News

Connecting with Sarver Heart Center’s Dr. Hesham Sadek: A Q&A
January 21, 2025

Still in his first year as center director, he wants to lead the Cardiology division and Sarver Heart Center to a top 10 ranking while finding ways to repurpose drug therapies for rare disorders.


FID teaching excellence session schedule released for New Year
January 17, 2025

The Winter-Spring 2025 schedule for Faculty Instructional Development sessions – seven in all – within the Department of Medicine has been released. Five are offered via Zoom and two in person. Register today!


U of A Cancer Center clinical trial advances research in treatment of biliary tract cancers
January 16, 2025

Experimental, three-drug chemotherapy regimen didn’t improve survival rates for patients, but treatment might still prove helpful for a small subset of patients, according to Dr. Rachna Shroff, trial leader and Hematology & Oncology division chief.


Can the heart heal itself? New study says it can.
December 20, 2024

An international research team co-led by Dr. Hesham Sadek, Cadiology division chief and Sarver Heart Center director at the College of Medicine – Tucson, found evidence that heart muscle can regenerate after heart failure in some people with artificial hearts.


U of A projects research expenditures surpassed $1B in FY24, joining select group of U.S. institutions
December 19, 2024

Buoyed by research including retrieval of the largest asteroid sample ever brought to Earth, advancing a vaccine for Valley fever to human clinical trial – the world’s first against fungal infection to reach this stage – and mitigating effects of extreme heat, University of Arizona officials project research activity exceeded $1 billion in fiscal year 2024, which ended June 30, and are submitting this data to the National Science Foundation for review. 


Three from DOM elected to Pima County Medical Society Board
December 18, 2024

Interventional Pulmonology program director Billie Bixby, MD, Infectious Diseases Fellowship associate program director Monica Hinestroza Jordan, MD, and geriatrician Julia Jernberg, MD, who heads the Ambulatory Clerkship Program, are among five new members picked for local society’s board. See who else from U of A is represented.


Pulmonary’s Dr. Josh Malo proves proverb true with Banner ‘Good Catch’ award
December 17, 2024

Proving a stitch in time saves nine, the associate medical director for the Lung Transplant Program at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson spotted an incorrect measurement on a patient’s donor wait list information. A quick update got them a donor offer soon after.


Dr. Rachna Shroff elected to AACI steering committee
December 16, 2024

The DOM Division of Hematology & Oncology chief and interim clinical affairs director and associate director of clinical investigations at the University of Arizona Cancer Center joins the Association of American Cancer Institutes’ Physician Clinical Leadership Initiative Steering Committee.


GI brings back Holiday Photo Booth for reprise on sharing seasonal cheer
December 12, 2024

The Division of Gastroenterology is reprising its Holiday Photo Booth, which made its debut last year as a way to add a lighter moment of joy during the end-of-year holiday season. All in the Department of Medicine are welcome to come shoot selfies and share them – or just keep them for personal pleasure. Sharing’s been made easier via a simple app accessible with a QR code.


Honoring Dr. David Alberts: A legacy of cancer prevention
December 5, 2024

The University of Arizona Cancer Center hosted a memorial event Nov. 12 for founding member and visionary leader, David Alberts, MD. A prior center director who oversaw creation of the Skin Cancer Institute, Dr. Alberts died July 2, 2023. The event featured remarks of guests (including Drs. Jennifer Bea and Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski), and his family was presented a plaque.


Prepping for respiratory illness season: Key insights on RSV, flu and COVID-19
November 26, 2024

Respiratory illnesses surge in winter months, aligning with colder weather, increased indoor gatherings and seasonal travel. This prompts health officials such as Dr. Mohanad Al-Obaidi, Division of Infectious Diseases associate professor, to urge people to adopt proactive measures to limit their spread.


Nine promoted faculty feted at DOM dinner hosted at Arizona Inn
November 22, 2024

The careers of faculty members — Drs. Mohanad Al-Obaidi, Tara Carr, Michel Corban, Sima Ehsani, Justin Hayes, Olivia Hung, Neha Jaswal, Elizabeth Juneman and Bijin Thajudeen — were lauded at the Faculty Promotion Celebration event. See the mini-photo gallery.


Mini-Photo Gallery: 2024 U of A Cancer Center Annual Scientific Retreat
November 21, 2024

The Annual Scientific Retreat of the University of Arizona Cancer Center on Nov. 15 drew 180 researchers and scientists. DOM’s Dr. Juanita Merchant, center interim director and GI division chief, offered welcoming remarks and Dermatology division chief Dr. Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski presented as well. The keynote was given by UT Health San Antonio’s Dr. Amelie Ramirez.


Integrative Cancer Scholars Program gives grad students experience with top scientists, oncologists
November 21, 2024

The Department of Medicine’s Drs. Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, Jennifer Carew and Aaron Scott earn mentions with this NIH/NCI-funded T32 training program for post-graduates interested in cancer research at the University of Arizona Cancer Center.


Lupus Research Alliance Celebrates U of A’s Dr. Kent Kwoh for Native American Heritage Month
November 20, 2024

A story published online by the Lupus Research Alliance spotlights the Rheumatology division chief and U of A Arthritis Center director’s involvement with indigenous populations in Southern Arizona. Coming during Native American Heritage Month, this recognition serves as a wonderful tribute to the work being done to advance arthritis care throughout Native American populations.


Study identifies potential new drug for Parkinson’s-related cognitive decline, dementia
November 19, 2024

Parkinson’s disease causes difficulty in movement and balance, but its cognitive symptoms receive less attention and have no good treatments. A U of A College of Medicine – Tucson team, including Lalitha Madhavan, MD, PhD, a neurology associate professor with a dual appointment in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, hopes to change that.


Infectious Diseases fellows get chance at rotation in Bolivia in 2025
November 18, 2024

The Division of Infectious Diseases and U of A GME office signed a 5-year letter of agreement with the Hospital Clínico Viedma in Cochabamba, Bolivia, for a four-week elective rotation there led by assistant professor Monica Jordan Hinestroza, MD, this February. Apply today!


Big crowds and big wins for DOM at ACP Arizona Chapter Scientific Meeting
November 15, 2024

Department of Medicine faculty, residents and students excelled at this year’s American College of Physicians chapter event hosted in Tucson, with DOM honors for Internal Medicine Physician of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Student of the Year, plus top prizes in poster contests in four of five student categories and a resident category. Poster entries, registrants and sponsorships also broke records.


Dr. Jil Tardiff honored with select lectureship at AHA Scientific Sessions
November 14, 2024

The Division of Cardiology professor and Sarver Heart Center member whose research focuses on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young people – will give the Thomas Smith Memorial Lecture at the American Heart Association event Nov 18.


Modest turnout for DOM DEI Mixer with great talk, sim lab experience
November 7, 2024

Thirty people attended the 2024 Department of Medicine mixer hosted by the DEI Committee in the HSIB Forum and ASTEC simulation lab, including 10 pre-med and medical students interested in internal medicine, with an inspiring talk by UAHS DEI associate vice president Dr. Francisco Moreno. See the mini-photo gallery.


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