Vol. 32 | March 2024 – 5 minute read

This month, the 2024 Scientific Report – Discovery at UT Southwestern will be released. The first edition showcases the impactful work emerging from UT Southwestern across the spectrum of basic, translational, and clinical research.

The report covers multiple topics including various applications of artificial intelligence. A timeline on the Dallas Heart Study explains how two decades of longitudinal data gathering helped lay the groundwork for precision medicine. A story on neuromodulation describes the evolution of brain stimulation and how our researchers are developing personalized therapies to enhance treatment of patients with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosis, and anxiety.

Discovery at UT Southwestern can serve as a valuable tool in recruitment while simultaneously recognizing and celebrating the successes of our faculty and their teams. The 20-page publication will be distributed by mail to UT Southwestern faculty and various offices throughout our campus. If you anticipate needing additional copies, submit an email request to the Office of the Provost that includes the number of copies you wish to receive and a mail code.

Artificial Intelligence p. 4

Precision Medicine p. 8

Neuromodulation p.16

LEVEL Up, a new professional development program for faculty members stepping up to the next level of leadership, is accepting applications.

Associate Professors and Professors who are already in leadership roles may apply. The curriculum is directed at mid-career faculty who have financial or administrative responsibilities and may participate or supervise recruitment and retention of other faculty.

The program offers 15 hours of in-person learning distributed over eight monthly sessions that run from October to May 2025. Participants will dive into topics such as executive communication, medical school and hospital finances, and benchmarking for success.

A full description of the eligibility criteria and the topics of each session are available on the LEVEL Up website. For more information, email the Office of Faculty Development. 

Women have shaped the history of UT Southwestern since its founding in 1943. That year, Gladys J. Fashena, M.D., one of our institution’s most distinguished faculty, was one of five women on campus. Today, women make up 46% of our faculty across our four schools.

To honor and celebrate this journey, the Women in Science and Medicine Advisory Committee (WISMAC) is hosting a lecture followed by a poster session during Women’s History Month.

On March 7 at 4 p.m., Julie Mirpuri-Hathiramani, M.D., and Danielle Robertson, O.D., Ph.D. – members of the AAAS IF/THEN Ambassadors Program – will present “The History of Women in Science and Medicine at UT Southwestern.” Register to attend the lecture and the poster session.

The Carole Mendelson, Ph.D., Visiting Professorship

Catherine Bollard, M.D., MB.Ch.B., Director of the Center for Cancer and Immunology Research at the Children’s National Research Institute, has been selected for this year’s visiting professorship by WISMAC.

Her lecture "Virus-Specific T Cell Therapies – Broadening Applicability" will be April 3 from 4–5 p.m.

Add this event to your calendar.

The annual evaluation of Medical School chairs and center directors opens Feb. 9. Faculty in the Medical School will receive a REDCap survey to be completed by March 11. 

To ensure confidentiality of respondents, the responses are filtered through the REDCap software. Comments at the end of the survey should be general in nature, avoiding information that may reveal the respondent's identity. Your feedback is valuable to help us track progress on priorities, operations, and areas of challenge.

Contact the leadership evaluations team should you have any questions or technical difficulties with the survey.

The voting period for the U.S. News & World Report survey is open. Board-certified physicians in 15 adult and 10 pediatric specialties who are registered Doximity users are eligible to vote by logging in to doximity.com or using the Doximity app.

We encourage you to take this opportunity to vote for UT Southwestern as we continue to raise national awareness of the outcomes, safety, quality, and service we provide. 

UT Southwestern’s mandatory annual compliance training bundle is now available in Taleo Learn.

Part 1: Ethics, Compliance, and Our Organization’s Expectations of the Workforce

Part 2: Privacy & Information Security Training

All employees, faculty members, and applicable contractors must complete both training modules by April 17. Those who do not will have email access restricted and face disciplinary action, possibly including termination. If you have questions, email the Office of Institutional Compliance.

Medical students will soon find out where they matched for their residency programs and specialties. Join the excitement March 15 at 11 a.m. on McDermott Plaza. In the days leading up to the celebratory event, you can read about our students’ journeys and specialties on Center Times Plus.

Use #UTSWMatch #Match2024 on social media.

Tenure-Accruing/Tenure Track Workshop

Join this interactive discussion of criteria evaluated for promotion in the Tenure-Accruing/Tenure Track, including research independence, national reputation, and teaching excellence.

• March 6 at noon. Register to attend. 

Spring Grant Writing Bootcamp: Master the R Series*

A four-part grant writing series designed for those preparing to write an R01 or similar submission for an upcoming grant deadline and the people who advise them is underway. UTSW employees who are current members of the Meg Bouvier Grant Writing Course Library can participate for free. View the session schedule and more information.

• March 8, 15, and 22. Register to attend.

Apply for ARPA-H Federal Research Funding

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is a new federal research funding agency that supports bold and transformative biomedical and health science breakthroughs that cannot readily be accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity.

• Apply through the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) by March 14.

Master of Clinical Science – Nutrition Science

Learn more about this online program designed for undergraduate students and nutrition and health care professionals during a virtual open house hosted by the School of Health Professions.

• March 21 from 6–7:30 p.m. Register to attend.

Promotion and Tenure: Research Track Workshop

Join this interactive discussion of criteria evaluated for promotion in the Research Track, including research independence, national reputation, and teaching excellence.

• March 27 at noon. Register to attend.

29th Annual Texas Forum on Reproductive Sciences

Participate in an enriching exchange of ideas during this annual forum, which fosters collaboration among basic and clinical reproductive scientists from institutions across the region.

• April 18–19. Register to attend.

Charles Morris Ginsburg Simulation-Based Quality Improvement and Research Forum

The event will feature the latest in health care simulation, quality improvement, and research.

• May 8. Register to attend.

Faculty Wellness Retreat

This CME-certified program features interactive workshops on the topics of personal, professional, and system efficiency improvement.

• June 7. Register to attend.

*Sponsored by the UT Southwestern CTSA Program