News

[Logo for new Joint Spaces podcast for University of Arizona Arthritis Center alongside portraits of Drs. Kent Kwoh, Ernest Vina and Dylan Lee (top to bottom)]
Rheumatology, Arthritis Center add ‘Joint Space’ podcast to community outreach

Dr. Kent Kwoh, division chief and center director, kicks off the podcast – offered on multiple platforms – on topic of “Joint Pain Explained.” Also in this news item are Living Healthy With Arthritis fall calendar, including lectures by Drs. Julie Jernberg and Joshua Farr, and the Bear Down Celebration.
[A portrait of Elizabeth Connick, MD, inset into an image depicting a single human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as it was budding from a human immune cell, which the virus had infected, and within which the HIV virus had been replicated. (Credit: NIAID, 2012)]
U of A study seeks to understand factors that allow HIV to persist during antiretroviral therapy

Infectious Diseases division chief Dr. Liz Connick received $703,000 in NIH/NIAID bridge funding for a study to identify factors in secondary lymphoid tissues that lead to continuous low-level expression of HIV in people living with HIV and receiving antiretroviral therapy, or ART.
[Zoom image of presentation by Neil Ampel, MD, at an FDA/NIH/CDC workshop on a Valley fever vaccine for humans; U of A's John Galgiani, MD, also pictured to right of Dr. Ampel]
U of A infectious diseases faculty headline federal workshop on human vaccine for Valley fever

Shortly after award of $33M in National Institutes of Health contracts to develop human vaccine, Valley Fever Center team – including Drs. John Galgiani and Fariba Donovan – presents on prospects at workshop near Washington, DC. 
[Collage image of portraits of 15 new University of Arizona Department of Medicine faculty members joining the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson in August 2024, pictured alphabetically from top left linearly.]
Fifteen new faculty to join Department of Medicine in August

Fifteen new faculty will join the DOM this month, including three pulmonologists, two hospitalists, two infectious diseases specialists, a cardiologist, dermatologist, endocrinologist, geriatrician, oncologist, and palliative medicine specialist – and two researchers, one studying GI cancers and the other the role of cellular aging (senescence) in age-related bone loss. Read all about them.
[A vehicle kicks up dust as it passes a bicyclist on a dirt road]
Pursuit of a Valley fever vaccine passes significant milestone

A human Valley fever vaccine candidate will proceed toward Phase 1 clinical trials thanks to a major investment from the National Institutes of Health, with a portion of the $33 million going to the University of Arizona through the Valley Fever Center for Excellence, led by Dr. John Galgiani.
Anivive lands $33M NIAID contract to advance human Valley fever vaccine

The pet pharmaceutical firm, which licensed research on a vaccine for dogs developed by the University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence in 2017 and has worked closely with the center, has enlisted partners to move forward on a human vaccine for the respiratory illness caused by fungal spores endemic to soils of the U.S. Southwest.
[Photo of new respite room for teen oncology patients at the Diamond Children's Center in Tucson with inset image of signage outside the door]
New oncology teen room opens at Diamond Children's

Respite space for teen cancer patients is dedicated to the memory of 18-year-old former cancer patient Kelsey Luria, whose parents founded Bald Beauties Project.
[3D illustration of a red coronavirus on a red background]
New study highlights scale and impact of long COVID

A new review published in The Lancet, with U of A Center on Aging co-director Dr. Janko Nikolich as co-author, highlights the global scale and impact of long COVID, explains biological mechanisms behind the condition and suggests priority areas for future research.
[Participants in Camp Scrubs gather to celebrate]
Workforce development offers new beginnings at Banner Health

Banner Health helps current employees and youth grow in their health care careers.
Program launches to engage faculty leaders, increase impact from innovative research

Faculty Innovation Ambassadors, a new program of University of Arizona commercialization arm, Tech Launch Arizona, creates envoys to serve as mentors and information resources for colleagues across the U of A campus. Pulmonary division’s Dr. Julie Ledford is in inaugural cohort and headlines a luncheon Sept. 30 in COM-T Social Hall.
[Banner image for 2024 WIMS Torchbearers Awards nominations to celebrate Women in Medicine Month ]
Call issued for nominations for WIMS 2024-25 Torchbearer Awards

The Women in Medicine & Science diversity group at the College of Medicine – Tucson issued a request for Torchbearer Award nominations for the second annual cohort of inspiring women to be celebrated during Women in Medicine Month in September. Submissions due by Aug. 19. 
[Dr. Helene Felman (left) was one of 12 inaugural SSWIMS fellows, all of whom conducted a yearlong research project on a topic aligned with their professional interests. (Photo courtesy of Mitchell Masilun, BioCommunications, University of Arizona Health Sciences)]
‘The power behind women leaders’: Inaugural SSWIMS fellows celebrate success

A College of Medicine – Tucson fellowship for women in medicine and science supported projects that improve education, research and patient care — and prepare participants for leadership. The DOM’s Drs. Olivia Hung and Salma Patel were among the inaugural fellows, and four more DOM faculty joined for the second.
[Photo of a diverse group of older people gathering around a woman holding a cell phone for a selfie photograph.]
$5M HRSA grant supports diverse and skilled geriatric care workforce in Arizona

The funds awarded to the Center on Aging’s Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program couldn’t come at a better time. That’s due to a growing older U.S. population that’s more racially and ethnically diverse than ever. Meanwhile, Arizona has projected 38.5% more residents over the age of 60 by 2040. 
[According to U.S. News & World Reports, a large number of University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson graduates are making a difference by choosing to practice in rural and medically underserved areas. (Photo by University of Arizona Health Sciences Biocommunications)]
COM-T advances in US News Best Medical Schools rankings

The college was recognized for its strength in diversity and its graduates, who are filling a national need for physicians in rural and health professional shortage areas.
[Image of Banner – University Medical Center Tucson]
Banner – UMC Tucson best hospital in Tucson, SE Arizona and No. 3 in the state again

U.S. News & World Report ranked Tucson’s only level one trauma center once more as the No. 1 hospital in Tucson, No. 1 hospital in Southeastern Arizona and No. 3 in Arizona, with additional credit as high performing in five adult specialties and nine procedures and conditions for 2024-25.
[Photo collage of DOM faculty in first cohort for Advanced Healthcare Leadership Academy: Drs. Tara Carr, Janet Funk, Elizabeth Juneman, Serena Scott and Tejo Vemulapalli]
Five DOM faculty in first class of COM-T, Eller Advanced Healthcare Leadership Academy

Drs. Tara Carr, Janet Funk, Elizabeth Juneman, Serena Scott and Tejo Vemulapalli are among 13 in the inaugural cohort for the re-envisioned and expanded Learning to Lead program designed to enhance the college’s leadership culture and build a better community of colleagues with shared goals.
[Collage of most new physicians joining the 18 fellowships at the University of Arizona Department of Medicine, ranging from Cardiology to Hematology & Oncology Rheumatology.]
New residents, fellows join DOM in July just in time for holiday

Independence Day dropped right into the middle of the week for new resident and fellow physicians beginning their training within the Department of Medicine’s two residency and 18 fellowships, 15 of which are ACGME accredited.
[A collage of images from a June 19 reception for resident physicians and July 1 reception for fellows, hosted by Banner – University Medicine Tucson and the University of Arizona’s Graduate Medical Education program, at the Culinary Dropout restaurants.]
New residents, fellows welcomed at Banner Health receptions

University of Arizona resident and fellow physicians in their training programs’ first year were feted recently at two receptions hosted by Banner – University Medicine Tucson at the Culinary Dropout restaurant as part of their welcome to Banner, the university and Tucson.
[Cancer Bytes logo banner image with name and photo of Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD]
Dr. Curiel-Lewandrowski talks about skin cancer in latest Cancer Bytes video

The Dermatology division chief and co-director of the U of A Skin Cancer Institute offers tips on how to enjoy the outdoors to minimize your UV exposure and reduce your risk of skin cancer.
[Collage image of portraits of eight of 11 new University of Arizona Department of Medicine faculty members as of 7.1.2024]
Eleven new faculty welcomed to Department of Medicine in first week in July

Eight are hospitalists with the Division of Inpatient Medicine, and the Cardiology, Dermatology and Pulmonary divisions get one each. Four are former UArizona residents, two are “MedCats for Life,” and one is a former UArizona fellow. Welcome to summer in the Sonoran Desert!  
[Dr. Michael Abecassis, dean of the College of Medicine – Tucson (center), joins all the college's staff award of excellence nominees for a group photo, showing their Wildcat pride.]
Three from DOM among nominees for COM-T Lura Hanekamp Dedicated Staff Award

Congratulations to all the nominees – including the Department of Medicine’s Mia Gonzales, Brenda Lambert and Courtney Smith – and the two winners, feted at an awards ceremony on June 26 in the Health Sciences Innovation Building.
[Drs. Sai Parthasarathy, Daniel Butler and Rachna Shroff at a panel discussion for the 2024 Clinical Trials Development Workshop, hosted June 21 by Dr. Shroff and the University of Arizona Cancer Center at the HSIB Forum.]
Four DOM faculty among those to share expertise at Clinical Trials Development Workshop

Hematology-Oncology chief Dr. Rachna Shroff was joined at annual UArizona Cancer Center event by Pulmonary chief Dr. Sai Parthasarathy, Dermatology’s Dr. Daniel Butler and Hem-Onc’s Dr. Aaron Scott, co-leader of the Cancer Center’s Clinical & Translational Oncology Program. See mini-photo gallery.
[Amy Sussman, MD, the U of A Department of Medicine's vice chair for education and clerkship director, gives new resident physician's their first lesson on "Teaching Expectations for Clerkship Students."]
Resident orientation gives incoming IM interns inside look at physician training

Personalized white coats, stethoscopes and pagers are just the beginning for new Internal Medicine Residency Program interns launching their medical careers as primary care physicians at the College of Medicine – Tucson. See the mini-photo gallery.
[Presentation of Hospitalist of the Year award to Vijay Chandiramani, MD, at ACP Arizona Chapter awards ceremony in October 2023 in Phoenix (from left): Eileen Barrett, MD, chair of the ACP Board of Regents; Dr. Chandiramani; Allan Markus, MD, governor of the ACP Arizona Chapter; and Umesh Sharma, MD, ACP-AZ Education Committee Chair.]
Dr. Vijay Chandiramani named Hospitalist of the Year

The associate chief for Division of Inpatient Medicine received the honor from the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Physicians.
[Image of DOM Internal Digest newsletter masthead for June 2024, with 4 collages from stories below.]
Latest DOM newsletter focuses on graduations, new clinic, research day and promotions

The June 2024 Internal Digest newsletter is out, putting the spotlight on graduations from DOM’s 15 fellowship and two residency programs, a new Cardiology clinic, IM Research Day results, faculty promotions and the Boyer Liver Institute – and featuring six photo galleries.

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