Andrew Arias, Trainee

Andrew Arias, BSHS

TRAINEE

University of Arizona Graduate aoa3@email.arizona.edu

ANDREW ARIAS, BSHS is from California; but raised in the state of Colima, Mexico, and other parts of the country till 2012 when mhis family immigrated to the state of Arizona. He is a first-generation university graduate. During his undergraduate, he attended Eastern Arizona College (EAC) and transferred to the University of Arizona (UofA) in 2018 to complete his bachelor’s in physiology. Throughout his time in EAC, set his path to attend medical school and become a medical doctor, and once at UofA he was interested in participating in activities like studying abroad, internships, and research. He had the opportunity to study the Mediterranean Diet and Health in Italy during summer 2019 which was one of the most memorable experiences that he have had and propelled his career as an undergraduate student in many aspects. In 2020, he graduated and had the opportunity to enter FRONTERA internship that has open the doors to undertake research and look at the health disparities affecting the border region but also considering other minority groups.

Project

RACIAL DISPARITIES IN THE SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF RECTAL CANCER (STAGES I-III)

We aim to look at racial disparities in the surgical management of rectal cancer (stages I, II, III) specifically looking between which patients based on their racial profile received a low anterior resection (LAR) vs anteriorperineal resection (APR). Both procedures can be used to treat rectal cancer at stages I to III, yet the outcome of the procedures are different. In APR the patients have a complete resection of the rectum, forcing the patient to have a colostomy bag for the rest of their life, which decreases the quality of life overall. On the other hand, in LAR the cancer is resected along with nearby tissue and then the colon is attached along the margins of the rectum, therefore allowing patients to resume normal bowel function in time. It is therefore of interest to investigate potential bias by medical providers when deciding between these procedures based on racial profile.