FELCOM: AN INTRO

As its name implies, the NIH Fellows Committee (FELCOM) was established to serve the NIH fellows community. It therefore draws its members from each NIH institute and from both basic and clinical science. FELCOM representatives are elected for a one-year term, act as liaisons between postdoctoral fellows and NIH administrative bodies, and serve as ad hoc members of several NIH-wide committees, including the CME committee and the Committee on Scientific Conduct and Ethics.

A major FELCOM program is the Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE). Held annually in May, this competition is based on abstracts submitted for blind peer review by study sections composed of two postdoctoral fellows and one senior scientist. The winners receive a $1,000 travel award to attend and present their work at a scientific meeting, and they also present a poster to the NIH community in conjunction with a Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) event. FELCOM also sponsors up to three WALS lectures each year.

Ongoing events include the Survival Skills workshops, aimed at teaching fellows how to become independent investigators, and a series on Scientific Careers for the Millennium. FELCOM also tackles such issues as visas, and it promotes the following teaching activities:

Adventure in Science shows children ages 8—11 the excitement of scientific discovery. Meets Saturdays October through March. Volunteers select their own material. Contact Edward Max

NIH Resident Teacher Program enlists fellows who want to teach science in Montgomery County public schools at the middle and high school levels. Offers a chance to earn state teacher certification. Contact Sandra Shmookler (also at phone, 301-279-3432; and fax: 301-279-3428).

FAES seeks teachers for its college-level evening courses–from guest lecturers to course developers; monetary compensation is possible. Contact Constance Noguchi at 301-496-1163 or see website.

Current FELCOM chairs are Patricia Van Bergen and James Gulley; meetings (first Thursday each month at 4, Building 1) are open. For more info, see the FELCOM web site.

—Elizabeth McNeil, NCI
—Suzanne Dashiell, NINDS

AN APPLE FOR EXCELLENCE

The NIH Fellows Committee is requesting nominations for the 2000 Distinguished Clinical Teacher Award. Each year an NIH senior clinical investigator who has demonstrated excellence in clinical training involving direct patient care is publicly honored. A brief supporting statement should accompany nominations. Please fax or e-mail your nomination letter to: