Medicine Grand Rounds

TOPIC: "Fate of Coccidioidomycosis in Patients Treated with Biologic Response Modifiers"
SPEAKER:  Fariba Donovan, MD, PhD 
LOCATION: UAHS 5403 (LIVE) and Banner-UMC-SC 3030 (Video Conferenced)

Watch It LIVE!
(or archived here for later viewing)

About the Speaker
As both a practicing physician and a research scientist, Dr. Donovan has long cultivated a particular interest in medical mycology.  After completing her residency in Iran, she attended graduate school at the Gifu University, School of Medicine in Japan and obtained her Ph.D.  Her research focus was in Candida albicans.  Dr. Donovan developed specific training and expertise in protein purification, molecular biology and gene manipulation techniques.  Her research focused on the identification of virulence factors and the interaction of the fungus with the human host. After securing a post-doctoral fellowship position at the Medical College of Ohio, Dr. Donovan shifted her research to Coccidioides immitis.  She identified and purified urease protein and constructed a urease knock out strain of this fungus which demonstrated lesser virulence in an animal model.  Her research showed promise for the development of a Coccidioides immitis vaccine.  She then moved to the University of Cincinnati where her emphasis was involved with genetic manipulation of Histoplasma capsulatum and the fungal-host interaction in an animal model. In 2004, Dr. Donovan was given an opportunity to begin a residency in Internal Medicine and later completed an Infectious Disease fellowship with a focus in tropical medicine.  That experience and her years as a practicing infectious diseases physician gave her a unique appreciation and understanding of the attention to detail required of a research scientist and the challenge treating patients with opportunistic fungal infections. Returning to her roots at the Valley Fever Center for Excellence (VFCE), Dr. Donovan proposes to evaluate her observation that an earlier diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) can reduce both unnecessary tests and treatments, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality.  Additional benefits would include but not be limited to improving antibiotic stewardship, developing population management programs, and serving as a model to address other opportunistic infections. She conducted studies in Coccidioides with goals to help in the earlier diagnosis of Valley fever to improve patient outcomes, lower costs and heighten antibiotic stewardship. She is currently involved in a quality improvement program for primary care practitioners of Banner’s Arizona Medical Group, to diagnose Valley fever more promptly and manage it more precisely. Her research focus is to identify clinical cues that lead to earlier diagnosis of Valley fever and to assess the impact of clinical practice training on diagnosis and management of this disease. She is also conducting a prospective study at the Banner University Medical Center to evaluate a rapid lateral flow assay for rapid diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis. Additionally, Dr. Donovan is developing plans to study the host innate immune response to Coccidioides with a focus on the early events in coccidioidomycosis.

University of Arizona Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

Accreditation & Disclosure Statements:

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

All Faculty, CME Planning Committee Members, and CME Office Reviewers have disclosed that they have no financial relationships with commercial interests that would constitute a conflict of interest concerning this CME activity.

Learning Objectives:

1. Diagnose a variety of internal medicine illnesses
2. Understand more clearly advances in therapy
3. Become truly professional physicians