Baylor inspires learners to pursue health sciences careers
On September 20, the Baylor College of Medicine Community gathered at the latest installment of the On The Frontline luncheon series. Over 100 attendees enjoyed a luncheon at The Revaire and heard a faculty panel present Baylor’s achievements in creating an innovative health sciences education pipeline.
The event was hosted and moderated by Paul Klotman, M.D., president, CEO and executive dean of Baylor College of Medicine. Featured panelists included Jennifer Christner, M.D., FAAP, senior dean of the schools of Medicine and Health Professions, Ronald Cotton, M.D., FACS, associate professor in the Division of Abdominal Transplantation and program director for the General Surgery Residency in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, and Nancy Moreno, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Education, Innovation & Technology and director of the Center for Educational Outreach.
The program oversaw the entirety of the health sciences education pipeline Baylor has built, from K-12 programs to graduate medical school, with particular focus on the Baylor College of Medicine Biotech Academy at Rusk and the Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions, as well as the College itself.
“What distinguishes what we do here at Baylor College of Medicine is we’re not project-focused,” Dr. Moreno said. “We have longstanding partnerships and relationships with schools and districts, and we continue to work to make things better for students and bring them into our school to provide students for our program and healthcare providers for the city of Houston.”
Dr. Cotton, who graduated as valedictorian from DeBakey High School in 1998, shared his experiences of going on to medical school at Baylor and pursuing surgery.
“To be in an environment of people who are linked by a shared belief that you can accomplish something meaningful is extraordinarily powerful. Through the lens that I have today in graduate medical education and admissions in the college, that focus is profound and can create exceptional success,” he said.
In explaining how Baylor is transforming medical school to meet the educational demands of tomorrow, Dr. Christner detailed three major initiatives she is spearheading – instilling science-backed active learning in classrooms, supporting students when transitioning through the demanding journey of medical education and reexamining how to help every student succeed in medical school.
The panel also explored a myriad of other vital topics from how Baylor continued its educational excellence through the COVID-19 pandemic and how investment in faculty and educational research is paramount so that the College can continue to produce the best and brightest healthcare providers.
“This might be the most important thing we do here at the College,” Dr. Klotman said.
To learn more about this event and support Baylor’s Center for Educational Outreach, please visit bcm.edu/frontline.
