The University of Arizona is participating in a nationwide COVID-19 post-vaccination study to help determine whether or not vaccinated individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 are still able to transmit the virus to others. Dr. Lori Fantry, a professor and associate clinical director of the College of Medicine’s Infectious Diseases Division, says the school hopes to enroll at least 100 students in the coming weeks.

A University of Arizona sleep expert says insomnia has been on the rise for decades, but anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic has made it worse. Dr. Sairam Parthasarathy, director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences and a professor at the College of Medicine – Tucson, calls it “coronasomnia.”

Dr. Kelly Reynolds, professor and chair of the Department of Community, Environment and Policy at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, shares information that can be used to make more informed decisions about the need for improved water treatment options.

In Arizona and Pima County, COVID-19 cases have fallen for the second consecutive week after trending upward from the end of March through much of April. “It’s not a big decline, but it’s there, it’s noticeable,” said Dr. Joe Gerald, an associate professor of public health policy and management in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

With the Senior Awards Luncheon canceled due to COVID-19, the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson convocation served as the award venue for the Class of 2021.

Fully vaccinated people mostly no longer need to wear masks or stay six feet apart when indoors, per the CDC. Masks also aren't needed outdoors, even in crowded areas. “It’s a step in the right direction in terms of showing people how powerful the vaccines are. It also helps to show another reason why you should get vaccinated, so it provides another incentive," said Dr. Farshad Fani Marvasti, a physician and associate professor at the College of Medicine – Phoenix.

The Class of 2021 was recognized at a series of scaled-back live graduation ceremonies, designed with COVID-19 health and safety protocols in mind.

Liliana Rounds discovered a potential prostate cancer biomarker during her graduate studies in the Cancer Biology Interdisciplinary Program.

UArizona has several public health measures in place for the 18 in-person outdoor graduation ceremonies going on until next Tuesday. Joseph Demirjian, a graduate of the College of Medicine – Tucson and Victor Ruiz, a graduate of the College of Pharmacy, are interviewed.

Jordan Karp, MD, an expert on mental health in the aging population, will deliver the keynote address at the Arizona Arthritis Center’s Living Healthy With Arthritis Conference.