News

Two University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Faculty Named Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Gholam A. Peyman, MD, who invented LASIK and many other advances, and Frederic Zenhausern, PhD, MBA, who has developed a rapid DNA processor, both of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, have been named Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

Election to NAI Fellow status is a high professional distinction accorded to academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.

The 143 innovators elected to NAI Fellow status represent 94 universities and governmental and non-profit research institutes.  Together, they hold more than 5,600 U.S. patents. 

Included in the 2013 class are 26 presidents and senior leadership of research universities and non-profit research institutes, 69 members of the National Academies, five inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation, and nine Nobel Laureates among other major awards and distinctions.

University of Arizona Arthritis Center’s 2014 Living Healthy With Arthritis Conference Features Keynote Speaker Dr. Richard Carmona, Jan. 25

Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States and distinguished professor with the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, will be the keynote speaker at the University of Arizona Arthritis Center’s 2014 Living Healthy With Arthritis conference.

The conference will take place Saturday, Jan. 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at The University of Arizona Medical Center–University Campus, DuVal Auditorium, 1501 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson. (Check-in begins at 8 a.m.)

As Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Carmona served as our nation’s top doctor, issuing calls to action in the fight against major health concerns such as obesity, heart disease, cancer and the dangers of secondhand smoke.  In his unique presentation, “Obesity: From Arthritis to Zoonoses, the Most Potent Accelerator of Chronic Disease,” Dr. Carmona will address the obesity epidemic and its health, economic and security threat worldwide. He will discuss obesity and the economic burden on the United...

Taking the Pulse of Campus Diversity

Just as physicians take your pulse to make assessments on your physical health, the leadership of the Arizona Health Sciences campus will gather to share and gain insights from its faculty and staff on the state of diversity at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson (COM).
What is diversity? Is it ethnicity? Is it fluency in a foreign language? Is it an awareness of cultural taboos?  Does it involve socioeconomic status or literacy level? Why does it matter in health care? And why does it matter at the COM? The COM Office of Diversity and Inclusion, along with campus leadership, is asking you to explore the various dimensions of diversity and to provide input on why diversity is necessary for excellence.
RSVP and don’t miss this opportunity to provide interactive and anonymous input during a networking reception taking place from 5 - 7 p.m. at Kiewit Auditorium in the UA Cancer Center on Tuesday, December 10.
Enjoy wine, holiday foods, good company and a golden opportunity to provide your input during the reception.  Your input during the reception will be used...

‘Art of Healing: Development of the Virtual Feeling Arts System and Application to a Hospice Care Program,’ Dec. 11

The University of Arizona College of Nursing, in collaboration with the Arizona Center on Aging, is offering a multimedia presentation and dialogue on the expressive arts, healing and the end-of-life journey, with special guests from the Feeling Arts Academy, Japan.

Featured artist, Yoshihiro Kitamura, and Takayuki Yoshioka, PhD, will present “Art of Healing: Development of the Virtual Feeling Arts System and Application to a Hospice Care Program.”

This community program will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 11, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Room 105 at the UA College of Nursing. This event is free and open to the public.

The “Art of Healing” presentation is part of a study of progressive hospice programs and holistic palliative care. The multimedia presentation is a collaborative work between the creator and viewers in which the artist uses a unique technique of casting light on abstract paintings to elicit a healing response. The lights and images are enhanced with soothing music, a...

UA Steele Children’s Research Center and Diamond Children’s Chosen as Bashas’ Charity for December

Bashas’ has chosen the UA Steele Children’s Research Center and The University of Arizona Medical Center - Diamond Children’s as its charity for the month of December.

Throughout December, shoppers can purchase paper pin-ups for $1 or donate an open amount donation at each of the Bashas’ and Food City grocery stores across Southern Arizona. The proceeds will support research at the UA Steele Center and clinical programs at Diamond Children’s.

Moreover, the radio station K-LOVE is teaming up with Bashas’ to raise awareness of the UA Steele Center and Diamond Children’s throughout December as well. The station will host a “radio remote” campaign on Friday, Dec. 13, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., from the Bashas’ parking lot on Camp Lowell and Swan. There will be raffle prizes and other giveaways.

“We are grateful to be chosen as Bashas’ charity for the month of December,” said Lori Stratton, director of development for the UA Steele Center. “This is a great opportunity to raise awareness in the community about the Steele Center and...

Renowned Bioinformatician Joins Arizona Health Sciences Center at the University of Arizona

Yves A. Lussier, MD, FAMCI, a professional engineer and physician-scientist who conducts research in translational bioinformatics and personal genomics, has joined the Arizona Health Sciences Center at the University of Arizona.

Dr. Lussier will serve as UA professor of medicine; associate vice president for health sciences and chief knowledge officer for AHSC; associate director for cancer informatics and precision health for the University of Arizona Cancer Center; and associate director, BIO5 informatics, for the UA BIO5 Institute. He assumed his new duties Dec. 2.

Dr. Lussier is an international expert in translational bioinformatics and a pioneer in research informatics techniques including systems biology, data representation through ontologies and high-throughput methods in personalized medicine. At the UA, he will lead efforts to fully develop novel programs in biomedical informatics, computational genomics and precision health. Dr. Lussier will provide critical leadership in efforts to advance precision health approaches to...

Third Annual ‘Kids of Steele’ Golf Tournament Raises Funds for UA Steele Children’s Research Center

Kids of Steele raised $36,000 for the University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center at its Third Annual Miniature Golf Tournament, held Nov. 3 at Golf N’ Stuff.

More than 300 individuals—children and adults— participated in the family-friendly event.

In addition, Kids of Steele invited many patients currently being treated by Steele Center physicians to participate in the golf tournament for free.

“This truly is a unique fundraising event in Tucson that includes the entire family,” said Ragan Edwards, chair of Kids of Steele. “We are grateful this tournament has grown so much over three short years.”

Funds will be used for “greatest need” projects at the Steele Center, and Kids of Steele service projects, such as the upcoming, “Holiday Stocking” event where volunteers will create and distribute 150 Christmas stockings to patients.

Kids of Steele is the family auxiliary of the Steele Center. It is comprised of local families who want to teach their children about service and kindness, while...

UA Steele Children’s Research Center Receives Donation from Phoenix Suns Charities

The University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center was one of 88 charities throughout Arizona to receive a donation from the Phoenix Suns Charities.

The Steele Center received $3,500 to support its PANDA Children’s Autoimmune Disorders Project. This project was created by the Phoenix Women’s Board of the Steele Center, known as PANDA (People Acting Now Discover Answers). The funds enable Steele Center researchers to expand basic science research in autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and celiac disease, among others.

“We are grateful to have been selected as a grant recipient by Suns Charities,” said Heather Walsh, associate director of development for the Steele Center. “Their generosity will allow us to advance our research in pediatric autoimmune diseases to help the kids in our community.”

AHSC and UA Faculty Speakers at TEDx Tucson, Dec. 6

Three faculty from the Arizona Health Sciences Center (AHSC) at the University of Arizona and two UA faculty will speak at Chuk Shon To Tucson, the 4th annual event of TEDxTucson, the locally organized version of the global TED conferences, on Friday, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.), at the Rialto Theater, 318 E. Congress, Tucson.

The event will feature TED videos, local artists, live music and seven speakers giving talks in the distinctive TED style. General admission tickets are $21 ($10 for students) and are on sale at the Rialto Theater box office and online at www.ticketfly.com/event/391065

Three faculty members from AHSC will be presenting:

David G. Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD, professor of surgery and director of the Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA) with the Department of Surgery at the UA College of Medicine – Tucson, “A Visit to the Human App Store: How Tech is Changing What Makes Us…...

UA Steele Children’s Research Center Receives Donation from Rincon Optimist Club of Tucson for Pediatric Cancer Research

The University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center received $2,000 from the Rincon Optimist Club, and an additional matching donation of $1,000 from Optimist International for a total donation of $3,000. The funds will be used for the Steele Center’s pediatric cancer research program.

The Rincon Optimist Club of Tucson raised the funds through its second annual “Casino Night” event held at the 49er’s Golf and Country Club.

Rincon Optimist President Mick Gent presented the check to Steele Center director Fayez K. Ghishan, MD, and Laura Hopkins, coordinator of annual giving, on Nov. 3.

“We are so thankful for the support the Optimists have given the Steele Center over the years,” said Dr. Ghishan. “Every donation is appreciated and furthers the research conducted by our investigators.”

“Our goal is to continue raising funds for the Steele Center’s pediatric cancer research program,” said Gent. “We are now working to find a major sponsor and increase our contributions to the Steele Center in future years.”

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