In recent weeks, Arizona has consistently led the nation for the highest number of cases and the highest number of COVID-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID Data Tracker. Comprising 26% of the population in Coconino county where the Arizona portion of the sprawling Navajo reservation is located, indigenous people have suffered 77% of the county's COVID-19 deaths. Brandy Carothers, a coordinator of clinical research at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix; and Dr. Tommy Begay, a cultural psychologist at the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson, are interviewed.

The University of Arizona wanted to make mental health resources easily accessible, so they found a way to provide them through your phone. "We decided we had all the relevant expertise to come together and develop this really interesting and novel app," said University of Arizona College of Nursing Professor and Associate Dean for Research Dr. Judith Gordon.

New variants of the COVID-19 virus could mean we'll need an annual shot to fight the coronavirus, just like with the flu. Health experts are concerned that new versions of the virus could spread more easily and vaccines might be less effective against it. University of Arizona molecular scientist Donata Vercelli studies cellular mutations at the BIO5 Institute. She believes an annual booster shot may be necessary to keep COVID in check.

A new survey of U.S. doctors finds that more than 80% believe people with a significant disability have a worse quality of life than those who are not disabled, underscoring how physicians’ perceptions across specialties could negatively influence the care of the more than 61 million Americans with disabilities. Britt Gratreak, a second-year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, is interviewed.

James Knitter, MD, a research assistant professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, is co-author of an article that states high-efficiency masks, which include the N95 respirators used by healthcare workers, could reduce the chances of contracting the coronavirus — thus help saving lives and helping speed the return of our economy.

Dr. Joe Gerald, associate professor and director of the public health policy and management program at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, and Dr. Christian Bime, professor of medicine at UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson and ICU medical director at Banner – University Medical Center, are interviewed.

Researchers at the University of Arizona are working to develop a smartphone COVID-19 test, with test results within minutes. “It’s extremely sensitive. It takes less than ten minutes,” said Dr. Kelly Reynolds, professor and chair of the Department of Community, Environmental and Policy in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, along with partners, Cox Communications and the Arizona SciTech Institute, present Connect2STEM 2021 — a series of live virtual events on January 30 at 10 AM MST showcasing the wonders of science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (STEM). The wildly popular event has been reimagined as an online interactive pavilion with activities led by physicians, performers and STEM professionals. For more information to access the full schedule of live programs or to register, visit phoenixmed.arizona.edu/C2S.

The Arizona Department of Health Services has reported that three cases of the so-called U.K. COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.7, has been confirmed in three test samples from the state. Dr. Elizabeth Connick, Professor of Medicine and Chief of Infectious Diseases at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson said some data suggests that the UK strain may be even more virulent, which means it can make people sicker and cause more death. This has not been fully proven, but Dr. Connick said it should still act as a warning to Arizonans.