Within the University of Arizona Division of Infectious Diseases and programs and centers associated with it, we are passionate about educating and training clinical professionals and the public about the latest information about infectious diseases and prevention.
This community outreach includes development of guidelines and best practices for patient care. It is accomplished through alliances and partnerships in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), county health departments and local health care and community organizations
Through our website, you can find links to upcoming events, educational programs and support groups, along with videos, educational content and additional information that reinforces and builds on what you can find in our education programs. Although there may be a lot of medical misinformation on the Internet, you will find accurate, helpful resources on our website.
Infection Prevention & Public Health Readiness
Infectious Diseases faculty and staff members are highly visible to the local, regional and state communities via their work in outreach and training regarding infection prevention. One such area is public health readiness, where UArizona Infectious Diseases faculty and the Banner – University Medical Center Tucson Infection Prevention team provide training and collaboration to the Pima County Health Department, lecture frequently to the Medical Reserve Corps of Southern Arizona and other community providers and community-based organizations, and provide media interviews to educate the public about myriad infectious diseases topics.
This team also directs and staffs Arizona’s High-Consequence Infectious Diseases Assessment Center, initially created in 2014 in response to the threat of Ebola virus disease entering Arizona. The center is recognized by both ADHS as well as the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Many additional activities support the robust presence of the division in outreach to the community.
Contact: Nicholas Schweeers, MPH, Program Director, (520) 694-2601 or nicholas.schweers@bannerhealth.com
Valley Fever Center for Excellence
The UArizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence was created by the Arizona Board of Regents in 1996 to address problems caused by the fungus, Coccidioides, the source for Valley fever—also known as coccidioidomycosis. Two-thirds of U.S. Valley fever infections occur in Arizona, largely in urban areas around Tucson and Phoenix—with about 150 deaths a year from the respiratory illness. The center’s mission is to mobilize resources to eradicate Valley fever through:
- Development of public awareness and education about Valley fever
- Promotion of high quality care for patients with Valley fever
- Pursuit and encouragement of research into all aspects of Coccidioides and the diseases it causes.
Each year in mid-November, the center also spearheads Valley Fever Awareness Week—recognized since 2003 by proclamation of the Arizona Governor’s Office—with a statewide program of lectures, presentations and other events to inform the public and health-care professionals about this infectious disease.
The center is led by founding director John N. Galgiani, MD, an infectious disease specialist who holds clinics at Banner – UMC Tucson and Phoenix. It provides online webinars and a tutorial for clinical professionals in treatment of Valley fever, a registry of pulmonary specialists in treatment of the respiratory disease, as well as brochures in both English and Spanish for public awareness campaigns.
HIV/AIDS
Petersen HIV Clinics
The Petersen HIV Clinics at UArizona have been providing comprehensive care rated among the best in the nation for HIV/AIDS patients in southern Arizona for over 30 years.
If you are at risk for or have been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS, the Petersen HIV Clinics at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and South clinical facilities can help. We provide specialty care using advanced medical technology and treatments. With support of the federal Ryan White Program through a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), all eligible HIV-positive patients can receive primary care at reduced or no cost.
Clinic Offerings
Patients in the clinic receive confidential, regular care from a coordinated team of infectious disease specialists. Among services offered to the Southern Arizona community are:
- Advocacy-related activities
- Counseling services for patients and their loved ones
- Early intervention including targeted, routine diagnostic testing, counseling and education for those at high risk of contracting HIV, including HIV-negative partners of HIV-infected patients
- Education
- Medical case management and clinical care coordination
- Medical management of HIV/AIDS including antiretroviral therapies, ongoing primary care and infectious disease specialty care
- Mental health
- Resource referrals including mental health services, substance abuse services, dental and oral care, and other supportive services
- Treatment adherence administered by a clinical pharmacist
Team Rx – Meet Your Pharmacist
Through Petersen Clinic partners at the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, HIV/AIDS patients, their friends and family can learn about the latest medications and drug therapies for preventing and managing medical conditions and potential side effects they may face. The events occur every other month throughout the area and are frequently held jointly with community partners such as the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation.
Contact: Kristen Ellis, PharmD, (520) 626-2882, ellis@pharmacy.arizona.edu
Pacific AIDS Education & Training Center – Tucson
The Arizona AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) is administered through the UArizona Division of Infectious Diseases and is supported by funding from HHS/HRSA under a cooperative agreement.
AETC Tucson is a local partner of the Pacific AIDS Education and Training Center (PAETC), one of eight regional centers established nationally. Its mission is to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide outstanding care to people living with HIV and AIDS.
Through AETC, physicians, dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and mental health workers gain access to training from peer colleagues with expertise in HIV/AIDS management and treatment. Education and training opportunities include statewide continuing education sessions, on-site clinic trainings and consultations with experts. The center also facilitates dialogue between urban and rural practitioners and collaborates with other Ryan White consortia providers.
Contact:
Danielle deMontigny Avila, MD, Principal Investigator, (520) 626-1618, danielledavila@arizona.edu
Alyssa Guido, MPH, Program Director, (520) 626-0723, alyssa1@deptofmed.arizona.edu
Other
The Infectious Diseases Grand Rounds lectures, which occur virtually on the fourth Tuesday of the month, 8:00-9:00 a.m., UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson, are open to community health care professionals. For questions, contact Richelle Clemente, (520) 621-0190 or rclemente@arizona.edu