New Calls for Measures as State COVID Cases Exceed 250,000 Nov. 11, 2020 Dan Derksen, associate vice president for health equity, outreach and interprofessional activities at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, said the state might have to consider measures such as the stay-at-home orders imposed this summer to protect the availability of hospital beds. Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, AZ)
Dr. Ali Baaj to Build UArizona-Banner Spine Program from Scratch in New Role Nov. 11, 2020 Spine surgeon Ali Baaj, MD, is the inaugural chief of spine surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix and Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix. As spine surgery chief, Dr. Baaj will build a new academic spine program at UArizona-Banner. Becker's Spine Review
The Swinging Pendulum of PSA Screening Nov. 11, 2020 The debate continues over the practice of mass screening of healthy men with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests for the early detection of prostate cancer. The article cites Richard Ablin, PhD, of the University of Arizona College of Medicine, who discovered PSA in 1970. He stressed that PSA testing was not intended for use for mass screening but rather to follow men with advanced disease. MedPage Today
COVID-19: Vaccines Continue to Progress as More Proof of Long-Lasting Immunity Emerges Nov. 11, 2020 Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson have found that people who have had COVID-19 develop long-lasting immunity. Their study appears in the journal Immunity. Medical News Today
Moderna’s Personalized Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise Nov. 11, 2020 A clinical trial at the University of Arizona Health Sciences designed to study the safety and effectiveness of a personalized cancer vaccine in combination with the immunotherapy drug Pembrolizumab will expand its cohort after promising preliminary data was presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Immunotherapy of Cancer. PharmaLive
‘Wellness Wednesdays: Celebrating Health & Holiday’ Series to Provide Encouragement, Sense of Community Nov. 10, 2020 Give yourself the gift of good health! The University of Arizona Health Sciences is offering an uplifting program to improve health and reduce stress. Read more Image
Students Administer Flu Shots for Hands-on Experience Nov. 10, 2020 For future nurses and pharmacists, opportunities for service learning combine community outreach with hands-on education. Read more Image
Nursing and Pharmacy Students Seize a Rare Clinical Opportunity Nov. 10, 2020 Health Sciences students sharpened their skills and learned to build rapport with patients as they provided flu shots to other students. Read more Image
Pandemic Shines Light on Complex Coexistence of Modern Times, Traditional Ways on Navajo Nation Nov. 10, 2020 Traditional healers, who once played critical roles in governance and health care in the Navajo Nation, are dwindling in number and influence, experts and community leaders say, even as a deadly coronavirus assaults the tribe. Michelle Kahn-John, a professor of nursing at the University of Arizona and secretary of the Diné Hataalii Association, is quoted. This article was first published by the syndicated Cronkite News service on 11/10/20. Cronkite News
Arizona Medical Expert Says There Could Be Challenges in Distributing COVID-19 Vaccine Nov. 10, 2020 Despite news on Nov. 9 that a COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective, it is important to note that it still could be several more months until it's widely available, and there are some potential issues that come with it. "The challenges with this vaccine is it has to be stored at -94 degree," said Dr. Shad Marvasti, Director of Public Health at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. "Most vaccines are stored at 35°F to 45°F, in a standard refrigerator." KSAZ-TV (Fox) Phoenix