News
You Ought to Be in Pictures – UA-Banner PMI/All of Us Research Program Seeks Faces of Diversity, Volunteers as Early Enrollees
The UA-Banner All of Us℠/Precision Medicine Initiative team is looking for people to volunteer to have their photo taken to advertise the diversity of our unique Southwest population AND volunteers – or friendlies – to enroll during this “soft launch” before the national research program goes into full swing later this summer. Good news, you don’t have to be a Banner-bonded patient! Ask your family, friends and colleagues to join. Also see the latest All of Us℠ newsletter for June, out now…
Last Better Than Ever Research Grant Goes to Drs. Chalasani, Gimber for Breast Cancer Imaging
The UA Division of Hematology and Oncology’s Dr. Pavani Chalasani and Dr. Lana Gimber, of the UA Department of Medical Imaging, are winners of the 2017-18 Better Than Ever Research Grant for $30,000 from the University of Arizona Cancer Center. Their study focuses on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer patients. It’s the final project funded through the BTE program, which began in 2000 and has distributed nearly $2 million in the past two decades…
UA Researchers to Evaluate New Therapeutic Platform in Targeted Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Drs. Louise Hecker and Heidi Mansour won a $415,491 National Institute on Aging grant to see whether the active ingredient in an FDA-approved oral drug that inhibits relapse and progression in multiple sclerosis might be effective in treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), an advanced lung disease that affects the elderly. The two UA researchers will examine efficacy and safety of oral versus inhaled administration of new antioxidant formulations of the drug designed specifically for IPF. Their findings could lead to clinical trials…
Dr. Shi Wins $20,000 Dermatology Foundation Grant to Study Causes of Eczema
UA dermatologist Dr. Vivian Shi won the Dermatology Foundation’s 2017 Patient Directed Investigation Grant for $20,000 to study mechanisms involved in regulating anti-oxidative enzymes, skin barrier proteins and inflammatory molecules in patients with atopic dermatitis—or eczema…
DOM Research Seminar Looks at Heart Failure Electrophysiology, Precision Cancer Therapy – June 8
The final DOM Research Seminar of the 2016-17 academic year will be Thursday, June 8, Room 5403, noon-1 p.m., with speakers Drs. Elizabeth Juneman, UA Division of Cardiology, and Andrew Kraft, Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Juneman will speak on “Electrophysiology in Heart Failure: Pre-Clinical Assessment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.” Dr. Kraft, director, UA Cancer Center, will talk about, “Targeted Therapy of Cancer – Have We Succeeded?”…
DOM Chair’s Senate Testimony at Odds with ADEQ Chief on Relaxing Air Quality Standards
Testimony to a U.S. Senate subcommittee by Department of Medicine Chair Monica Kraft, MD, on legislation that would relax air quality standards stirred up a bit of controversy as reported in an article from Cronkite News, the news division of Arizona PBS in Phoenix. Citing their potential health impact related to asthma, Dr. Kraft spoke against two Senate bills (S. 263 and S. 452) that co-panelist Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Director Misael Cabrera supported…
Banner Health Bestows ‘Best of the Best’ Awards to Banner – UMC South, Alvernon Clinic
Banner – University Medical Center South, 2800 E. Ajo Way, was recognized for its top performance among Banner Health hospitals with a 2017 Best of the Best Award at Banner Health’s annual conference for its leaders May 18 in Phoenix.
1in9 Kidney Challenge Founders Visit UA Nephrology Faculty, Researchers
A Phoenix couple touring the country on behalf of sufferers of chronic kidney disease (CKD), Raymond and Analyn Scott, made a stop in Tucson earlier this month to meet with faculty and investigators within the UA Division of Nephrology and the Arizona Kidney and Vascular Research Center. Their organization, 1in9 Kidney Challenge, underscores the fact one in nine U.S. adults suffers from kidney disease. They offered a patient perspective on living with CKD and heard about the latest related UA research…
Winners of the Academic Half Day (AHD) Research Day poster competition for the University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson Campus were Drs. Jawad Bilal, Matthew Adams and See Wei Low. The three also had their work chosen for oral presentations as Clinical Vignettes during the Medicine Grand Rounds on May 17…
DOM Faculty, Fellows, Residents and Students Share Pulmonary Postcards from ATS 2017
The UA Department of Medicine and UA Health Sciences contingent at the ATS 2017 International Conference has been sharing a few photo postcards of their activities at the annual conference of the American Thoracic Society in Washington, DC, this week—May 19-24. Click through to see what they’re up to…
Big Hunt for Small Molecule to Treat Neurodegenerative Diseases
Two UA researchers say that finding the ideal molecule could open the door to therapeutic drugs to treat diseases such as ALS.
Building Infrastructure and Good Health, UA Health Professions Students Will Offer Health Screenings for Construction Workers on May 26
Health professions students will offer glucose screenings, blood-pressure monitoring and information on sun safety, hydration, nutrition and smoking cessation for the construction team working on the Health Sciences Innovation Building, in a show of appreciation.
Transplant, Vascular, Endocrine Surgeons Join Tucson Faculty
The University of Arizona Department of Surgery and Banner – University Medical Center recently welcomed several new surgeons to Tucson. All are members of Banner – University Medical Group, the practice plan composed of faculty physicians of the UA College of Medicine – Tucson.
Arizona Telemedicine Program Honored With AZ Business Magazine’s Healthcare Leadership Award
Founded in 1996, the ATP was recognized as ‘a true pioneer in bringing telemedicine into the mainstream.’
Imaging Study of Lipoproteins in Cardiovascular Disease Wins S. Campus Resident $1,000 Prize at Arizona ACC Annual Meeting
Dr. Balaji Natarajan, a member of the University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – South Campus, won a research poster competition May 20 at the 2017 Arizona Annual Meeting of the American College of Cardiology hosted at the Mayo Clinic – Scottsdale Campus’ Taylor Auditorium. His research looked at NMR spectroscopy imaging in psoriasis patients of lipoproteins associated with cholesterol buildup in arteries to better evaluate the risk of cardiovascular disease…
A Novel Way to Tackle Sun Damage: UA Nurse-Scientist to Teach Massage Therapists about Reducing Skin Cancer Risk
Arizona Biomedical Research Commission to fund University of Arizona College of Nursing professor’s innovative skin cancer prevention intervention.
AzAHEC Grant to Improve Training, Education and Coordination among Cochise County Elderly Care Providers
UA geriatrician and UA Center on Aging member Dr. Monica Vandivort has won a $50,000 start-up grant from the Arizona Area Health Education Centers (AzAHEC) for a clinical research initiative entitled, “A Community Paramedicine-Primary Care Partnership in Rural Cochise County Pilot Project to Improve Health Outcomes of Seriously Ill Elders.” It involves a multidisciplinary, collaborative effort between multiple health care organizations in and around Sierra Vista, Ariz…
Liver Disease Foundation Awards Dr. Archita Desai $150K for Predictive Care Needs Research
Dr. Archita Desai, a UA assistant professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and research associate with the UA Liver Research Institute, won a two-year, $150,000 grant from the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease Foundation to fund her project, “The Intersection of Precision Medicine and Population Health to Improve Health Equity in Liver Disease”...
DOM Shares Growing Social Media Presence — Like Us Today!
For those of you following health care on Facebook or the twittersphere, you’ve got more ingresses and outlets for your news and thoughts courtesy of the Department of Medicine, which now has both a Facebook and Twitter webpage. You can find us @UAMedicineEdu. See some of our posts. Follow us, like us, comment, reply, share, retweet!…
UAHS Memos on NIH, CDA and Cancer Research Funding, Construction Updates and Events
Learn about early deadlines for the NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards, UAHS Career Development Awards and American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grants as well as latest traffic restrictions related to new construction on UAHS Campus. Events include upcoming grand rounds for integrative health, rheumatology, infectious diseases and oncology. See archived video for ones you may have missed, including May 10 and 17 Clinical Vignettes Competition…
Sleep Center Director Gets $250K Grant to Evaluate Telemedicine Consults for Insomnia Patients
With funding from the American Sleep Medicine Foundation, Dr. Sai Parthasarathy and his research team at the UAHS Center for Sleep & Circadian Sciences will investigate if delivery of therapy for insomnia is effective and more convenient for patients through telehealth visits rather than conventional in-person consultations. They look to enroll up to 85 patients in a clinical study over next few months...
Six UA Internal Medicine Residents Honored at GME Scholarly Day South Campus
Several University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program – South Campus physicians were among those whose research projects were recognized at the GME Scholarly Day event hosted May 16 at Banner – University Medical Center South’s La Galería auditorium. Among the winners are IM residents Drs. Norm Beatty, Balaji Natarajan and Jessica August. Three others took second place spots…
Three DOM Physicians Recognized at COM Faculty Mentoring Awards
The UA Department of Medicine’s Drs. Jil Tardiff and Jarrod Mosier were recognized with 2017 Faculty Mentoring Awards and Dr. Kent Kwoh with an honorable mention as part of the UA College of Medicine – Tucson General Faculty Meeting held May 17. Other items on the agenda included GME Committee and Medical Student Research Program Committee annual reports and presentations on the SAVAHCS and UAHS New Buildings & Renovation Projects. Read on to see who else was honored…
Researchers Create Unique Catalog of Diseases Linked to Immune System Gene Variations
Generated by a study by researchers with the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the catalog could help identify individuals who are at risk for autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.
New Hospitalists Starting in Division of Inpatient Medicine Soon
Look for new faces soon in the UA Division of Inpatient Medicine. Along with some recent departures come arrivals as well. Those include Drs. Srinivasa Raghavan Madhavan, Nathan R. Copeland, Sujatha Doddi, Ryan McGrath, Sudheer Belur Sreenath and Nadia Ghallab. Dr. Madhavan started in April. Most others are set to arrive this summer…