Research News
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.
![[3D illustration of a red coronavirus on a red background]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/gettyimages-1356237801-card_1.jpg?itok=YUrK6Dsm×tamp=1722966070 "The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19, which in some people can lead to long COVID with an extensive list of conditions that persist long after the initial infection has subsided. (Illustration by DrPixelvia Getty Images)")
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.
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.
![[Photo of a diverse group of older people gathering around a woman holding a cell phone for a selfie photograph.]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/prb_01-24-aging-fact-sheet_card.png?itok=DcTzZsMD×tamp=1722043590 "The U.S population is older today than it has ever been. And that older population is more racially and ethnically diverse than ever, too. Between now and 2050, the share of older Americans identifying as non-Hispanic white is projected to drop from 75% to 60%, according to the Population Reference Bureau.")
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.
![[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]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/dom_in_com-t_eller_advanced_heatlhcare_leadership_card.jpg?itok=Onylzby4×tamp=1721343965 "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")
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.
![[Cancer Bytes logo banner image with name and photo of Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/cancerbytes_curiel-pic_6.28.24_card.jpg?itok=ElzkLS2h×tamp=1721232534 "Cancer Bytes logo banner image with name and photo of Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD")
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]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/dom-new-faculty-collage_july2024_card.jpg?itok=W8Veejxm×tamp=1719963895 "Collage image of portraits of eight of 11 new University of Arizona Department of Medicine faculty members as of 7.1.2024")
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!
![[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.]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/clinical_trials_workshop_img_6250_card_6.21.24.jpg?itok=xEpp-5OM×tamp=1721167831 "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.")
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.
![[Image of DOM Internal Digest newsletter masthead for June 2024, with 4 collages from stories below.]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/internal_digest_june_2024_teaser_600x450px-collage.jpg?itok=Sw7-RplX×tamp=1718991586 "Image of DOM Internal Digest newsletter masthead for June 2024, with 4 collages from stories below.")
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.
![[Collage of recent community outreach efforts by the Thomas D. Boyer Liver Institute for free hepatitis C, or Hep-C, screenings with Carina Mendoza and Carol Peters, ANP.]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/liver_institute_june_24_newsletter_card.jpg?itok=p7rqYJje×tamp=1717792724 "Collage of recent community outreach efforts by the Thomas D. Boyer Liver Institute for free hepatitis C, or Hep-C, screenings with Carina Mendoza and Carol Peters, ANP.")
Staff profiles, Global Fatty Liver Day on June 13, community outreach for free Hep-C screenings, and a plethora of info on research, policy briefs & outbreak updates, clinical trials and other current studies is what you’ll find in the most recent newsletter.
![[Residents and faculty—including Drs. Anthony Witten (wearing mask) and Kevin Moynahan (center)—mingle during the judging portion of the poster contest during the 2024 Internal Medicine Research Academic Half Day for the Department of Medicine.]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/research_ahd_05.23.24_cdm_img_4914_card.jpg?itok=98BlAS76×tamp=1718065740 "Residents and faculty—including Drs. Anthony Witten (wearing mask) and Kevin Moynahan (center)—mingle during the judging portion of the poster contest during the 2024 Internal Medicine Research Academic Half Day for the Department of Medicine.")
Residents got twice the bang for their buck at this year’s Internal Medicine Research Academic Half Day with both a traditional poster contest as well as – for the first time ever – oral vignettes during the event’s activities. Multiple DOM faculty participated as judges. See photo gallery and announcement of who won.
![[Drs. Mari Ricker and Andrew Weil were part of a panel discussion on the role of integrative medicine in the future of U.S. healthcare, April 24, 2024, in the HSIB Forum]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/weil_card_0.jpg?itok=Mn6VMrZq×tamp=1716596379 "Drs. Mari Ricker and Andrew Weil were part of a panel discussion on the role of integrative medicine in the future of U.S. healthcare, April 24, 2024, in the HSIB Forum")
Panel discussion with pioneers in integrative health care, cooking demonstrations, public open house highlight debut of new complex. DOM faculty were prominent at each, if only in attending. See who was there with two mini-photo galleries and a video.
![[Portrait of University of Arizona Health Sciences immunologist Deepta Bhattacharya]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/bhattacharya-deepta-phd_immuno_klh2920_card.jpg?itok=MwbR7kA1×tamp=1718643406 "Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, has been selected to lead the Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies at the University of Arizona Health Sciences. (Photo by Kris Hanning, UArizona Health Sciences Office of Communications)")
The Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies will be led by Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, a renowned immunologist at the College of Medicine – Tucson.
![[Chair of the UArizona Chapter of the Academy of Medical Education Scholars, or AMES, Tara Carr, MD (far right), presents plaques to newly inducted members, Holly Bullock, MD, MPH (OB-GYN), Saman Nematollahi, MD (Infectious Diseases), Joy Bulger Beck, MD (GGP-General Internal Medicine), Jennifer Plitt, MD (GGP-Palliative Medicine), and Amy Mitchell, MD (OB-GYN). Missing from the photo are other new members, Maria Bishop, MD (Hematology-Oncology), Steven Dudick, MD (OB-GYN), and Aaron Mason, MD (Surgery).]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/wims_new_ames_members_4.23.24_card.jpg?itok=Zp_WwN-m×tamp=1715214039 "Chair of the UArizona Chapter of the Academy of Medical Education Scholars, or AMES, Tara Carr, MD (far right), presents plaques to newly inducted members, Holly Bullock, MD, MPH (OB-GYN), Saman Nematollahi, MD (Infectious Diseases), Joy Bulger Beck, MD (GGP-General Internal Medicine), Jennifer Plitt, MD (GGP-Palliative Medicine), and Amy Mitchell, MD (OB-GYN). Missing from the photo are other new members, Maria Bishop, MD (Hematology-Oncology), Steven Dudick, MD (OB-GYN), and Aaron Mason, MD (Surgery).")
Four DOM faculty were inducted recently into the UArizona Chapter of the Academy of Medical Education Scholars, or AMES, at the College of Medicine – Tucson and three others from the department won research grants. Find out who they were here.
![[Illustration of how the Multi-Institutional Transformation and Graduate Student Support Initiative (MITSI) works to build bridges and transform institutions to support graduate STEM education for indigenous and Latinx students.]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/mitsi-concept-model-800x600px.jpg?itok=jnRL_bT6×tamp=1715194713 "Illustration of how the Multi-Institutional Transformation and Graduate Student Support Initiative (MITSI) works to build bridges and transform institutions to support graduate STEM education for indigenous and Latinx students.")
UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson faculty are encouraged to apply to participate in NAU Flagstaff program to build bridges and transform institutions in support of graduate STEM education among indigenous and Latinx students.
![[Elizabeth B. Juneman, MD, FACC]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/juneman_elizabeth_b.-md_card-sarver_card.jpg?itok=O_K37m3z×tamp=1715287881 "Elizabeth B. Juneman, MD, FACC")
Women We Admire, a membership organization comprised of accomplished women executives and leaders across the U.S. and Canada, included University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson cardiologist Elizabeth B. Juneman, MD, among the 2024 Rising Star Women of Medicine.
![[From left, Dr. Kent Kwoh, Arthritis Center director and Rheumatology division chief; infectious diseases specialist and Valley Fever Center for Excellence researcher Dr. Fariba Donovan; DOM Ambulatory Medicine Clerkship co-director, allergist and integrative medicine specialist Dr. Randy Horwitz; geriatrician and director of the UArizona Climate & Health Group Dr. Julia Jernberg; and emergency medicine professor emeritus and Sarver Heart Center member Dr. Art Sanders]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/lhwa_climate_change_5.4.24_img_4586_card.jpg?itok=IV9wtgKw×tamp=1718728811 "From left, Dr. Kent Kwoh, Arthritis Center director and Rheumatology division chief; infectious diseases specialist and Valley Fever Center for Excellence researcher Dr. Fariba Donovan; DOM Ambulatory Medicine Clerkship co-director, allergist and integrative medicine specialist Dr. Randy Horwitz; geriatrician and director of the UArizona Climate & Health Group Dr. Julia Jernberg; and emergency medicine professor emeritus and Sarver Heart Center member Dr. Art Sanders")
Arthritis Center director and Rheumatology division chief Dr. C. Kent Kwoh moderated the panel which included the DOM’s Drs. Fariba Donovan, Randy Horwitz and Julia Jernberg and Emergency Medicine’s Dr. Art Sanders. A related KJZZ story with Dr. Jernberg was picked up by over 1,000 media outlets. See mini-photo gallery.
![[Closeup photo of a needle being injected into a syringe with blue background.]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/curiel-needle-2024_card.jpg?itok=ccbyxU9l×tamp=1716315402 "Closeup photo of a needle being injected into a syringe with blue background.")
Dermatology division chief and UArizona Skin Cancer Institute co-director, Dr. Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski presented the work in San Diego on the effect of melanoma drug TVEC on patients with cutaneous invasive squamous cell carcinoma, or cSCC.
![[Hesham Sadek, MD, PhD]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/sadek-hesham-78098-1000x750px.jpg?itok=4LwJKjsW×tamp=1714434628 "Hesham Sadek, MD, PhD")
Dr. Hesham Sadek brings experience and an impressive research portfolio from Dallas’ UT Southwestern, where he was associate director of the Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine and a professor of internal medicine/cardiology with joint appointments in biophysics and molecular biology.
![[Hem-Onc physician Aaron Scott, MD, under the spotlight in new UArizona Cancer Center 'Cancer Bytes' video]](https://deptmedicine.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/styles/1x_widescreen/public/cancer_bytes_w_dr.aaron_scott_1280x760px.jpg?itok=4Ug8Gzts×tamp=1713491026 "Hem-Onc physician Aaron Scott, MD, under the spotlight in new UArizona Cancer Center 'Cancer Bytes' video")
The latest UA Cancer Center newsletter highlights Dr. Aaron Scott in a “Cancer Bytes” video, Dr. Juanita Merchant as NCI equity leadership team member, Dr. Janet Funk as presenter at breast cancer research symposium, Lisa Quale as Skin Cancer Institute sun safety ambassador advocate, and T32 postdoc training opportunities.