UA College of Medicine – Tucson and Banner – University Medical Center Co-Sponsor Inaugural Desert Lung Disease Conference, April 15-16

For most people, the idea of having lung cancer or end-stage lung disease sounds like a death sentence. 

That’s not the case, according to surgeons Samuel Kim, MD, and Scott Lick, MD, two physicians at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson and Banner – University Medical Center (UMC) Tucson. They have organized the inaugural Desert Lung Disease Conference, to be held Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16, at the J.W. Marriott Starr Pass Resort, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., Tucson, to discuss treatment options clinical practitioners might consider for their patients.

Dr. Kim said topics will range from “Imaging and Bronchoscopy for Lung Failure” to “Minimally Invasive Surgery for Lung Cancer,” with other themes including COPD, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis and hypertension, medical imaging, radiation therapy and surgical considerations for lung transplantation.

“This event allows us to showcase our premier clinical programs at Banner – UMC and provide education to trainees, nurses and physicians,” said Ken Knox, MD, UA professor of medicine and immunobiology and chief of the UA Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. “The topics highlighted are lung cancer and advanced lung diseases that may progress to require lung transplant. Attendees will learn about medical and surgical options for these complex patients.”

The two-day event provides an educational opportunity for pulmonologists, oncologists, primary care physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses and other health-care professionals interested in the management and treatment of lung diseases. A total of 12 continuing medical education (CME) credits are available.

Among the speakers from Banner – UMC Phoenix and Tucson and the UA College of Medicine – Tucson’s Departments of Medicine, Medical Imaging, Radiation Oncology and Surgery are:

• Rajeev Saggar, MD, executive director of advanced lung disease at Banner – UMC Phoenix and interim chair of clinical medicine at Banner – University Medical Group;
• Linda L. Garland, MD, UA associate professor of medicine and director of the UA Cancer Center’s Clinical Lung Cancer Program;
• James Knepler, MD, UA associate professor of medicine and director for interventional pulmonology at Banner – UMC Tucson;
• Steve Knoper, MD, UA associate professor of medicine and director for lung transplantation at Banner – UMC Tucson;
• Dr. Lick, UA professor of medicine, interim chief for the UA Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and director for thoracic organ transplantation at Banner – UMC Tucson; and
• Dr. Kim, UA assistant professor of surgery, interim chief for the Division of Thoracic Surgery and activity director for the conference.

Clinicians interested in attending can visit the website: desertlungconference.medicine.arizona.edu, where they can view the agenda, register and arrange lodging. Fees are $150 for physicians and $75 for mid-level clinicians (PAs, NPs, RNs) through March 31 ($200 for physicians and $100 for mid-level clinicians after). Residents and fellows attend free. Events start Friday, April 15, at noon for registration and run through 4 p.m., Saturday, April 16. Questions can be directed to Lizz King, 520-626-6668.

About the UA College of Medicine – Tucson
The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson is advancing health and wellness through state-of-the-art medical education programs, groundbreaking research and advancements in patient care in Arizona and across the United States. Founded in 1967, the College ranks among the top medical schools in the nation for research and primary care and is leading the way in academic medicine through its partnership with Banner – University Medicine, a new division of one of the largest nonprofit health-care systems in the country. For more information, please visit http://medicine.arizona.edu

About Banner – University Medical Center
Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and Banner – University Medical Center South are part of Banner – University Medicine, a premier academic medical network. These institutions are academic medical centers for the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. Included on the two campuses are Banner Children’s – Diamond Children’s Medical Center, the Peter and Paula Fasseas Cancer Clinic at UA Cancer Center – North and many other clinics across Tucson and in Green Valley and Sierra Vista, Ariz. The two academic medical centers are part of Arizona-based Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health-care systems in the country. Banner Health operates in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. 

About the University of Arizona Health Sciences
The University of Arizona Health Sciences is the statewide leader in biomedical research and health professions training. The UA Health Sciences includes the UA Colleges of Medicine (Phoenix and Tucson), Nursing, Pharmacy and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, with main campus locations in Tucson and the growing Phoenix Biomedical Campus in downtown Phoenix. From these vantage points, the UA Health Sciences reaches across the state of Arizona and the greater Southwest to provide cutting-edge health education, research, patient care and community outreach services. A major economic engine, the UA Health Sciences employs almost 5,000 people, has nearly 1,000 faculty members and garners more than $126 million in research grants and contracts annually. For more information: healthsciences.arizona.edu

Media Contact: David Mogollon