, and fur babies made it out that morning. (pic below)
- A few weeks ago, Educational Specialists facilitated a session on resiliency – Developing resilience by creating a state of well-being. Part two of this resiliency series will be held on October 14th.
- September 16th from 6-7:15 pm via Zoom; University of AZ – Phoenix Medicine Pediatrics Program Director Q&A session
- OMS I SGA Elections begin on September 23rd
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September 24th from 4-6 pm Gifted Hands STEPember Walk – raising funds for Cerebral Palsy research
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September 24th 3 pm - Interview Tips and Strategies
- September 28th – Various student organizations will be volunteering (under the direction of Dr. Cyrus) at Raices Del Saber Charter School offering vision and hearing screenings for students.
- September 29th – ERAS applications will be released to Program Directors for the 2022 Match.
- Special Thank You to all the OMS I students who assisted in the development of the CO 2025 Honor Code! The CO 2025 Honor Code has been finalized and is now posted on the Student Affairs page.
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Accreditation and Compliance |
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Revised Standard Operating Procedures:
· SPC.001 Student Performance Committee Procedures
· GA.011 Exposure Response Plan- Students on Clinical Rotations
· GA.006 COVID-19 Related Procedures
· GA.009 Testing and Temperature Taking (Retired)
· FIN.018 Travel and Entertainment
The College has added a section on Virtual Environments to the Student and Employee Handbooks, please review the addition on our website.
As a friendly reminder, employees must complete the COVID Vaccine Qualtrics Survey by September 30. The survey assists the College in conducting timely contact tracing for COVID-19. Currently, per the CDC guidelines, individuals who are not fully vaccinated must quarantine for 10 days if they are exposed to someone COVID positive during their infectious period.
As of 9/13/2021 we have 0 active COVID cases on campus with a cumulative of 6 cases since school started in July 2021. As a reminder, you can see campus cases on our COVID page.
The College is aware of the vaccine/testing mandates for employees. We will provide additional information soon.
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We are wrapping up the 7th Faculty Development session throughout our Regional Academic Centers. This year we were able to conduct in-person session with 5 of the 7 RACs. Due to rising COVID cases, we were unable to host an in-person faculty development with two hubs.
The Regional Assistant Deans with the assistance of Dr. Pieratt, provided information to our preceptors about “Communicating Across all Clerkships.” At the end of the presentation, Preceptors were able to:
• Describe how to set SMART expectations at the beginning of a rotation.
• Identify the features of constructive feedback and practical tips for successful feedback sessions.
• Become familiar with Burrell Mid-Point and End of Rotation Evaluations.
• Describe how evaluation comments are used and identify the components that make written comments most impactful.
The preceptors had great words of advice and suggestions for topics for upcoming faculty development. We appreciate their input and participation!
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The Library will next be hosting the Therapaws group on Thursday, October 7th, please join us for some puppy love and a variety of treats to help lower your stress!
Year 1 students have bone boxes available for check-out at the circulation desk. Models can be checked out for two hours and must stay in the Library. Required and recommend resources for MSKI are available at:
Year 2 students have kidney models available for checkout at the Library circulation desk. Required and recommended resources for Renal II are available at:
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A huge thank you to everyone who attended and participated in our first Staff Council engagement opportunity. Kudos to Martha Enriquez and Selene Solis for winning the activity. We look forward to offering more opportunities to interact with Burrell Leadership soon. As a reminder, if you have any suggestions for the Staff Council, please feel free to provide your input using our suggestion box on our webpage: https://bcomnm.org/faculty-staff/staff-council/
Happy September!
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Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
Change your thoughts and you change your world.
If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.
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Laughter Can be the Best Medicine |
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How do you ride a bike with no wheels? Tirelessly.
What does a clock do when it’s hungry? It goes back for seconds.
Where are average things manufactured? The satisfactory.
What type of sandals do frogs wear? Open-toad!
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BEAR:
Building Expectations of Alliance and Respect
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