University of Arizona Health Sciences

Top posts of 2024: #2 Match Day for the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson and University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix fourth-year medical students. More photos: https://bit.ly/3Psy3Aw

Forget chestnuts roasting on an open fire! How about a 15-foot-tall metal saguaro lighting up Winterhaven? Curtis Thorne, PhD, and his family create holiday magic in their Tucson neighborhood, with 200,000+ visitors gathering to see the festival lights. Thorne teamed up with Matt Kaplan, PhD, a U of A Functional Genomics Core manager, to weld this masterpiece—complete with programmable LEDs. “The festival is this joyous event that brings everyone out into their front yards at the same time,” said Thorne, an associate professor in the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and a member of the University of Arizona Cancer Center. More: https://bit.ly/4gg0lcZ

Top posts of 2024: #3 Eddie Vargas, is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. His commitment to addressing health care disparities and serving underserved populations led him to work with the Primary Prevention Mobile Unit, part of the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. More: https://bit.ly/42Te0k6

Top posts of 2024: #4 – Primary care physicians play a vital role in safeguarding health, promoting preventive care and detecting health issues early. In Arizona, where there is a critical shortage of doctors, these dedicated professionals are making a real difference. More: https://bit.ly/3u0QSDx

Marc Verhougstraete, Ph.D., an associate professor of environmental health sciences at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, has been selected for the competitive American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Science & Technology Policy Fellowship. His work focuses on reducing exposures to waterborne contaminants and developing water and health interventions, with a particular emphasis on rural and vulnerable communities. “I am delighted that Marc’s expertise is being recognized in this way,” said Iman Hakim, M.D., Ph.D., MPH, dean of the Zuckerman College of Public Health. “He has done so much important water quality research in rural communities, and he understands the value of translating research into policies that improve health for all. This AAAS fellowship is a well-deserved opportunity.” Read more: https://bit.ly/41c5IVF

We are ending 2024 with a countdown of our top 5 posts. Your likes, comments and shares made the following posts our most popular of the year. #5 – This summer, U of A Health Sciences researchers mentored undergraduate students through the FRONTERA program. We highlighted five students: Khyle Renee Delas Reyes, Fhannie Medina Martinez, Isabella Treasure, Justin Montoya and Nicole Cabrera. More: https://bit.ly/4gtBEJu

Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season!

Carlos Gonzales, MD, FAAFP, has been recognized as an Arizona Champion by the University of Arizona's Office of the Provost. This honor celebrates faculty and staff members who "go above and beyond every day" and are deeply engaged in their communities, said Clarisa Robles Parra, Chief of Staff for the Provost's Office. Gonzales exemplifies this through his dedication to mentoring students, leading Native American blessing ceremonies on campus, and providing essential healthcare in rural and remote areas. Read more: https://bit.ly/3OyrV97

Jillian Leaver, a first-year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, is redefining what it means to serve. Growing up without health insurance, Jillian witnessed firsthand the struggles of limited health care access. Instead of letting those challenges hold her back, she turned them into fuel for her passion to help others. Right out of high school, she co-founded Cervical Cancer Awareness and Prevention Across the Map, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing cervical cancer rates worldwide. Today, she’s not only running impactful global initiatives but also gaining real-world experience at the Women’s Clinic, part of the College of Medicine – Tucson’s Commitment to Underserved People program, where she provides care to underserved populations in Tucson. Thanks to the Primary Care Physician Scholarship, Jillian’s medical school tuition is covered, allowing her to focus on what matters most – becoming a physician who empowers patients and closes health care gaps in Arizona’s rural and underserved communities. More: https://bit.ly/3ZzYwQR CCAP Across The Map

Three University of Arizona Health Sciences faculty and staff members have been recognized in the newest class of 40 Under 40 for their exceptional leadership and impact on the community. Rina S. Fox, PhD, MPH, an assistant professor at The University of Arizona College of Nursing and a member of the University of Arizona Cancer Center. Alaina F. Krone, director of clinical operations at the U of A Cancer Center’s Clinical Trials Office, and Nathan Lothrop, PhD, associate director of the WEST Environmental Justice Center (WEST EJ Center) and an assistant research professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. More: https://bit.ly/4g4rTBQ