TMC PULSE

t m c » p u l s e | j u n e 2 0 1 5 36 ACCOLADES MARY E. DICKINSON, PH.D., professor and the Kyle and Josephine Morrow Endowed Chair of the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, was elected to the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineer's College of Fellows for 2015. The honorees are comprised of approximately 1,500 clinicians, industry professionals, academics and scientists who have distinguished themselves through their contributions in research, industrial practice and/ or education with the shared goal of embracing innovation to improve the health care and safety of society. MARY ESTES, PH.D., professor of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, was one of three women honored at the annual Women in Science with Excellence (WISE) luncheon, held Jan. 23 at the River Oaks Country Club. Estes, who holds the Cullen Endowed Chair of Molecular and Human Virology, has devel- oped vaccines for gastroenteritis viruses (rotavi- ruses and noroviruses). WISE, an initiative of BioHouston, is dedicated to advancing women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. KATHERINE KING, M.D., PH.D., assistant pro- fessor of pediatrics – infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, has received the March of Dimes Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Award. This award supports young scientists embarking on their independent research careers. King's research focuses on improving engraftment after bone marrow transplantation and understanding aplastic anemia and hydrops fetalis, or fluid buildup in a fetus and newborn. RICARDO NUILA, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Medicine, is the recipient of the first annual New England Review Award for Emerging Writers. He will attend the 2015 Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, a nationally renowned literary event, as the first New England Review Bread Loaf Writers' Conference Scholar. His story, "At the Bedside," appears in the New England Review, issue 35.1, and his essay on the care of undocumented immigrants was featured in the Winter 2015 issue of VQR, a national literary journal, and on Longform.com. Other essays and fiction have appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, McSweeney's and American Short Stories 2011. BELINDA REININGER, DR.P.H., associate pro- fessor at the UTHealth School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, was awarded the Faculty Award for Excellence in Academic Public Health Practice by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) and Pfizer, Inc., for her outstanding commitment to achieving and integrating academic public health practice within research, teaching and service. Reininger's research has focused on evidence-based, community approaches to improv- ing health in minority populations. She has authored dozens of peer-reviewed publications and has been the principal investigator on multiple studies on chronic diseases. QIANG SHEN, M.D., PH.D., assistant professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, has been awarded a research grant from the Prevent Cancer Foundation to conduct a prevention project in which a new class of preven- tive agents is tested for the prevention of estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast cancer in preclinical models. Shen studies transcription factors, includ- ing AP-1 and STAT3 in the development of breast and other cancers, has published more than 30 peer-reviewed research articles, and is a co-inventor of two patents. GEETA SINGHAL DAS, M.D., associate professor of medicine and director of the Office of Faculty Development at Baylor College of Medicine Department of Medicine, was selected as the win- ner of the 2015 Academic Pediatric Association's Teaching Award for Faculty for Mid-level Faculty. The award recognizes excellence in teaching among APA members and supports faculty who demon- strate a superior commitment to teaching. Singhal was recognized for her excellence in medical educa- tion and her role as a leading educator in pediatric hospitalist medicine. ALEXIS WOOD, PH.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, was the recipient of the Mark Bieber Award for Excellence in Nutrition Research by the American Heart Association. The award recognizes an early career investigator for outstanding nutrition-related research. Wood is currently the director of an infant twin study to develop a bio-behavioral model of obesity from infancy through childhood. She is also focused on researching health disparities, particu- larly in Latino populations.

• Cover