Archived News

You’ve sneezed, coughed and felt ill for weeks. You assume it’s allergies, a cold or flu. But what if the real cause is something most outside the Southwest have never heard of — Valley fever? John Galgiani, MD, offers a primer on the fungal disease.

Three national honors affirm Banner’s standing as one of the country’s top health systems for clinical quality and patient care. Recognitions from Healthgrades, Forbes, and U.S. News & World Report include Banner – UMC Tucson and South.

U.S. News & World Report recognizes the hospital for the fourth consecutive year. Nine procedures and conditions also rated as high-performing included abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve surgery, colon cancer surgery, heart arrhythmia care, hip fracture, kidney failure, leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, pneumonia, and prostate cancer surgery.

Whether she’s investigating if your pooch can chip away at your zzz’s or how chronic insomnia is best addressed, Dr. Salma Patel always keeps patients at the top of her mind.

Excitement about the 2026 World Cup this past week invaded Banner – University Medical Center Tucson as soccer fever over semifinal matches with the top four teams remaining in the tournament spilt into the residents and physicians lounges.

U of A researchers found that a group of proteins involved in neuronal development was overrepresented in the umbilical cord blood of about one-third of babies born small for gestational age.

Bhaskar Banerjee, MD, who served on the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson’s faculty for 16 years — seven as GI division chief — died June 19. His memorial service, for family only, was held June 27. He retired at the start of 2025. Learn more about this physician-scientist who sought to revolutionize endoscopy procedures.

Two Department of Medicine staffers, Robin Lang and Terri Buchanan, were among 15 nominated for the Lura Hanekamp Dedicated Staff Award. At the June 17 awards ceremony hosted by the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson, Lang was one of the winners.

Forty-seven Internal Medicine Residency Program residents at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson memorialized their graduation June 12 at the Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch. See who won awards and a mini-photo gallery.

Nearly 40 physicians graduate this summer with advanced specialty training in internal medicine from the U of A Department of Medicine’s 17 fellowship programs. Festivities began in May and finish by summer’s end, with more trainees joining us July 1.