COVID-19 Study Suggests 20% Capacity for Restaurants, Which Could Hurt Arizona Economy Nov. 11, 2020 A study published in the journal "Nature" suggests reducing restaurant capacity even further to slow down the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Shad Marvasti, with the University of Arizona's College of Medicine, says he is not surprised the study identified restaurants as high risk when they are operating at normal conditions. But he says Arizona leaders should take drastic action to stop the current spike in cases. Arizona's Family (3TV/CBS 5) Phoenix
Clinical Trial for Personalized Cancer Vaccine Shows Promising Results Nov. 11, 2020 A clinical trial is being conducted at the University of Arizona Health Sciences to study a personalized vaccine in combination with an FDA-approved immunotherapy drug. KVOA-TV (NBC) Tucson
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
‘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
Local Doctors Hopeful After Promising Pfizer Vaccine News Nov. 10, 2020 A potential COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough after big pharma giant Pfizer said Monday its vaccine is 90 percent effective. "It's incredibly encouraging that the Pfizer vaccine worked," Connick, a professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, said. "I think it bodes well for all the vaccines that they may all be successful which will be successful." KVOA-TV (NBC) Tucson
Kids Contract COVID-19 But More Research Needs To Be Done On Possible Long-Term Effects Nov. 10, 2020 Last month, 200,000 children across much of the country were infected with COVID-19, according to a report by the Academy of Pediatrics. While severe illness among kids appears to be rare, researchers don’t know much about the possible long-term effects. Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist at the University of Arizona's College of Public Health, is interviewed. KJZZ-FM (NPR) Phoenix