College of Medicine – Tucson welcomes new Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine chair, Lisa Rimsza, MD

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson and Banner – University Medicine Tucson have appointed Lisa Rimsza, MD, as the new chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, effective July 1.

Rimsza has strong ties to the university and the College of Medicine – Tucson, where she completed her medical doctorate and residency after earning a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy at what is now the UArizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy. She previously served as a professor of pathology, associate chair of research and fellowship program director in the College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Pathology.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Rimsza back to the College of Medicine – Tucson. Her knowledge of the academic medical center, ties to our faculty and commitment to patient care, research and education will be a tremendous benefit to the college, Banner Health and those we serve,” said Michael M.I. Abecassis, MD, MBA, the Humberto and Czarina Lopez Endowed Dean of the College of Medicine – Tucson.

Rimsza joins the University of Arizona from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Phoenix, where she is a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology. She is also a fellowship-trained hematopathologist, director of the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory and a member of the Executive Operations Team at the Mayo Clinic Arizona.

In addition to her work at the College of Medicine – Tucson, Rimsza will be providing care to patients at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson.

“Dr. Rimsza’s clinical, educational and research expertise in laboratory medicine and pathology, particularly in the study of cancers of the immune system, exemplifies the specialized care Banner provides to improve the health of the communities we serve. Her leadership and skills will advance access to the future of medicine,” said Venkata Evani, MD, CEO of Banner – University Medical Group. 

Rimsza is a renowned and prolific investigator who is committed to improving the lives of patients through translational research. Her research on lymphoma has received continuous federal, foundation, industry and other grant funding for 23 years. She holds six patents and has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and 12 book chapters. She serves on the editorial boards of Histopathology and the Journal of Hematopathology and is a reviewer for numerous other scientific journals.

In 2018, Rimsza became one of only four clinician-investigators at the Mayo Clinic’s Phoenix campus. She was subsequently awarded the prestigious Getz Family Research Professorship, and, in 2020, she was named the Mayo Clinic Arizona’s Investigator of the Year. In 2023, she was given the Arizona Medical Association’s Wallace A. Reed, MD, Award for Innovation in Healthcare and was named Researcher of the Year by the Arizona Bioindustry Association.

Rimsza is passionate about education and has been involved in medical and graduate curriculum and course development and direction. In addition to teaching, she has mentored dozens of individuals in basic research and clinical careers.