Health Sciences Graduates Celebrate at In-person Ceremonies

Graduation ceremonies for University of Arizona Health Sciences students moved a step closer to the traditional university commencement and college convocations this year as a series of smaller, in-person ceremonies were held to recognize the achievements of the Class of 2021.

Last year, graduates were recognized virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, in-person graduation ceremonies were designed with COVID-19 safety precautions in mind. A total of 16 college-specific ceremonies honored graduating students, who assembled on campus and heard words of inspiration from university leaders, college deans, outstanding students and others.

The following seven graduating students – one from each of the five Health Sciences colleges and two university-wide senior award winners with connections to Health Sciences – represent just a few of the outstanding members of the Class of 2021.

Thomasina Blackwater, MD: College of Medicine – Tucson

After graduation, Thomasina Blackwater is off to Los Angeles to complete a family medicine residency physician-training program at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. The College of Medicine – Tucson graduate grew up in Kirtland, New Mexico, on the edge of the Navajo Nation, which is why she refers to it as a border town. 

“You see what it’s like off the reservation versus on the reservation. And, from a young age, you can see the difference in terms of resources and health care,” Blackwater said. “On the one side, you may not have any running water, no electricity, one grocery store, a few gas stations. And then you go further – there may be nothing at all. You go towards the other side, and there’s everything you need.”

A Navajo tribal member, Blackwater came to UArizona as a nutritional science student with a minor in chemistry. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she earned her master’s in public health from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. As she studied for her MCAT to get into medical school, her father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died shortly thereafter. 

“It was a tragedy what happened to him, but he told us to use it as our strength. And you know, as a family, we did,” Blackwater said. “I dusted off my MCAT books, and I learned about the P-MAP [Pre-Medical Admissions Pathway] program. So, thank God for P-MAP because that was my door in. Without it, I would not be sitting here at all.” 

Blackwater acknowledges other challenges, such as the pandemic. But family and friends from undergrad, Public Health and P-MAP helped her through it. And, she was glad the College of Medicine – Tucson ensured students could get the vaccine early to help out with clinical rotations, including one through the Rural Health Professions Program.

Among her most vivid memories from this past year is working with students and Association of Native American Medical Students members to assist Tohono O’odham and Navajo peoples – including the elderly and clinical providers, many of whom were UArizona alumni – with food, personal protective equipment and other resources during the pandemic.

Analissa Cox, MD: College of Medicine – Phoenix

Analissa Cox graduated from the College of Medicine – Phoenix and is taking a rare next step in her medical training. She is one of eight residents in the United States in the dual specialty of pediatrics and emergency medicine, and one of two to be accepted into the prestigious residency program at Indiana University School of Medicine. The five-year residency program is unique, combining a traditional residency in emergency medicine with a residency in pediatrics.

Cox discovered a passion for medicine during her undergraduate coursework. Like thousands of medical school applicants each year, she was initially denied.

“When they emailed my rejection letter, it included a paragraph at the end that said, ‘We had a lot of competition this year, but we think you'd be really great for the Pathway Scholars Program.’”

The program helps Arizona students experiencing challenges preparing for the rigors of medical school. It incorporates a gap year with strong academic support and a curriculum centered on biomedical science and evidence-based instruction.

Cox enrolled and said the Pathway Scholars Program gave her the support she needed.

“When I started medical school, it was definitely a big jump for me,” she said. “I think I really needed that extra year, and I think I've benefited from it greatly.”

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened awareness of health care disparities for African American, Latinx and Native American populations. Cox is acutely aware she will be one of the less than 2% of all physicians who are African American females. She encourages medical students behind her to not compare themselves to anyone.

“I think you need to compare yourself to the person you were yesterday. Ask yourself, 'Am I getting better every day?’ You really just need to focus on what you are doing, what your goals are and where you want to be,” Cox said.

Chloe Littzen, PhD: College of Nursing

When she was a child, Chloe Littzen was diagnosed with a chronic health condition. The experience was an important factor in her decision to pursue a career in nursing and a pediatrics specialty.

“I ended up caring for the children who were most like me as a child in the hospital and in the community,” she said.

Littzen, who also holds associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing, earned her PhD in nursing with a minor in integrative health. She chose the University of Arizona College of Nursing to pursue her PhD because of positive stories from alumni.

“Ultimately it was the faculty who drew me to UArizona alongside the rigorous online format that wouldn't restrict me to one geographical area,” she said.

One of Littzen’s most important achievements is her timely dissertation study, "Young Adult Nurse Work-Related Well-Being, Contemporary Practice Worldview, Resilience, and Co-Worker Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Last year she was awarded a $1,000 PhD Student Research Grant to pursue her study, inspired by her experience as a pediatric intensive care unit bedside nurse.

“Young adult nurses, defined as currently practicing nurses between the ages of 18-30, have the most suboptimal work-related well-being, highest turnover intentions and the lowest overall job satisfaction across practicing nurses,” Littzen said.

As a new graduate – and later a novice young adult nurse – she experienced diminished well-being and burnout, which inspired her to assist young adult nurses to understand and advocate for their well-being.

In the fall, she will be teaching at the University of Portland School of Nursing, where she hopes to examine the moral dimensions of young adult nurse work-related well-being in a new study. She also is developing an undergraduate nursing yoga program to help future young adult nurses learn how to care for themselves prior to entering the workforce.

Ny'kol Turner: College of Pharmacy

Ny'kol Turner graduated from the College of Pharmacy with a Bachelor of Science in pharmaceutical sciences. She was inspired to pursue the degree because of her experience with medications she took to treat cancer.

“When I was 19 years old, I was diagnosed with cancer and the treatment made me extremely sick. I wanted to learn everything I could about medications,” Turner said. “When I learned of this new degree, I knew I had to pursue it.”

Turner is among the second class of undergraduates to earn a degree in pharmaceutical sciences. Launched in fall 2018, the bachelor’s in pharmaceutical sciences was the first undergraduate degree offered through the College of Pharmacy.

The four-year program provides students with comprehensive coursework, laboratory work and experiential education to produce graduates who understand drug design, development and regulation.

“This program was exactly what I was looking for. I feel like my class has experienced so many firsts this year in the program. Not only did we experience history in the making with the pandemic, but it was an integrated part of our learning.”

The program is a springboard to careers in pharmacy, medicine, biotechnology, drug development and regulatory affairs. Many students who major in pharmaceutical sciences remain in the pharmacy pipeline, hoping to enroll in the PharmD program. Turner is continuing her education toward a PharmD degree at the College of Pharmacy in the fall.

Turner knows her undergraduate work has prepared her well for the future.

“This program is hard,” she said. “It uses every bit of education you have received, but it is worth it. I have enjoyed every step of this journey, no matter how hard it has been.”

Paulina Colombo, MPH: College of Public Health

Paulina Colombo graduated with a Master’s of Public Health in epidemiology from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and is pursuing her PhD in epidemiology this fall.

Colombo came to the University of Arizona Health Sciences as an undergraduate from her hometown of Lawrence, Kansas.  She majored in public health and completed her honors thesis with Dr. Mary Kay O’Rourke and the Hopi Environmental Health Project Team. As a master’s student, Colombo’s passion for community service sets her apart.

For her internship, she supported the AZCOVIDTXT project, a text-based communication platform that gathers and delivers COVID-19 information to support the community. At the same time, she volunteered with the SAFER (Student Aid for Field Epidemiology Response) team as a supervisor for student volunteers to conduct contact tracing.

“The COVID-19 pandemic offered the world undeniable proof of the importance of public health,” Colombo said, adding she was inspired by the Zuckerman College of Public Health’s many COVID-19 projects like AZCOVIDTXT, the SAFER contact tracing team, and the CoVHORT research study in response to the pandemic.

Colombo’s internship with the AZCOVIDTXT program, under the guidance of Kacey Ernst, PhD, MPH, expanded her ability to communicate public health messages through social media and weekly articles that digested COVID research into accessible communications. And her work with the SAFER team, led by Kristen Pogreba-Brown, PhD, MPH, gave Colombo first-hand experience with contact tracing during a pandemic.

“The past year brought so many challenges – adjusting to a world of video conferencing, the lack of in-person visits with family and friends, and the loss of a loved one, to name a few. My pandemic challenges were not unique, and they left so many of us feeling defeated at times,” she said. “Fortunately, to lessen the burden, I had the support of my fellow students, and the staff and faculty. I was so inspired by how the college responded and became involved in nearly every aspect of the Arizona pandemic response.”

Thanks to Public Health and the hard work of frontline workers, she reunited with her parents at graduation for the first time since Christmas 2019.

Precious Craig: Robie Gold Medal Recipient

Precious Craig is being honored by the university with the Robie Gold Medal, awarded to those who demonstrate personal integrity, initiative, cooperation, enthusiasm, willingness to give more than required, and a love of God and country. Craig is graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in public health, with an emphasis in health promotion, and a minor in biochemistry.

Craig migrated from Nigeria to Phoenix at age 3. As a first-generation Nigerian immigrant, she values the importance of education and is dedicated to service to her community.

During her time at UArizona, Craig served as a desk assistant at THINK TANK and as vice president of the Pre-Pharmacy Club. She completed more than 1,200 hours of community service as a youth academic specialist for Goodwill Metro, working closely with the METRO Goodwill Youth Program, serving youth and young adults ages 16 to 24 who are not in school or working. She also acted as a youth liaison for an applied practice research study called Project Slate, which aimed to create stable lines of communication between youth and adults.

Craig served as a preceptor in the College of Public Health and has worked at the UArizona COVID-19 vaccine point of distribution as a pharmacy technician and dispensing runner, assisting in the preparation and distribution of vaccines. Additionally, she is a member of the United Way of Southern Arizona Youth Leadership Council, where she works on youth advocacy projects.

Craig found her passion through forming mentorships and serving as a role model to fellow students pursuing higher education. She has been honored with several awards, including the Wildcat Excellence Award, an NAACP Tucson Scholarship, Dean's List, Laura and Arch Brown Scholarship, Richard Garcia Memorial Scholarship, and Victoria Foundation/George Dean Scholarship. After graduation, Craig will pursue a doctorate in pharmacy at UArizona Health Sciences.

Akshay Nathan: Robert Logan Nugent Award Recipient

Akshay Nathan, who is graduating magna cum laude from the Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry, is being honored with the Robert Logan Nugent Award, awarded to students who display a record of accomplishments that exemplifies the high ideals of Robert Logan Nugent, a former University of Arizona executive vice president.

Nathan was born and raised in Nebraska, by immigrant parents from India, who aspired to help their children achieve the American dream. Nathan has been a member of the Mobile Medicats since their freshman year of college and later became director of volunteering, vice president, then president of the club, which provides medical care and health education to people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, Nathan volunteers at Z Mansion, providing medical care and support to medically underserved populations.

Nathan conducts public health research under Purnima Madhivanan, PhD, MPH, MBBS, at the College of Public Health and is interested in health disparities in underserved populations living in the slums of India. Nathan also spent a summer studying bacteria metabolism under Sujata Chaudhari at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Nathan has been a research and education intern with the UA Debate Series, which facilitates internal and external debate events, since the program's inception. Nathan also has participated in the inaugural Regents Cup, earning a scholarship, and was nominated for the Chemistry and Biochemistry Outstanding Senior Award. Additional honors include the Wildcat Excellence Award and an International Baccalaureate scholarship.

Nathan is planning to pursue a master's degree in public health at Boston University, with certificates in human rights and social justice as well as sex, sexuality and gender. Nathan plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in psychiatry.