As part of its February social-media campaign for Black History Month, the Mental Health Association is emphasizing key contributions of black scientists in the unprecedented research supporting the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Michael Johnson is an assistant professor of Immunobiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson. His groundbreaking research involves ways copper could help stop the coronavirus from entering human cells or replicating once it is inside.

Diversity and inclusion in the science and health care workforce remain low, and endocrinology is no exception. Data show racial and ethnic concordance between health care providers and their patients is associated with important and positive outcomes. “If I look at the majority of my colleagues that I interact with, I can tell you that 95% of them are not endocrinologists of color,” said Ricardo Correa, MD, program director of endocrinology fellowship and director for diversity at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix and the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences are involved in three studies that may shed light on the connection between COVID-19 and "forever chemicals" known as PFAS. PFAS are a group of chemicals that are very persistent in the environment and have been used for decades in all manner of products, from stain-resistant carpets to nonstick pans to fast food packaging.

Increases in total National Institutes of Health funding have led to higher rankings for several colleges and departments.

Increases in total National Institutes of Health funding have led to higher rankings for several colleges and departments.

Students at the College of Medicine – Phoenix learn how listening and reacting to a partner on stage applies to the doctor-patient relationship.

The University of Arizona has been studying COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Dr. Jeff Burgess, an Associate Dean for Research and Professor in the College of Public Health, has been leading a study that has followed more than 2,500 people throughout the pandemic. Dr. Burgess has been examining the risk of reinfection to those who are in high-risk environments like nurses and first responders.

With the fourth week in a row of declining COVID-19 cases in Pima County, Arizona has evolved from a state of "crisis" to one of "elevated risk," according to Joe Gerald, an associate professor in the University of Arizona's Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health who creates weekly coronavirus epidemiology reports based on Arizona Department of Health Services data.

There are different stages to loss of smell, but what is most commonly reported as a COVID-19 symptom is a complete loss of smell or anosmia. Dr. Eugene Chang, a surgeon-scientist and the vice-chair of the UArizona otolaryngology department at the College of Medicine - Tucson, explains why the loss of smell is one of the first symptoms that can present with COVID- 19 infection.

Now that multiple COVID-19 vaccinations are on, or are soon to be on the market, there's a percentage of efficacy attached to each of them. Pfizer and Moderna are promising about 95% protection after two doses. And Johnson and Johnson is promising 66% after one dose. But what does that actually mean? "It's not like me, myself, now has 66% immunity. It's more of a population measure," says Dr. Deepta Bhattacharya, University of Arizona College of Medicine. It comes down to clinical trials.