2024 FRONTERA summer internship by azapien8

2024 FRONTERA

INTERNSHIP · JUNE 3 - AUGUST 5

CLOSING PROGRAM

AUGUST 5, 2024

CHECK-IN: 8:30 - 9:00

9:00-9:10 Opening remarks

Alejandra Zapién-Hidalgo, MD, MPH

Director, FRONTERA summer internship

9:10-9:15

Center of Aging program Juliana Aranguren

9:15-9:20 Sam Baumgarner

9:20-9:25 Armando Rodriguez Beltran

9:25-9:30 Luis Ceballos

9:30 -9:35 Lucas Hernandez

9:35-9:40 Karim Jayyusi

9:40-9:45 Trinity Powell

9:45-9:50 Cesar Roldan

BREAK 5 minutes

FRONTERA Summer Internship- interns

10:00-10:05 Justin Montoya

10:05-10:10 Brittany Sahota

10:10-10:15 Nicole Cabrera

10:15-10:20 Michael Xia

10:20-10:25 Abraham Gutierrez

10:25-10:30 Itsel Leyva

10:30-10:35 Alexa Martinez

10:35-10:40 Danyal Afshari

10:40-10:45 Salehah Shabazz

10:45-10:50 Isabella Treasure

10:50-10:55 Gabriel Yanez

10:55- 11:00 Fhanie Martínez

11:00-11:05 Khyle Delos Reyes

11:05-11:10 Andrés Barraza

11:10-11:15 Yasmín Morales

11:15-11:20 Ryan Haymore

11:50-12:00 Closing remarks- Dr. Zapien.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

The UAHS Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion offered the FRONTERA Summer Internship, a ten-week program designed to prepare undergraduate and graduate students for graduate school, provide research experience, and deepen their understanding of public health disparities in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region. Participants were paired with faculty mentors based on their interests, engaging in biomedical and public health research that impacts border residents and other communities. Interns either developed their own short-term research projects or assisted mentors with key tasks, such as conducting literature reviews, facilitating focus groups, and designing data collection instruments, contributing to the success of the research.

Interns also visited and volunteered at nonprofit health care facilities and Federally Qualified Health Centers. During the internship, they gained insights into the medical school application process, developed study and test-taking skills, prepared for the MCAT and GRE, and received feedback on their personal statements. At the end of the program, interns presented their research findings at the FRONTERA closing ceremony.

The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson, AZ, is unique in its ability to expose our FRONTERA Interns to hands-on research experience, border health disparities immersion, and preparation to successfully apply to graduate programs. In addition to being located within the border region, our institution possesses an incredible wealth of committed and world renowned faculty; a network of organizations committed to improve the health of border communities; and community leaders interested in developing the next generation of culturally competent and research savvy health professionals, all of which work cohesively to tackle important public health issues.

DANYAL AFSHARI

University of Arizona Medicine

Danyal Afshari is an upcoming senior at the University of Arizona studying medicine. He is a first-generation Iranian American and was raised in North Carolina. In a family with history of cardiovascular issues, noticed the various everyday struggles some of his family member went through. He is interested in applying to medical school. Danyal’s aim is to obtain an MD/DO in Cardiology or Oncology so that he can offer care to several communities. In his free time Danyal enjoys playing soccer and spending time with friends.

⊲ PROJECT

Impact of Social Determinants on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Hispanic Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a condition that is marked by high blood pressure in the lung’s arteries. Thus, lead to symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain. PH can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life and could result in heart failure. This project aims to collect data from Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients with pulmonary hypertension using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire, also known as SF-36 (3). The data is analyzed to look at the impact different social determinants of health (SDOH) have on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of these patients.

FRANZ RISCHARD, DO

Professor, Medicine

Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Program frischard@arizona.edu

Dr. Franz Rischard is the Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program for the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at UA and the Division of Translational and Regenerative Medicine. He is Associate Member of the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center. He is internationally recognized as a leading expert in precision based approaches to pulmonary hypertension, exercise physiology, and right ventricular function. He is a member of prestigious organizations such as the Royal Society of Medicine (London), guideline development in the NHLBI Right Ventricular Function Working group, and on the editorial staff of pulmonary and cardiology journals. He is board-certified in pulmonary and critical care medicine. He has conducted NIH, industry sponsored, and investigator-initiated clinical trials in patients with all types of pulmonary vascular disease and pulmonary embolism.

Dr. Rischard earned his medical degree at the Western University of Health Sciences in California and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Arizona in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.

ANDRES BARRAZA

University of Arizona Physiology and Medical Sciences

Andres Barraza is an upcoming Senior at the University of Arizona studying Physiology and Medical Sciences. He is a first-generation Mexican American, born in Nogales, Arizona where he saw firsthand how underserved communities lack the health care necessary. His commitment to helping this community started at a young age. In high school, he was part of the Kino Border Teens, a club that specialized in providing immediate aid to issues relevant to the U.S.-Mexico border. He continues to serve the underserved communities as Director of Fundraising for MexZona, a UA club dedicated to improving health outcomes in the communities of Sonora, Mexico by increasing healthcare accessibility. His passion for helping these communities comes from growing up in a border town but also from his family being from a part of rural Mexico where programs like these have greatly benefited them.

Andres’ goals are to graduate from the University of Arizona and continue to UACOM-T. In medical school, he plans to continue and expand his role in helping the underserved community by pursuing the Medical Spanish distinction track and the Rural Health distinction track to refine the necessary skills to help his community best.

⊲ PROJECT

Quantitation of Cell Number within Explanted Encapsulation Devices

Type 1 diabetes is caused by the destruction of Beta cells in the pancreas. Beta cells are responsible for insulin secretion that regulates blood sugar. The study tested macroencapsulation as a cell therapy for diabetes. Packing Islet cells into immunesuppressant devices would function as an artificial pancreas in the aspect of insulin secretion. When cells are placed inside a device, proper maintenance has to occur to keep the cells alive. An important aspect is the amount of oxygen that is available to the cells when inside the device. Andres studied the differences in the quality of cells that were found inside the device when oxygen was provided compared to a non-oxygenated device.

KLEARCHOS PAPAS, PHD

Professor, Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences

Professor, BIO5 Institute

Professor, Medical Imaging

Professor, Physiological Sciences - GIDP

Professor, Surgery

kkpapas@surgery.arizona.edu

Klearchos Papas, PhD, is the director of the Institute for Cellular Transplantation, he has devoted his research career to the application of engineering principles and the development of enabling technologies in the fields of cell therapy and tissue engineering with a focus on the treatment of diabetes. He has studied and utilized the properties of insulin-secreting tissue and their relationship to viability and function in the context cell therapies for diabetes with the objective of improving cost-effectiveness, availability, and clinical outcomes of this approach. Prior to joining the University of Arizona in 2011, Dr. Papas served on the faculty at the University of Minnesota (2003-2011), where he held leadership positions as associate director of the Islet Transplant Program, director of Islet Processing Research and Development and director of the Islet Quality Assurance Core in the Schulze Diabetes Institute. Prior to that he held joint research positions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Center for Islet Transplantation at Harvard Medical School and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Yale University (1999-2003). Affiliations: Dr. Papas serves on the council if the Cell Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Society (Formerly Cell Transplantation Society). He also serves on the editorial Board of the journals: Cell Transplantation, Cell Medicine, Xenotransplantation and Cell R4.

NICOLE CABRERA

University of Arizona

Nutritional Sciences

Nicole Cabrera is an undergraduate research student passionate about exploring the intersections between nutrition and metabolic health. She grew up in the border town of Nogales, Arizona and spends most of her free time visiting Ambos Nogales. Currently pursuing a degree in the Nutritional Sciences as a wildcat, her academic journey is driven by a curiosity for understanding metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). As a research assistant, she interacts with study participants in a broader area of cancer research, contributing to projects focused on cancer survivorship and nutrition. Beyond academics, Nicole enjoys learning French and Japanese, aiming to broaden her perspectives and enhance her contributions to a diverse scientific community.

⊲ PROJECT

Community Outreach and Engagement for Liver Disease Prevention (COELD) Annual Report 2023

Nicole had the privilege of working with Dr. David Garcia’s public health program, Nosotros Comprometidos a Su Salud. The team collaborates to deliver community-engaged research, service, and education. Nosotros works closely with under-resourced and underserved Hispanic communities that experience health inequities, aiming to reduce health disparities faced by Mexican-origin and other Hispanic communities in Southern Arizona.

This Annual Report aims to determine the viability and effectiveness of a community-based approach to treating and preventing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which affects 35% of people in North America, with Hispanics having a higher prevalence rate than other ethnic groups. Historically, weight loss and physical activity have been the predominant forms of treatment for MASLD. However, due to factors such as socioeconomic status and a lack of familial or community support, traditional interventions often become difficult. A community intervention may be a viable and potentially more effective method for addressing MASLD in this population.

DAVID GARCIA, PHD, FACSM

Associate Professor, Public Health

Health Promotion Sciences Department

davidogarcia@arizona.edu

Dr. Garcia is an Assistant Professor in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. He has extensive experience in short and long-term intervention trials in the areas of physical activity, diet, and weight management. He received his training from leading institutions and mentors in the field. Since 2006, Dr. Garcia has worked on numerous funded research projects, including research funded by industry, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and foundations. This includes working as a lifestyle interventionist/exercise physiologist in several clinical trials with overweight and obese adults, morbidly obese adults (Class II and III obesity), and individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Cancer Focus

Dr. Garcia is the Assistant Director for Community Outreach & Engagement for the University of Arizona Cancer Center. His current research focuses on the development of gender and culturally-sensitive weight loss interventions for Hispanic males. Evidence from his preliminary research with this population group suggests that targeted, tailored behavioral programs are acceptable, sustainable and potentially efficacious. He is currently testing these approaches through on-going mixed method research among Hispanic males to burden of obesity-related disease and cancers, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatoceullar carcinoma.

KHYLE RENEE DELOS REYES

University of Arizona Neuroscience and Cognitive Science

Khyle Renee is a first-generation senior majoring in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science with an emphasis in Cognition and a minor in Biochemistry. Born and raised in the Philippines, she immigrated to the United States at the age of 12 in 2014, an experience that presented its own unique set of challenges. Her passion for medicine was ignited by witnessing health disparities in her home country, driving her to make a difference by serving underprivileged communities.

Khyle Renee aspires to become a physician-scientist by obtaining an MD/PhD, with the goal of advancing scientific knowledge and improving healthcare. She is dedicated to becoming an expert in her field and giving back to the community that has supported her.

For three years, she served as a peer mentor for TRiO ASEMS, a program dedicated to supporting firstgeneration, low-income, and disabled students. Clinically, she works at the Crisis Response Center as a Unit Coordinator II. Additionally, she volunteers at the Banner Emergency Department and Clinica Amistad, a free clinic for uninsured individuals. These roles reflect her commitment to helping others and giving back through her professional and volunteer efforts. Her motivation to pursue medicine and research is deeply rooted in her desire to address health disparities and make a significant impact in the field.

⊲ PROJECT

Evaluating TSGL-Ig as a Therapeutic Agent in Reducing Lung Injury and Inflammation in a Porcine Model

This study explores the potential of TSGL-Ig as a new treatment for severe lung conditions. Specifically, it focuses on Acute Lung Injury (ALI) and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), which are serious and often life-threatening conditions where the lungs becomeseverely inflamed and can no longer effectively exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.ALI and ARDS can occur due to various causes, including infections like pneumonia or severe injuries. The inflammation associated with these conditions makes it difficult for patients to breathe and can lead to widespread damage in the lungs. To assess TSGL-Ig’s effectiveness, researchers use a model involving pigs (porcine model) to simulate these lung conditions. The study measures levels of P-selectin, a molecule that indicates inflammation and is found on the surface of cells involved in the inflammatory response. High levels of P-selectin are associated with increased inflammation. The goal is to determine if TSGL-Ig can reduce P-selectin levels, thereby decreasing inflammation and preventing or lessening lung damage. If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options for managing ALI and ARDS, potentially improving outcomes for patients with these serious respiratory conditions.

CHRISTIAN BIME, MD, MSC

Associate Professor, Medicine

Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Department of Medicine

cbime@arizona.edu

Christian Bime is a junior investigator whose translational research is focused on deciphering the genetic and non-genetic factors that underlie the well-recognized health disparities that exist in the critically ill. Specifically, he seeks to identify biomarkers that would help stratify Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) patients and better investigate novel therapies. His research focus aligns neatly with the translational systems biology research program of his mentor aimed at understanding the mechanistic basis of lung vascular permeability and on the genetic aspects of inflammatory lung injury.

After two years of support by the University of Arizona Health Sciences Career Development Award (UAHS-CDA), Dr. Bime learned advanced skills in, animal biology, genetic analysis and biomedical informatics. The UAHS-CDA was instrumental in helping him generate the preliminary data for a successful NIH/ NHLBI K08 grant award currently in its second year. With continuous and close mentorship of his mentor and support from his department leadership, he is acquiring the leadership skills necessary to lead and manage a laboratory and a translational research team. These skills have allowed him to conduct the necessary preliminary work and generate data that will be critical for an RO1 grant application to be submitted to the NIH/NHLBI. Specifically, he has characterized the regulation of selectin P ligand (SELPLG) gene promoter by ARDS-associated genetic variants and explored the effects of SELPLG coding genetic variants on the activity of Pselectin ligand (PSGL1) in preclinical ADS models. He is currently recruiting a cohort of ADS patients at the University of Arizona that will be critical for validating identified biomarkers.

RYAN

HAYMORE

University of Arizona Spanish & Portuguese

Ryan Haymore is an incoming Junior majoring in Spanish & Portuguese with a minor in Biochemistry. He was born, raised, and continues to live in Tucson, Arizona. Community service and compassion have always been a central part of Ryan’s life and his desire for helping underserved populations was significantly deepened while serving a full-time, Spanish-speaking mission in Utah and Argentina for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His goal is to attend medical school and find a fulfilling career in healthcare where he can pursue his love for research and lifelong learning while continuing to serve those who need it most. Ryan is currently the President of Clinical Affairs in the UA’s Flying Samaritans club. He has also served on the executive board of MexZona as intern and treasurer. Those organizations have allowed him to attend over a dozen free health clinics in different cities of Sonora, Mexico where he volunteered as a translator, triage specialist, and clinic director.

⊲ PROJECT

Alterations of adefovir pharmacokinetics in a rodent model of metabolic dysfunctionassociated steatohepatitis

Ryan has been a part of Nathan Cherrington’s lab in the department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Arizona’s College of Pharmacy for over a year and has helped with a number of projects and assignments. Now, with more experience in the field of study and with the resources of the Frontera program, he will be the lead undergraduate investigator for an adefovir project that seeks to finish quantifying and analyzing data from a mouse study that was performed two years ago by a graduate assistant in Cherrington’s lab. The purpose of the study is to determine if patients with severe fatty liver disease, known as metabolic dysfunctionassociated steatohepatitis (MASH), are likely to be more susceptible to dose-dependent toxicities from adefovir, a drug used to treat chronic hepatitis B. The drug concentration will be calculated in serum, urine, and kidney tissue using LC-MS/MS. It is hypothesized that MASHinduced mice will have increased concentrations of adefovir in the blood compared to control mice, which can increase the likelihood of adverse drug reactions and toxicity.

NATHAN CHERRINGTON PHD

Associate Dean, Research Director, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center Director, Center for Toxicology cherrington@pharmacy.arizona.edu

Nathan Cherrington is the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Pharmacy. He is also the Director of the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center and the Interim Director of the Arizona Board of Regents Center for Toxicology. He received a B.S. in Zoology from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in Toxicology from North Carolina State University. He then moved to the University of Kansas Medical Center to pursue postdoctoral training in drug metabolism and disposition. He was awarded the Achievement Award by the Society of Toxicology and was made a fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences.

Cancer Focus

Numerous drug-induced toxicities are the result of inter-individual variation in the ADME processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination that control the fate of drugs within the body. Alterations in these processes provide the mechanistic basis for individual variability in response to drugs. While there are numerous examples of genetic differences that play a major role in susceptibility, the potential for transient phenotypic conversion due to temporary environmental changes, such as inflammation and disease, are often overlooked. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease can alter gene expression and function to dramatically alter ADME, resulting in a phenoconversion resembling genetic polymorphisms.

ITSEL LEYVA

University of Arizona

Neuroscience and Cognitive Science

Itsel Leyva is a first-generation Mexican American student completing her Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science with minors in Spanish and Biochemistry. Raised in Tucson, Arizona, Itsel is deeply committed to research and aspires to attend medical school. She envisions a career as a doctor serving the Spanish-speaking community.

Through her volunteer work with Clinica Amistad, Itsel has gained invaluable insights into the healthcare needs of Spanish-speaking patients and the critical importance of maintaining support for this community. Her passion for aiding underserved populations, particularly those similar to her own, has fueled her desire to pursue a medical career dedicated to this mission.

Itsel plans to specialize in a medical field that will enable her to continue her efforts in supporting and volunteering for underserved communities.

⊲ PROJECT

The Correlation Between Diabetes and Cognitive Decline in Border States

The primary goal of the research project was to investigate the correlation between diabetes and cognitive decline symptoms among various populations living in border states in the United States. This research aims to raise awareness about border-specific issues related to diabetes and cognitive decline, enabling further study of the underlying mechanisms of this correlation.

TOMAS NUÑO, PHD

Assistant Research Professor

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department

tnuno@arizona.edu

Tomas Nuño, PhD is an Assistant Research Professor in the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. Dr. Nuño completed his PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Arizona. Upon completion of his doctoral degree, Dr. Nuño was awarded a postdoctoral research fellowship with the Arizona Area Health Education Center-funded Clinical Outcomes and Comparative Effectiveness Research Academic Fellowship Program. The goal of the fellowship program was to provide training in clinical outcomes and comparative effectiveness research, with a specific focus on primary care for rural and underserved patients, families, and communities in Arizona.

Dr. Nuño then received a three-year National Cancer Institute Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities postdoctoral fellowship grant. Dr. Nuño subsequently received a three-year junior faculty administrative supplement to a funded R01 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to explore tools and practices to decrease cardiovascular disease (CVD) and complications among Hispanic diabetics in Mexico and Arizona.

Dr. Nuño is a co-investigator on three Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded Prevention Research Center projects, the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Precision Aging Network, and the Arizona Center for Tobacco Cessation. Dr. Nuño serves as Co-Lead for Engagement of the All of Us Research Program in Arizona.

ABRAHAM ISAAC

GUTIERREZ LOPEZ

University of Arizona Medicine

Abraham Isaac Gutierrez Lopez is a dedicated student, born in Yuma, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Medicine with an emphasis in Medical Technology. His interest in the medical field began after fracturing his big toe while doing karate and needing x-rays. This interest grew as he frequently visited the doctor due to diagnosed allergic asthma at infancy and various physical injuries, including a broken elbow and ACL reconstruction surgery. These experiences allowed him to see firsthand the rural health disparities and inequities faced in San Luis, his hometown. During high school, he participated in the 2020 Med-Start program, a summer initiative at the University of Arizona sponsored by the Health Sciences Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. This program included college class enrollment and exploration of various healthcare pathways and career options. He also took part in the Emergency Medical Services course and the after-school program HOSA, where he competed in the 2022 HOSA State Leadership Conference in Tucson.

With aspirations to become a primary care doctor for his rural hometown that faces significant healthcare disparities, he first plans to work for experience as a radiologist or medical imaging technician at a hospital or clinic after graduating. He is glad to be a part of the FRONTERA Summer Internship program because it offers a foundation of support and resources to continue along his path. The program has provided numerous opportunities and external resources to look forward to after completion and during the remainder of his undergraduate years, including clinical experience at the free clinic in Tucson, Clinica Amistad, as well as invaluable research lab exposure. He would like to relay his gratitude to Program Director Dr. Alejandra Zapien for her compassion and leadership, as well as Program Coordinator Ycied Talavera for her hard work and oversight of the program’s activities.

⊲ PROJECT

Assessment of Neuroinflammation in Animal Models of Cognitive Decline

Neuroinflammation, indicated by increased microglial activation and the presence of destructive cytokines, particularly in the hippocampus and frontal regions of the brain is a common feature across many neurodegenerative diseases. This project utilized a mouse model that reproduces key features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with the aim of identifying therapeutics that alleviate inflammation which is commonly associated with cognitive decline in AD. Mice were treated with drugs identified as having antiinflammatory potential, and brains slices were assessed for changes to microglia morphology and the presence of markers of inflammatory change, such as CD68. This involved using techniques such as immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging, and specialized imaging analysis. It was found that the drugs used in this study mildly, but incompletely reduced the inflammatory profile in AD brains. Interestingly, it was observed that the pathology affected differently between male and female brains, which is an important finding given that there are known sex differences in the real-life patient population.

LALITHA MADHAVAN, MD, PHD

Associate Professor, Neurology

Associate Professor, Evelyn F Mcknight Brain Institute

Associate Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Associate Professor, BIO5 Institute lmadhavan@email.arizona.edu

Dr. Madhavan is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Arizona. She is also a member of the Arizona Cancer Center and the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, and is affiliated with the Neuroscience, Physiology and Molecular, Cellular Biology graduate programs at UA.

Dr. Madhavan’s research centers on stem cells and age-related neurological diseases. Currently, her lab is focused predominantly on Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and is engaged in three main endeavors: (1) Understanding the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of stem cells in preclinical models of PD, (2) Studying stem cell potential in the context of brain aging, and (3) Creating patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells to study the etiology of Parkinson’s Disease. These projects are united by a common goal, which is to investigate core problems hindering the development of effective stem cell-based therapies for Parkinson’s Disease. In addition, the work represents a novel path of research for not only Parkinson’s Disease therapy, but has broad implications for developing treatments for Aging, and several other age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

ALEXA MARTINEZ

Amherst College Chemistry

Alexa Martinez is a first-generation college student attending Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was born in Tucson, Arizona, but her family is from Jalisco and Michoacan. She is a rising junior in the process of receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Art History. Her future goal is to attend medical school, where she is interested in the specialties of Emergency Medicine and OBGYN. Alexa has been an Emergency Medical Technician for a little over two years, during which she has been able to volunteer her skills at her college campus weekly. In addition, she has been volunteering as a bilingual Crisis Line Texter, specifically helping those in mental health crises from Spanish-speaking communities. These opportunities have taught her how to genuinely be there for a person during difficult times and have continuously pushed her to step outside of her comfort zone. She hopes to continue volunteering and serving underrepresented communities nationwide however she can. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, hiking, running, baking, and going to art museums.

Hello, is Anyone There? National Methadone Clinic Survey Recruitment Outcomes

In the United States, a person dies of opioid overdose every five minutes, and minimal regulations to decrease this number have been implemented and regulated. The difficulty with opioids is that they are highly addictive, and trying to stop taking them causes a person to go into a withdrawal that they have never been prepared for in their life. There is medication, like methadone, that could assist with these withdrawals, but it is being poorly administered in clinics across the country. The aim of this study was to note the reality of contacting clinics and the barriers we had to overcome, which plays a part in a bigger study of implementing an experimental program for increased methadone treatment outcomes.

BETH MEYERSON, MDIV, PHD

Professor, Family and Community Medicine

Director, Harm Reduction Research Lab, Family and Community Medicine

Director of Policy, Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center bmeyerson@arizona.edu

Dr. Meyerson directs the Harm Reduction Research Lab with focus on public health policy and systems to advance harm reduction and sexual health in pharmacy and medicine. She also seeks to advance harm reduction science as well as the science of community engagement. Her research is oriented as translational to program and policy through the application of implementation science and community-based participatory action research (CBPAR). Dr. Meyerson’s CBPAR orientation involves working with community partners to develop their own capacities to engage in citizen science – designing and implementing research projects, interpreting findings and communicating co-created evidence to policy partners to achieve systems change.

Dr. Meyerson’s systems research includes the identification of need and opportunities for system expansion to improve access to harm reduction and sexual health services. Examples include the evolution of pharmacy practice to assure nonstigmatized harm reduction services such as PrEP for HIV prevention, syringe sales to people who inject substances, opioid use disorder medications access and naloxone stocking and dispensing or health care provider treatment of people who use drugs. Policy research measuring the impact of federal policy change on methadone and buprenorphine access, evidence-based policy communication on policy decision making; and broadly, policy behaviors and their measurement, particularly by public institutions including studies of state STD investment, local public health accreditation, reported policy behaviors of state STD programs and local health departments, country-level policy planning, and policy adoption for syringe access.

Dr. Meyerson has been highly engaged with legislative and administrative policy partners to translate research to policy development to improve community health worldwide, nationally, and most recently in Arizona.

FHANIE MEDINA MARTINEZ

University of Arizona Physiology and Medical Sciences

Fhanie Medina Martinez is a rising senior at the University of Arizona majoring in Physiology and Medical Sciences and minoring in French and Biochemistry. She is a first-generation college student from Yuma, Arizona with family descendants from Baja California and Oaxaca. Growing up close to the border, there are unfortunate disadvantages for families that are immigrating to the U.S, especially when it comes to healthcare there are barriers in terms of language, treatment, and accessibility. Fhanie plans on taking a gap year to gain more experience in healthcare before applying to medical school with hopes of specializing in Family Medicine. Currently, Fhanie participates in the club Flying Samaritans as one of the Directors of Spanish and Translation for the past 3 years. This club hosts free clinics in Agua Prieta, Mexico for a community with limited resources. In addition, she volunteers with Clinica Amistad as an interpreter. Fhanie is also involved with a multi-cultured sorority, Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Inc., where she serves as the Vice President. On her free time Fhanie dances in the dance club Dia Clones here at the UofA. Other interests include watching novelas (the ones that everybody’s Mexican grandma watches), listening to music, learning new languages, volunteering, and spending time with friends and family.

⊲ PROJECT

Project: Examining the Influence of Distant and Proximate Stressors on Loneliness Amongst Postpartum Mothers with Opioid Use Disorder

Rise of OUD in postpartum individuals significantly affects both maternal health and infant well-being, leading to complications such as:

•Preterm delivery

•Low birth weight

•Difficulty breastfeeding

Proximal stressors, such as socio-economic challenges and mental health issues, impact the severity and persistence of OUD. Distal stressors from childhood, including long-term economic instability and various forms of abuse. Loneliness is common among postpartum individuals with OUD, worsening their quality of life and health outcomes, such as:

•Postpartum depression

•Difficulty breastfeeding

•Increased substance uses and relapse as coping mechanisms

There is limited research on the influence of distal and proximal stressors on Loneliness in postpartum individuals with OUD.

ALICIA ALLEN, PHD, MPH

Associate Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences

Associate Professor, Family and Community Medicine aliciaallen@arizona.edu

Dr. Allen began working in clinical research on substance use disorders in 2001 as an undergraduate student. This experience prompted her to obtain her masters in community health education, graduate certification in addiction studies and doctorate in social and behavioral epidemiology, all from the University of Minnesota. She also completed a fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the area of prenatal smoking. As a behavioral epidemiologist, she is particularly interested in research study design and improving methodology. She has conducted randomized clinical trials, controlled cross-over trials, and cross-sectional online surveys, as well as analyzed data from large epidemiological datasets.

Beyond conducting research, Dr. Allen is passionate about supporting women seeking to overcome seemingly unpassable barriers and pursue their dreams. The inspiration for this passion comes from going up in a small rural community, as well as being raised and parenting in non-traditional family structures. As such, she welcomes trainees of all levels, backgrounds and experiences. She is also currently pursuing an academic coaching certification from International Coaching Federation, with a goal of building supportive programs to advance women's health research, as well as women health researchers.

JUSTIN MONTOYA

University of Arizona Physiology & Medical Sciences

Justin Montoya is a first generation college graduate from the University of Arizona with a bachelors in Physiology and Medical Sciences and a minor in Biochemistry. He is born and raised in Tucson, Arizona with much of his family residing in Sonora, Mexico. Throughout his undergraduate career he learned what it meant to be a student with a newly found passion for learning and became inspired by the impact that physicians could have on their community but also became aware of the inequities within healthcare when it comes to those same communities. Justin is hopeful that medicine will allow him to break down a piece of those barriers that present themselves in medicine whether thats a language barrier, ignorance to culture, or financial access which can decrease overall community health in rural areas on the border such as his home Tucson, Arizona. The desire to bring equity led Justin to Dr. Benton’s lab in Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine where he investigates how and why asthma develops in children and will shed light on how to prevent and treat the disease. Along side this he found that the demographic of people largely affected by Type II diabetes are the minority groups within his community which led him to Dr. Paul Langlais where he investigates potential targets within insulin resistant tissue that could ameliorate or potentially reverse insulin resistance. In his free-time you can find him in the desert bow hunting for white-tail deer or at IN-N-OUT burger where he works part time to pay for school.

⊲ PROJECT

Investigating a Potential Role for TAk1 in Insulin Action

Type II Diabetes is a major problem amongst our population and community locally, caused by insulin resistance, typically due to obesity or genetics. Justin’s research revolves around the TAK1 protein, known to be involved in microtubule stabilization. He looks into the potential connections between TAK1 microtubule stabilization and microtubule movement of GLUT4 transporter to the plasma membrane during insulin stimulated glucose uptake.

PAUL R. LANGLAIS, PHD

Associate Professor, Medicine

Director – Proteomics Lab, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Endocrinology Division

Member, UAHS Center for Disparities in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism

langlais@arizona.edu

Paul R. Langlais is an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, where he also directs the Quantitative Proteomics Laboratory. Born in Montreal in 1975, he moved to Texas in 1978 and later graduated from Texas Tech University. He earned his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and has worked with notable figures such as Larry Mandarino. Paul has held positions at Arizona State University and the Mayo Clinic before joining the University of Arizona in 2016. His scientific career spans traditional signaling techniques and mass spectrometry, leading to the establishment of proteomics facilities. Outside of work, Paul enjoys spending time with his family, playing music, golfing, and various outdoor activities.

Research Interests:

The role of insulin is to lower blood glucose levels by stimulating glucose uptake into muscle and adipose tissue. Resistance to insulin, a phenomenon directly involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, remains to be understood. Basic research has yet to fully discover how insulin action is elicited. Research in the laboratory of Paul R. Langlais, PhD, focuses on the identification and characterization of proteins involved in insulin signal transduction and also tests whether the dysfunction of these proteins is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Dr. Langlais specializes in the use of mass spectrometry to perform proteomics, a technique that allows for largescale quantitative analysis of protein abundances between different treatments. This approach led him to the discovery that CLIP-associating protein 2 (CLASP2) is responsive to insulin stimulation, and his now-published findings support the involvement of CLASP2 in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Current research is aimed at discovering the role of CLASP2 in insulin action, in addition to identifying new proteins previously unknown to function in this system.

YASMIN MORALES

University of Arizona Care Healrh and Society

Yasmin Morales is a senior at the University of Arizona majoring in Care, Health, & Society with a minor in Spanish. She is a first generation latina originally from the rural bordertown of Bisbee, AZ. The Bisbee community has given Yasmin the support to succeed in all opportunities that come her way despite being limited in resources. Yasmin’s inspiration and drive for success comes from the sacrifices her family and small community have made. Yasmin hopes to go onto become a physical therapist as the ability to work with different ages, and in different settings is very appealing to her. Her goal is to help promote individuals independence in whatever capacity that may be, giving back to the communities that have given so much to her.

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PROJECT

DISCAPAZ: Disability Experiences in the Borderlands through the Power of Storytelling

This study aims to highlight the stories of people with disabilities along the U.S. Mexico border that otherwise may go unnoticed. Through this research people with disabilities are able to share their experiences and life stories and how living in a border community has influenced that. With support from The Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, we can showcase the stories of people in our own neighboring communities, and learn from their shared experiences. As someone from a border community, Yasmin finds everyone’s story must be represented to fully understand a border community and all its uniqueness, which is exactly what this project gives you a glimpse of.

JACY FARKAS, MA, ABD

Director, Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, College of Medicine – Tucson, University of Arizona jkbell@arizona.edu

Jacy Farkas, is the Associate Director of the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities. Farkas leads multiple efforts related to person-centered and inclusive practices, youth to adult transition, social determinants of health, and intersectional research in the disability space.

She is completing her doctorate in Human Development and Family Science at UArizona. Jacy identifies as a neurodivergent Black-Filipina American mother, scholar, and advocate.

SALEHAH SHABAZZ

University of Arizona Physiology and Medical Sciences

Salehah Shabazz is from Las Cruces, New Mexico and is attending the University of Arizona as a Senior. She is majoring in Physiology and Medical Sciences with a minor in Anthropology. Her family owns two nutrition shops in New Mexico and Texas, through these shops she has learned the importance of community health and support for people with many different backgrounds. Salehah hopes to use the knowledge she has gained throughout this program to further her medical career by enforcing inclusivity, equity, and advocacy for all of the people within the community in order to provide a welcoming, understanding, and empathetic environment. She is planning on going to medical school and becoming a physician. In her free time, she likes to bake, cook, and hang out with her friends and family.

⊲ PROJECT

Elevating Refugee Perspectives about Access to Disability Serves in Arizona

Through the FRONTERA program, Salehah was able to receive guidance from Dr. Julie Armin in their research to create a codebook to acknowledge and advocate for refugees with disabilities and their access to disability services in Arizona. Arizona is one of the top 10 states to resettle refugees in America with nearly a thousand refugees resettled each year. Refugees with disabilities face obstacles when it comes to receiving the adequate health care an services that they deserve. Using the Disability Disparities Framework from the National Center for Cultural Competence, the project team interviewed volunteer refugees with disabilities in the Phoenix and Tucson area. Using these interviews, the project team is able to interpret and code the interviews in order to create a peer review that will help highlight the ways in which the Arizona and international audience of researchers can improve their access to disability services.

JULIE ARMIN, PHD

Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine

Assistant Professor of Practice, Health Promotion Sciences

Director, Health Disparities Curriculum, College of Medicine -Tucson

jarmin@arizona.edu

Julie Armin, is a medical anthropologist, her goal is to improve healthcare and reduce health disparities for historically underserved populations using qualitative, multi-method and community-based methodologies.

Her research program is broadly focused on addressing gaps in cancer prevention and treatment for populations that have been historically marginalized due to hierarchies of race and social class. She has examined how cancer care is affected by immigration status, social class, and gender. Her current work centers on the practices of advance care planning among English and Spanish-speaking people living with cancer and their providers, and access to cancer care for people with disabilities.

BRITTANY SAHOTA

University of Arizona

Molecular Cell Biology

Brittany Sahota is an incoming senior at W.A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona, majoring in Molecular Cell Biology (MCB) with minors in Biochemistry and Spanish. Brittany is a first-generation AsianAmerican student, born and raised in Tucson, AZ. She anticipates graduating in the spring of 2025. After graduation, Brittany plans to attend medical school, where she aspires to become a dermatologist.

Brittany intends to use her position as a student and future physician to continue serving the underrepresented and uninsured communities of Southern Arizona. Her commitment to serving the community began with shadowing family medicine physician, Dr. Tran, at El Rio Clinic in 2021. She continues to be humbled by the opportunity and privilege to learn from patients who’ve allowed her to be a part of their medical experience. Her experience at El Rio sparked a deeper interest in health disparities relating to language barriers, especially as she spent her youth being an interpreter for her parents. This led her to volunteer at Clinica Amistad, where she uses her skills to communicate and interpret both patient needs and emotions. Brittany continues her commitment to serving the community by volunteering with TMC and Banner Health, while also devoting her time to being a peer mentor for pre-medical MCB students at the University of Arizona. Looking to the future, Brittany intends to dedicate herself to the immigrant population of Tucson, with the goal of spreading health literacy and language interpretation.

⊲ PROJECT

Evaluating Sleep Duration Effect on Postpartum Depression among Postpartum Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid use during pregnancy has steadily increased over the past two decades. The rate of incidence indicates a continued increase in opioid use during pregnancy. Opioid use disorder (OUD) amplifies many of the preexisting health conditions within an individual, yet there is limited research on the combination of the postpartum population with OUD and postpartum depression (PPD). Poor sleep duration is linked to postpartum mood disturbances, exacerbated by pre-existing factors like OUD, making individuals more susceptible to skewed sleep duration and PPD effects. Thus, the study looks to evaluate the effect of sleep duration on PPD among the postpartum population with OUD.

The project objective is to assess the trend of PPD and its relationship with sleep duration for postpartum week four of the five month prospective study among a cohort of mother-infant dyads (N = 50 mothers with OUD; N = 25 frequency-matched control group mothers). It is hypothesized if there is a connection between sleep duration and PPD among the participants with OUD, then interventions for improvement can be implemented to lessen the effect of poor sleep duration on women experiencing PPD for the OUD cohort.

ALICIA ALLEN, PHD, MPH

Associate Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences

Associate Professor, Family and Community Medicine

aliciaallen@arizona.edu

Alicia Allen, is the founder and director of the Recovery through ENGaging and Empowering Women (RENEW) Research Team (https://renew.arizona.edu/). RENEW seeks to identify the role of female-specific factors (e.g., pregnancy, postpartum, menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptive use, puberty) in addiction, and utilize that information to help women avoid and overcome addiction. To date, Dr. Allen has received a total of $7.9 million in funding for this research primarily from the National Institutes of Health, as well as the American Cancer Society, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Clearway Minnesota, and University of Arizona. Dr. Allen has published over 70 manuscripts, primarily with Addictive Behaviors, Nicotine and Tobacco Research, Addiction, and Journal of Addiction Medicine. She is an associate editor with Nicotine Tobacco Research (NTR) and Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports (DADR). She has also received the New Innovator Award from National Institutes (2020) and Faculty Excellence in Clinical Research award from College of Medicine Tucson (2023). Dr. Allen began working in clinical research on substance use disorders in 2001 as an undergraduate student. This experience prompted her to obtain her masters in community health education, graduate certification in addiction studies and doctorate in social and behavioral epidemiology, all from the University of Minnesota. She also completed a fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the area of prenatal smoking. As a behavioral epidemiologist, she is particularly interested in research study design and improving methodology. She has conducted randomized clinical trials, controlled cross-over trials, and cross-sectional online surveys, as well as analyzed data from large epidemiological datasets.

ISABELLA TREASURE

University of Arizona Public Health

Bella Treasure is from Phoenix, Arizona and is an incoming senior studying Public Health with an emphasis in Global health and a minor in Spanish. Bella is most passionate about serving underserved communities as well as public health, which has become her motivation for continuing a career in the healthcare field. Bella plans on applying to PA school with hopes of becoming a pediatric emergency PA.

With Bella’s passion for helping underserved communities, she has become greatly involved in a student run club on campus, Mexzona. She began as a volunteer her freshman year and is now the Vice President. From volunteering as a Spanish interpreter to now being able to run clinics and play a bigger role in aiding the mission of Mexzona to underserved populations in Puerto Peñasco, Bella hopes to continue to serve these communities post graduation in May of 2025.

⊲ PROJECT

Determination of ezetimibe and ezetimibe-glucuronide in human donor samples via LC-MS/MS

Detecting ezetimibe and ezetimibe-glucoronide in human donor plasma and urine samples via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in order to identify adverse drug reactions in order to diagnose patients with MASH in a less invasive and more effective way.

NATHAN CHERRINGTON, P

Associate Dean, Research Director, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center Director, Center for Toxicology cherrington@pharmacy.arizona.edu

Cancer Focus

MICHAEL XIA

Emory University Neuroscience

Michael is an upcoming junior at Emory University majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. Born in Tucson, he hopes to enter medical school and earn an MD in emergency medicine. Inspired by his parents who came from mainland China and his patients in the ambulance, he aims to advocate for underserved communities and address the health disparities around him. To pass the time, he enjoys cooking, creating mini-movies, and singin.

⊲ PROJECT

Usage of Autologous Aerosolized Skin Grafting (AASG) in patients with Pyoderma Gangrenosum, a pilot study.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum is a rare neutrophil infiltration and inflammation of the skin where they initially start as large ulcers. This study aims to characterize and contextualize the patients who have received different treatment plans for PG (Immunosuppressants compared to immunosuppressants and surgery). Ultimately, both treatment plans will be compared to determine the long-term success for PG. Through this study, we hope to discover the best surgery method and treatment plan.

LOURDES CASTANON, MD, FACS

Director, Burn Program

Clinical Associate Professor, Surgery lourdescastanon@surgery.arizona.edu

Lourdes Castañón, MD, FACS, is the director of the Burn Program at BannerUniversity Medical Center Tucson and a clinical associate professor of surgery with the Department of Surgery, Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns, and Acute Care Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson.

Dr. Castañón comes to the department from Allegheny Health System in Pittsburgh, where she served as an attending surgeon since 2014. Dr. Castañón earned her MD from the State University of New York Health and Science Center at Brooklyn. She then went on to complete residency in general surgery at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, also in Brooklyn. Following residency, Dr. Castañón completed a fellowship in surgical critical care and burns at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and a fellowship in acute care surgery and trauma at the Yale University School of Medicine. She is certified by the American Board of Surgery in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care as well as Advanced Burn Life Support, among other clinical and teaching certifications.

Dr. Castañón is a member of multiple professional societies, most notably, the American College of Surgeons, the Pan-American Trauma Society, the International Society of Burn Injuries, and the American Medical Association. She has authored and co-authored numerous studies on a range of burn-related topics in peer-reviewed journals as well as presented at many national, regional, and local conferences. Dr. Castañón is fluent in both English and Spanish.

GABRIEL YANEZ

University of Arizona Physiology & Medical Sciences

Gabriel Yanez is currently a senior at the University of Arizona majoring in Physiology and Medical Sciences with a minor in Spanish. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona but grew up in Morenci, Arizona which gave him first-hand experience of the challenges of rural medicine. This gave him a passion for serving underserved communities which he has got to do while volunteering in Puerto Peñasco with mexzona as well as shadow at a Mobile Clinic through Banner. He also works with the University’s football teams as an Athletic Training Tech. After college Gabriel wants to go to medical school and one day open up his own clinic in rural areas.

⊲ PROJECT

Thoracic SMARCA-4-deficient Undifferentiated Tumor

This project is a case review on Thoracic SMARCA-4-deficient Undifferentiated Tumor which is a rare type of cancer malignancy. The case report focuses on a male who presented this rare malignancy.

Thoracic SMARCA-4 is a malignancy that can be caused by smoking. This malignancy can also be hard to diagnose because it shares many characteristics with other types of cancers. Doing this case report can help further improve the diagnosis process as well as give insight on the treatments that are effective or not effective on this cancer.

ALEJANDRO RECIO-BOILES, MD, FACP

Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine areciomd@arizona.edu

Alejandro Recio- Boiles, MD, FACP, is an assistant professor of Medicine in the Hematology and Medical Oncology Department of the University of Arizona. He is a physician-scientist with genitourinary and early-phase drug development research, providing care to cancer patients at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. Dr. Recio-Boiles completed his medical school at the “Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, Mexico”, postdoctoral translational research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Internal Medicine Residency at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, and finalized his Hematology and Medical oncology fellowships at the University of Arizona.

Dr. Recio-Boiles has published numerous peer-reviewed book chapters, manuscripts, and abstracts and presented his research at local, national, and international meetings. He serves as assistant to the director of the Community Outreach and Engagement office, assistant to the director of the Arizona Clinical Trial Networks, and assistant director of the Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship program. Dr. Recio-Boiles has committed to promoting, educating, and changing to a healthier community.

ALUMNI STORIES

Karen Penelope Ibarra, MD FRONTERA 2015

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

The FRONTERA summer internship helped me shape my understanding about health disparities in rural areas and obtain hands on research experience. My research project focused in analyzing the prospective data obtained Diamond’s Children Hospital about children that came in to the Emergency room due to an acute asthma exacerbation. The purpose of my research was to see if there was any ethnic differences in the asthma triggers or parental knowledge in the children that were hospitalized with an acute asthma exacerbation. The data indicated that the population that was coming in more often with an acute asthma exacerbation were indeed from a minority group or from a low socioeconomic status. Specifically, the population focused around Hispanics and patients on Medicaid. It was also determined that certain triggers were more common among these children hospitalized. Therefore, it is imperative that a culturally appropriate program exists in effort to address asthma education to Hispanic families. Asthma control in families of Hispanic and low socioeconomic status can potentially reduce the number of preventable emergency department visits due to an acute asthma exacerbation.

Furthermore, this experience was beyond meaningful to me because I obtained real hands on experience in research with something that I am highly passionate about. In addition to expanding my knowledge about health disparities, the FRONTERA summer internship offered a unique opportunity to prepare for medical school by obtaining valuable study and test-taking skills. As part of the program, I was able to develop a better understanding of the pathway to medical school.

Katherine Bakke, MD, MPH FRONTERA 2010

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

FRONTERA provided me with my first experience in public health research when I was a rising-college senior. Although I was new to research, my PI and mentor, Dr. Ana Maria Lopez, encouraged me to take ownership of my project and gave me latitude and resources to be a true leader. Not only did gain practical skills such as writing IRB applications, liaising with clinic administrators to gather

study participants, and basic qualitative analysis know-how, I also gained insight, through site visits to hospitals in Sonora, Mexico and clinics on “the res” (among many others), into the vast, interrelated factors that contribute to Latino health in the southwestern United States and along the MexicanAmerican border.

How has the Program experience benefited you now in your current life?

urrently, I am a rising second-year medical student at University of Michigan Medical School pursuing an MD/MPH degree. My time in Tucson was short—only a summer—but the lessons I learned and relationships I gained during my internship continue to have an impact. The bulk of my FRONTERA research involved interviewing patients of the El Rio Community Health Center about their understanding of health education materials used by the clinic. I conducted nearly 100 interviews, and the listening and probing skills I acquired talking with patients in Tucson easily translate to my interactions with patients now as a physician-in-training. I keep in touch with my fellow FRONTERA interns, and consider them friends and colleagues as we move forward in our careers in public health and medicine.

Megan Fah, MD BORDER HEALTH

SCHOLAR 2012

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

During my time as a Border Health Scholar, I was able to gain unique insight into the health care systems of both the U.S. and Mexico. The program really opened my eyes to health disparities that border populations face, and the mistreatment they experience. Consequently, I was inspired to someday work with underserved populations in effort to close the gap in the medical attention they receive.

How has the program experience benefited you now in your current life?

The program introduced me to a wide array of opportunities in public health. I will be starting my MD/MPH dual degree at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix this July. My work with the Border Health Scholars program is what sparked my interest in completing a Masters in Public Health. Additionally, the program benefited me by providing talking points about my experiences throughout the medical school interview process. Overall, the Border Health Scholars program made me a more competitive applicant for medical school.

Anna Maria Del Sol Driesen, B.S, MA

PMAP-scholar- Medical student

FRONTERA 2019

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

The FRONTERA internship helped me gain a deeper understanding of what border health disparities exist in Arizona today. We visited different rural sites around Arizona, and it helped me realize the need that there is for physicians in these medically underserved areas. This internship also helped me strengthen my research skills by connecting me with a mentor to work on a research project. Alongside my mentor, Dr. Lilah Morris-Wiseman, we worked on a qualitative research study that focused on the importance of prioritizing diversity in the medical field, specifically in general surgery. Dr. Morris-Wiseman and I continued to work together after the internship ended to publish our research findings in the Journal of Surgical Education. I was able to present our research study, “Do General Surgery Residency Program Websites Feature Diversity” at the Association of Program directors in Surgery National Conference in May 2020.

Not only did I gain insight into rural medicine, I also learned how to write a journal article and present it to an audience of health professionals. I gained a deeper insight into what medicine is and the endless possibilities that exist within it. How has the Program experience benefited you now in your current life?

After the Program ended, continued to work alongside my mentor, Dr. Lilah Morris-Wiseman on several projects. We published our research findings, “Do General Surgery Residency Program Websites Feature Diversity” and presented at a national conference in May 2020. Due to our research being focused on the importance of prioritizing diversity through surgical residency programs, Dr. MorrisWiseman invited me to serve on a committee that is updating the University of Arizona’s surgery website. This has been an incredible experience to work alongside different health professionals and focus on how we can attract diverse applicants to the University of Arizona and to surgery. Currently, I am starting the PMAP program at the University of Arizona and completing my year of graduate school in Cellular and Molecular Medicine. I am incredibly excited to start medical school in 2022.

Dario Alvarez, MD

FRONTERA 2013

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

FRONTERA allowed me to see and understand firsthand the environment and conditions to which people living on each side of the border are subjected. Traveling to Nogales,

AZ, I witnessed the different aspects of the small city. First, our talk with Sheriff Tony Estrada opened my eyes to the aid the side of our state is providing to the families in the border area, whether documented or not. As an immigrant myself, many of the laws and reforms in our state appear harsh and lead to social separation; the Sheriff’s office takes the initiative to protect innocent lives while treating every individual equally, a change from other departments I am accustomed to. At the same time, Nogales’ health center is an inspiration, and an example of why I want to join the medical field. Whether it is at the facility, or their mobile unit, they reach as many people and protect them, teach them about hygiene, and promote the Promotora movement. I was part of the movement, still am. Making safety kits for migrants in the process of crossing, and personally delivering them, was a one of a kind experience. I also had the opportunity of working alongside the epidemiologist Dr. Kacey Ernst and entomologist Dr. Kathryn Walker, both took me under their wing and taught me about poverty across the border and the unfortunate presence of disease. Since FRONTERA ended, I was able to continue research work under Dr. Ernst and the Public Health department. The program opened many doors and gave way to even more experiences and learning situations, and in the end, made me a great candidate for medical school.

Adrian Franco Vanegas, BS, MA PMAP-scholar- Medical student FRONTERA 2017

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

Coupled with my collective experience in volunteering with Clinic Amistad, the FRONTERA internship solidified my understanding of why underserved patients delay seeking medical treatment. Language barriers, lack of transportation to health care facilities, the costs of medical care, and poor health literacy all contribute to the inaccessibility of health services in border communities. FRONTERA has also taught me the ongoing history of collaboration between United States and Mexico in uplifting border communities. Working together with the physicians from Secretaria de Salud, I witnessed the ripple effect that physicians can have by directly visiting communities to provide health services. By raising awareness and connecting border communities with health services, one can bridge the gap in health in underserved populations and provide them health information relevant to them. . The ability to clearly communicate and educate in two languages, both English and Spanish, will allow me to fulfill the community needs of rural Arizona as a future physician and beyond.

P.S. I send a special shout out to Dr. Alejandra Zapien, program director, who has been a great mentor throughout my professional career in medicine.