News
FRONTERA, BLAISER Programs Offer Chance to Address Disparities in Underserved Communities
It’s summer in Tucson and a host of University of Arizona Health Sciences programs designed to foster diversity in the health professions run from June through August with a similar goal: to address related disparities for underserved communities. Among these are the BLAISER (Border Latino & American Indian Summer Exposure to Research) and the Focusing Research on the Border Area (FRONTERA) Summer Internship programs. See who all are participating as mentors and lecturers (with links to video)…
Banner – UMC Tucson Opening Featured on Cover of Arizona Commercial Real Estate Magazine
Banner – University Medical Center Tucson’s grand opening of its new nine-story hospital tower in April got prominent play on the cover and in the cover story, “Healthcare Trends,” for the May/June 2019 issue of Arizona Commercial Real Estate Magazine, also known as AZRE. The article focuses on modern conveniences expected by both staff and patients. Three other Banner construction projects are profiled in Phoenix, too…
UA Center on Aging Staff Op-Ed Takes Aim at Elder Abuse, Social Isolation of Older Adults
Drs. Linda Phillips and Lisa O’Neill, members of the Arizona Workforce Enhancement Program at the University of Arizona Center on Aging, recently co-wrote an editorial page article in the Arizona Daily Star on the importance of supporting programs like the Pima Council on Aging and Meals on Wheels and watching out for your older neighbors and relatives as a safeguard against elder abuse. The occasion was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15…
UA Center on Aging Paper Focuses on Health Information Disparities for Older Mexican-Americans
A new paper from the University of Arizona Center on Aging and Arizona Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, published by the Journal of Transcultural Nursing, looks at disparities in information available to older Mexican-Americans and their family caregivers that may affect their health-care use and end-of-life decisions. Dr. Linda Phillips, the center’s senior director of research and education, is a co-author…
UA Cancer Center Research Specialist Named Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man of the Year
Forest Melton, a regulatory specialist with the Genitourinary (GU) Team and research member with the Therapeutic Development Program at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, won “Man of the Year” honors from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Arizona Chapter in June...
Janet Major Elected U.S. Distance Learning Association President
A vital contributor to the Arizona Telemedicine Program at the University of Arizona for more than 20 years, Major trains health-care professionals in the effective use of videoconferencing and also plans, develops and installs the teleconferencing and telemedicine equipment used at rural telemedicine sites.
Dr. Olivia Hung among Clinical Reasoning Course Faculty Facilitators
Congratulations to Dr. Olivia Hung, a clinical assistant professor of medicine in the University of Arizona Division of Cardiology, UA Sarver Heart Center member and cardiology education director at South Campus, who was among 10 physicians chosen to participate in the Clinical Reasoning Course at the UA College of Medicine – Tucson as CRC faculty facilitators. See other facilitators named…
UA Physician to Study Sleep Apnea and Heart Health
Dr. Salma Patel will explore mortality related to obstructive sleep apnea in individuals suffering from cardiac arrhythmia, with a future focus on alternative therapies to continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, devices that help some people sleep better.
Joann Sweasy, PhD, Joins UA Cancer Center as Associate Director for Basic Sciences
Previously at Yale University, Dr. Sweasy brings expertise in basic sciences that will facilitate translational research.
Internal Medicine, Dermatology Chief Residents Named for 2019-20 and 2020-21
Ten residents will stay on an extra year over the next two years to serve as chief residents at the University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Programs at University and South Campus, three more will serve as chief residents in the UA Advanced Dermatology Residency Program and seven current chiefs will head on to their next career endeavors. See who they are and where the others are going…
For Students Who Have Overcome Challenges, Pathway to Medical School Program Demonstrates Success
The first students to participate in the Pre-Medical Admissions Pathway (P-MAP) program — an intensive medical school prep program for those who have faced greater-than-average challenges — have graduated from the UA College of Medicine – Tucson and become physicians
Stem Cell Study Determines Most Harmful Vape Liquids
Novel approach reveals vaping’s effect on endothelial cells and the most harmful flavors.
Two University Campus IM Residents Win for Recent Medicine Grand Rounds Presentations
Cheers to University of Arizona residents Drs. Kevin Breen and John Dicken, named winners of the Medicine Grand Rounds presentations for those recognized at Research Academic Half Day (AHD) and American College of Physicians (ACP) Clinical Vignettes research competitions. They presented on May 15 and May 8, respectively, Dr. Breen on regulation of a protein in brain cancer (i.e., astrocytoma to glioblastoma) and Dr. Dicken on heart arrhythmias (i.e., differences between wide complex tachycardia and V-tach)…
Skin Cancer, Chemoprevention Cover Story for UA Cancer Center Newsletter
Drs. James Sligh and Clara Curiel-Lewandrowksi, chief and vice chief of the University of Arizona Division of Dermatology and key members of the UA Skin Cancer Institute, made the cover of the latest edition of the Act Against Cancer newsletter from the UA Cancer Center, out in mid-May with the theme for this issue being chemoprevention. The article takes a hard look at skin cancer, sun safety and the research of Drs. Curiel and Sally Dickinson, an assistant professor of pharmacology. See all the articles here…
Two Awards Show UA Cardiologist Dr. Marvin Slepian to be ‘Man for All Seasons’
University of Arizona cardiologist, inventor and biomedical engineer Dr. Marvin Slepian has been rolling in kudos of late, with his most recent recognitions coming from the UA College of Engineering where he was named a da Vinci Fellow and his alma mater for his medical degree, the University of Cincinnati, which presented him May 20 with one of four Drake Medals…
UA College of Medicine – Tucson Relaunches Pre-Medical Admissions Pathway Program
The P-MAP program, which allows highly qualified underrepresented students to automatically be accepted into the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, has been revised and relaunched to better suit the needs of incoming medical students.
Eleven Department of Medicine Faculty Approved for Promotion and Tenure Advancement
Cheers to the 11 University of Arizona Department of Medicine faculty members whose promotions and tenure advancements were approved by the UA College of Medicine – Tucson and UA Office of the Provost. Four are from the Pulmonary Division, two from Dermatology, and one each from Geriatrics; Genetics, Genomics & Precision Medicine; Hematology & Oncology; Integrative Medicine, and Nephrology. They include: Drs. Pavani Chalasani, Ann Marie Chiasson, James Knepler, Lavanya Kodali, Xingnan Li, Joshua Malo, Laura Meinke, Afshin Sam, Robert Segal, James Sligh and Monica Vandivort…
International Collaboration Aims to Predict Life-Threatening Reaction to Heparin Treatment
No tests currently are available to evaluate risk for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, an adverse reaction to the drug that can result in catastrophic, life-threatening complications in patients with cardiovascular disease.
GME Scholarly Day Showcases Research Prowess of South Campus Students, Residents, Fellows
Three South Campus internal medicine residents were among those recognized at the Jeanne Deinert GME Scholarly Day at Banner – University Medical Center South on May 14. Two were poster contest winners, Drs. Wina Yousman and Gianna O’Hara, and Dr. Sarah Tariq was chosen to be an oral presenter. Division of Infectious Diseases associate professor Dr. Lori Fantry also was a co-author on the winning Medical Student Poster on PrEP and needle exchange programs in HIV prevention. See all the winners and fellows, faculty who assisted them…
Dozen DOM Docs Recognized at College of Medicine Faculty Meeting
At the recent College of Medicine – Tucson General Faculty Meeting, hosted May 8 in the University of Arizona Cancer Center’s Kiewit Auditorium, 10 new faculty members and two more, Drs. Emad Elquza and Sairam Parthasarathy, who’ve excelled as mentors were recognized from the Department of Medicine. New faculty recognized include: Drs. John Carmichael, Ann Marie Canelas, Julia Jernberg, Babu Mohan, Soheila Nuri, Chad Whelan, Oleh Haluszka, Ritika Ohri, Sara Centouri and Kosuke Kato…
40th Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions Recognize Contributions of Dr. Frank Marcus to Understanding ARVC/D
Dr. Frank Marcus, professor emeritus of medicine and a past chief in the Division of Cardiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, and a research scientist with the UA Sarver Heart Center, was honored as an invited speaker at the recent Heart Rhythm Society 2019 meeting in San Francisco. The society held a special session May 10 to recognize his research on right ventricular dysplasia, a rare type of cardiomyopathy that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest or heart failure…
Cardiology Chief Among ‘Remarkable’ Women Celebrated on Mother’s Day Weekend
Congratulations to the University of Arizona’s Dr. Nancy Sweitzer, one of five women spotlighted as “Remarkable Moms,” May 11, the day before Mother’s Day at the “Remarkable Celebration Prom Night” to benefit Tu Nidito, a local non-profit agency that supports children and families impacted by serious medical conditions and death. In Dr. Sweitzer’s case it was her husband’s death just before she joined the UA faculty as cardiology division chief and director of the UA Sarver Heart Center. See the video, read the Arizona Daily Star story…
Colorado Helping Speed up the Future of Health with New Research Program at NCMC
Northern Colorado residents are the first in the state to have the opportunity to enroll on-site and become participants in the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program.
Novel Study Discovers ‘Metabolic Fingerprint’ to Help Treat, Diagnose and Prevent Cervical Cancer
UA Researchers identified ‘metabolic signatures’ to distinguish HPV, pre-cancerous cervical conditions and cancer.
UA’s Mobile Health Program Expands Services
The UA Mobile Health Program has expanded its primary-care services in partnership with the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), Youth on Their Own (YOTO) and Primavera Foundation’s Casa Paloma. The mobile clinic provides full-service primary care to low-income residents in medically underserved communities throughout Pima County.