Looking back: 2013 at Baylor College of Medicine

As the year begins to draw to a close, at Momentum we’ll be looking back at an action-packed 2013. Each Monday we’ll be reveling in some of the highlights from last year’s events, announcements, awards, grants and important research.

Here we go:

Best medical school in Texas

Baylor College of Medicine tops U.S. News & World Report’s list as the best primary care and medical-research institution in Texas. Nationally, the College ranked in the top 20 medical colleges. Read more about the rise in the rankings:

BCM President Dr. Paul Klotman talks about the recent ranking.

BCM among top 20 medical colleges in U.S. News & World Report

Collaboration in San Antonio

In February, Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital announced a new collaboration to elevate pediatric care in San Antonio.

“This alliance … ensures that the children and families of San Antonio will have access to the best care possible,” Baylor President and CEO Dr. Paul Klotman said in a press release. “Baylor and Texas Children’s are able to provide a level of expertise in a short period of time that otherwise would take decades to build. In the near future, we plan to increase our commitment to the Children’s Hospital, with both education and research programs.”

Read more about the collaboration.

Match Day Madness

On March 14, 189 fourth-year medical students at Baylor College of Medicine opened envelopes that revealed where they will continue their medical training for the next three to seven years. Match Day culminates the annual National Residents Matching Program, which pairs fourth-year medical students with residency programs throughout the nation.

See photos, graphics and images from our festivities.

New magnet school opens in Houston

The Houston Independent School District’s Board of Education approved the creation of the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan, a new magnet middle school with a rigorous curriculum focused on the health sciences.

Read more about the school in a Q&A with Dr. Nancy Moreno, professor and senior associate director of BCM’s Center for Educational Outreach.

NCI director gives commencement address

National Cancer Institute Director Dr. Harold Varmus, the co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1989 for his studies on the genetic basis of cancer, gave this year’s commencement address. Varmus was named director of the NCI in 2010 after serving for 10 years as president of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and six years as director of the National Institutes of Health.

Get a recap of graduation by the numbers and see photos from the ceremony.

Pediatric AIDS initiative expands

On Dec. 2, jointly with Texas Children’s Hospital, the Baylor College of Medicine Pediatric AIDS Initiative announced their efforts to improve global health have expanded with a new program in Papua New Guinea. The program is being supported by a $3.1 million, two-year grant from ExxonMobil and the other co-venturers of the PNG LNG Project to Texas Children’s Hospital.

Read more about the announcement.

See photos from special dedication ceremony in Papua New Guinea.

In June, the initiative celebrated a decade of helping more than 6,000 children in Botswana since the first clinic was opened in Africa.

Read more about the expansion of BIPAI.

See photos from the celebration and expansion project.

70 years in Houston

On July 12, 1943, Baylor University College of Medicine held its first classes in Houston. After 70 years of groundbreaking work, at the heart of the Texas Medical Center, we’re proud of all we’ve accomplished.

Take a look back at our celebration of 70 years of victories through photos, articles and features.

Giving Life to Possible

Baylor College of Medicine kicked off an extensive brand campaign to highlight its achievements and vision in education, research, healthcare and community service.

“Giving Life to Possible” focuses on the people of Baylor College of Medicine, centering on their hands-on work to push boundaries in unraveling the mysteries of the human body.

See more of the campaign.

College ranks No. 2 nationally in best medical schools for Hispanics

Baylor College of Medicine has been named one of the top medical schools for Hispanics, according to Hispanic Business magazine. Of the top 10 institutions named, BCM ranks No. 2, jumping from the No. 4 position held for the past two years.

Huffington Center on Aging celebrates 25^th anniversary

The Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine marked its 25th anniversary in November with the annual Crystal Ball. Over the years, the center has made a significant impact on the aging population in Houston, the United States and across the world through its research, clinical and educational activities.

Learn more about the Center’s silver anniversary.

Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center opens

On Nov. 25, the College announced that the Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center on the McNair Campus opened to patients. Read more about the opening and see photos from the first day at the new medical center.

Be sure to check back each Monday for the rest of the year to see what awards, grants, research and events we highlight.

Think we missed something? Let us know what you think should be included in the comment section below and you could see it mentioned in future posts.

-By Audrey M. Marks