Supporting Gila County’s Veterans Sept. 29, 2020 September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month — a time to share resources and stories that shed light on a stigmatized topic. In Gila County alone, veterans are nearly twice as likely than the general population to die by suicide. In an effort to prevent suicide and support veterans, their families and the community at large, the University of Arizona’s Center for Rural Health partnered with the Arizona Coalition for Military Families to expand the Be Connected veteran support program in rural southern Arizona counties, including Gila. Payson Roundup
Global COVID-19 Death Toll Surpasses One Million Sept. 29, 2020 Interview with Dr. Murtaza Akhter, an emergency physician at Valleywise Health Medical Center and assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix. CNN International
KJZZ Morning Edition: Herd Immunity Sept. 29, 2020 Most public health experts agree that herd immunity is not really a wise approach to defeat COVID-19. “We don't have anywhere near the percentage of the population exposed, infected and recovered or somehow immunized to COVID-19 yet. We're not going to get to herd immunity until much more people are exposed to the virus or if we have a vaccine which will enable people to get immunity,” said Dr. Shad Marvasti, a public health expert with the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix. KJZZ-FM (NPR) Phoenix
New Approach to Improving Gait of Children with CP Sept. 29, 2020 Ben Conner, a third-year MD/PhD student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, is studying a robotic walking therapy for children with cerebral palsy. Lower Extremity Review
Nurse Burnout During the Pandemic Sept. 29, 2020 University of Arizona College of Nursing Assistant Professor Jessica Rainbow and Chloe Littzen, a nursing PhD candidate, are seeking ways to mitigate nurse burnout which has intensified during the coronavirus pandemic. They are conducting research that will describe the experiences of frontline nurses prior to, and during, the COVID-19 pandemic. KGUN-TV (ABC) Tucson
Scaling Up Strengths to Make UArizona Health Sciences a Health Analytics Powerhouse Sept. 28, 2020 A focus on computing technology is positioning the University of Arizona Health Sciences to take advantage of the ever-increasing research opportunities afforded by big data. Read more Image
Genetic and Viral Interactions in Development of Sinusitis Focus of University of Arizona Health Sciences Surgeon-Scientist Sept. 28, 2020 A $2.2 million federal grant will allow Dr. Eugene Chang, a sinus surgeon at the UArizona College of Medicine - Tucson, to investigate human genetic viral interactions in the development of sinus disease. Read more Image
Black Microbiologists Push for Visibility Amid a Pandemic Sept. 28, 2020 Black in Microbiology Week is the latest in a series of virtual events highlighting Black scientists in a variety of disciplines. “This is really a chance to welcome new voices and amplify those that have not been heard,” said Michael D. L. Johnson, a microbiologist and immunologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, who will take part in Friday’s Black in Bacteriology panel. New York Times
About 14% of Cerebral Palsy Cases May Be Tied to Brain Wiring Genes Sept. 28, 2020 In an article published in Nature Genetics, researchers confirm that about 14% of all cases of cerebral palsy may be linked to a patient’s genes and suggest that many of those genes control how brain circuits become wired during early development. This conclusion is based on the largest genetic study of cerebral palsy ever conducted. Michael Kruer, M.D., a neurogeneticist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the University of Arizona College of Medicine — Phoenix is a senior author of the article. ScienceDaily
Potential Target to Diagnose, Monitor Cervical Cancer Treatment Aim of UArizona Health Sciences Researchers Sept. 25, 2020 Dr. Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz’s research team found proteins called immune checkpoint inhibitors in the cervicovaginal environment that may help predict if a woman suffers from abnormal cell growth or cancer. Read more Image