2023 BLAISER/FRONTERA INTERNSHIP

CLOSING PROGRAM

Alejandra Zapien, MD

opening remarks

Noah Weaver

Rotimi Odeneye

Jayla Curtis

Monica Brody-D’Urso

Sofia Garber

Ezdna Cazares

Breanne Harvey

Ebani Acedo

Amy Noriega Pineda

Luis Saucedo

Break

Asiya Falak

Ylia Chuffe

Ana Fernandez

Scarlett Beltran Leon

Anika Attaluri

Andrea Gonzalez

Astrid Acosta

Samara Cuevas

Jeffrey Lee Mosqueira

Glory Adeyemo

Break

Trinh Nguyen

Jonathan Lugo

Hanna Deller

Nevaeh Esquivel

Alhamzah Al Jubouriy

Chantal Figueroa

Joshua Warren

Karla Fonseca

Sarah Deller

Jacob Lasher

Break

Airen Fortunato

Miguel Perez

Ayda Bayati

Yanely Bolanos

Abigail Martinez

Yesenia Siemens

Victor Chiquete

Brianna Brown

Miracle Hall

Kathryn Hurst Break

Stephany Maldonado

Kimberly Medina Rios

Mariella Rodriguez

James Silva

Gabriela Solis

Raven Stephenson

Esperanza Valencia

Priscilla Villalobos

Fawaz Stipho

Alejandra ZapienClosing Remarks

UROC poster session. UA Student Union

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

The UAHS-Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in partnership with AzAHEC offered a ten -week summer internship: BLAISER/ FRONTERA Summer Internship providing undergraduate and graduate students with preparation to apply to graduate programs, research experience, and an increased understanding of public health disparities in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region. Participants were matched, according to their area of interest, with faculty mentors engaged in biomedical and public health research that has an impact on the health of border residents. Working with faculty mentors, interns developed their own short-term research projects or assisted mentors in completing key tasks or activities, like conducting literary reviews, facilitating focus groups, designing data collection instruments, among other scholarly activities, that contributed to the overall success of the research project. Interns also had presentations about the City of Nogales, health care facilities and public health agencies on Benson and Phoenix.

Concurrently, internship participants developed an in-depth understanding of the pathway to medical school; learned study and test-taking skills; prepared to take the MCAT & GRE; and received feedback on their personal statement in preparation to apply to medical school. On the final week, interns presented the outcome of their research at the BLAISER/FRONTERA closing ceremony.

The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson, AZ, is unique in its ability to expose our BLAISER/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.

EBANI ACEDO

Arizona State University, BS Eacedo@arizona.edu

Ebani Acedo, is a first-generation college graduate from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences. She was born and raised in Gilbert, Arizona with parents who both immigrated from Sonora, Mexico. While at ASU, her experiences in supervising and instructing students, studying abroad and volunteering with people from different backgrounds interested her to continue interacting and providing support for others. With these goals in mind, she is striving to attend medical school and be a healthcare provider that will support her patients’ unique values and allow her to learn more from different backgrounds. On her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, trying new places to eat, and hanging out with friends.

⊲ PROJECT

Inhibition of E2F1 Attenuating Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) In Rats.

Through the BLAISER/FRONTERA program, Ebani was able to receive guidance from postdoctoral research associate Dan Yi and assistant professor Dr. Zhiyu Dai at the UA Department of internal medicine in their research on pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension causes damage to the arteries in the lungs and leads to increased blood pressure, a weakened heart muscle and premature death. The study aimed to examine the therapeutic potential of the E2F1 inhibitor, HLM006474 (HLM) in attenuating rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline (MCT).

DAN YI

PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate II dyi@arizona.edu

Dan Yi, is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Dr. Zhiyu Dai’s lab in the department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix. She got her PhD from University of Lyon in France in 2018, and she continued her research journey as a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University. Since September 2019, Dr. Yi has been actively contributing to research at the University of Arizona as a Postdoctoral Research Associate.

She is a member of multiple professional societies, including the North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO), Arizona Physiological Society (AZPS), Arizona Imaging and Microanalysis Society (AIMS), American Thoracic Society (ATS), and American Heart Association (AHA). Her primary research interests revolve around understanding how changes in gene expression contribute to human diseases, identifying potential drug targets, and exploring critical mechanisms within biological pathways. During her time at UA, she has been focused on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), particularly on studying the molecular mechanisms of obliterative vascular remodeling in PAH. She was authored and co-authored many studies on a range of cardiovascular disease, especially pulmonary hypertension, in peer-reviewed journals as well as presented at numerous international, national, and local conferences.

Her work has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards. In 2022, she achieved the First Place Poster Presentation Award at the Arizona Imaging and Microanalysis Society (AIMS) Conference in Phoenix and secured First Place in the Young Investigator Award at the 17th Chinese American Academy of Cardiology (CAAC)/Academy of Cardiovascular Research Excellence (ACRE)/Chinese American Heart Association (CNAHA) Joint Research Symposium. In 2023, she earned the Young Investigator Award at 2023 CAAC Research Symposium held in Boston.

ASTRID ACOSTA

University of Arizona

Astridacosta@arizona.edu

Astrid Ignasia Acosta Bobadilla, is a junior at the University of Arizona majoring in Physiology and Medical Sciences and minoring in Biochemistry through the Franke Honors College. Astrid is originally from Lima, Peru and immigrated to the United States in 2020. Growing up she firsthandedly experienced the healthcare disparities in Peru, and this motivated her to pursue a career in the medical field. Astrid was inspired by her grandmother, Maria Teresa alias “Puquita”, who was from a small village in Andahuaylas, Peru. She taught her to always help those in need and to be an advocate for the defenseless. After graduating, Astrid wants to go to medical school and possibly specialize in surgery, OBGYN or family medicine. During her undergrad, Astrid has been able to travel and explore the US-Mexico border regions and she would like to practice medicine in rural areas to help people in unprivileged communities. Astrid aspires to also one day open various clinics in different villages in Peru to help people be treated for their illnesses as they do not have accessibility to proper healthcare in many of these rural areas. During her free time, she enjoys volunteering, watching movies, face-timing her family and friends in Peru, dancing to Spanish music, going to concerts and traveling.

Project Description

⊲ PROJECT

Sociodemographic Factors and Health Disparities Associated with the Prevalence of Extracranial Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease in the American Indian populations

Extracranial Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease (ECAD) results from plaque buildup in the common carotid artery and internal carotid artery, increasing the risk of ischemic strokes. ECAD affects 1.5% of the general population, aged 30 to 79, and accounts for 15% to 20% of all strokes. Since strokes can cause cognitive decline and are the leading cause of disability in the U.S, it is essential to protect vulnerable populations. In the U.S, American Indians have the highest prevalence of ECAD in comparison to other races, independent of age and sex. For this project, the team decided to approach this phenomenon with an emphasis on health disparities. These disparities are known to have affected American Indians in a great manner and is seen in their high rates of chronic conditions. This literature review aims to examine this phenomenon and ultimately bring awareness regarding ECAD in the American Indian population. The team hypothesized that the high prevalence of ECAD in the American Indian population is associated with high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, barriers of care, and lack of representation of American Indian populations in research.

CRAIG WEINKAUF

MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Surgery

Ccweinkauf@arizona.edu

Craig Weinkauf, is an Associate Professor with the Department of Surgery Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson.

Dr. Weinkauf was born in Tucson, Ariz. and grew up in Washoe Valley, Nev. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of San Diego and proceeded to earn his medical degree and doctorate at Tufts University in Boston, Mass. He returned to Tucson to complete his vascular surgery residency at the UA.

Dr. Weinkauf’s clinical practice focuses on caring for patients with vascular disease. This includes the broad set of conditions encompassing arterial, venous, or lymphatic pathologies.

Dr. Weinkauf’s research focuses on developing imaging strategies to help identify patients who may benefit from carotid artery interventions, whether that be to prevent strokes or cognitive dysfunction. His research draws from his background as an immunologist and his close collaboration with faculty from the Department of Medical Imaging.

GLORY ADEYEMO

University of Arizona, BSHS

gadeyemo@arizona.edu

is a graduating senior from the University of Arizona, holding a BSHS in Physiology & Medical Sciences. With a profound commitment to advancing healthcare and promoting health equity, Glory’s future is set on becoming a medical doctor specializing in OBGYN. With a deep sense of community, her ultimate goal is to give back, advocate for underserved and underrepresented populations, and address health disparities within her community. In her free time, Glory enjoys playing sports, collecting sneakers, and watching Nollywood movies.

⊲ PROJECT

Understanding the Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes in Advanced Maternal Age

This study aims to investigate the potential maternal morbidities faced by women classified as having an advanced maternal age, which refers to pregnancies in women who are 35 years or older at the time of delivery. Maternal morbidities encompass a range of health issues experienced by mothers during pregnancy and childbirth, such as preeclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, and other related complications. Through this research, the intent is to to shed light on the specific risks associated with advanced maternal age, and their implications for maternal and child health.

ELISE ERICKSON

PhD, CNM, FACNM

Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing

Eliseerickson@arizona.edu

Elise Erickson, PhD, CNM, FACNM is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and Pharmacy at the University of Arizona. She started her career as a Certified Nurse Midwife in 2005, she earned a PhD in 2018 at Oregon Health and Science University and has been conducting research on childbirth related physiology, care practices and maternal health. She incorporates epigenetic, pharmacogenetic and methods that include examination of social determinants of health in her work. She has received funding from NIH for a fellowship in Women’s Health Research (BIRCWH K12) and a K99-R00 grant to pursue epigenetic aging biomarkers in relationship to maternal morbidity and advanced maternal age outcomes. In 2021 she was awarded prizes in Innovation and Health Disparities for the Decoding Maternal Morbidity Challenge, hosted by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for a mixture model approach. She also uses wearable sensors in her research and is investigating physiologic signal patterns during pregnancy and postpartum events.

ALHAMZAH AL JUBOURIY

Arizona State University, BS

hamzahaljubouriy@gmail.com

Alhamzah (Hamzah) Al Jubouriy graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, having attained the Moeur award for graduating with a 4.0 GPA. He was born and raised in the Middle East and he takes pride in his Arab and Muslim background. He is originally from Iraq, has spent some of his childhood in Jordan, and immigrated to the United States as a 12-year-old with his family in 2013. He faced difficulties when he first moved here during middle school with speaking English and fitting in, and has used those hardships as a motivation to pursue his academic and career goals in the field of medicine. He had developed his interest in medicine through his experiences with war-affected children he encountered at UNICEF programs during the time he spent in Jordan. Understanding the challenges of assimilating into a new culture, he has found a joy in tutoring and assisting Iraqi immigrants to succeed and adapt to their new environment. In addition, he has implemented rigorous time-management and self-motivation to fulfill his responsibilities towards his immigrant family while simultaneously striving for excellence in academics, as he has contributed to the family’s income by working in his family business since the age of 15. In his free time, he likes to play soccer and work out. Soccer has been a passion of his since the age of six, and he is a proud fan of FC Barcelona.

Some of the clinical experiences he had been involved in during his undergraduate and post-undergraduate time include clinical rotations in the ER, volunteering in the surgery department, and working as a COVID-testing specialist and medical assistant. He aspires to enhance his research experience from this internship in an effort to make him a better physician scientist in the future. In the distant future, he hopes to become a surgeon whom people see as beyond just a surgeon and as a fellow human that they would like to be healed by, and who is heavily involved in serving disadvantaged groups locally and abroad.

⊲ PROJECT

The Benefits of a Diverse Healthcare Workforce on Care Delivery for Diverse Patient Populations.

After being asked a question about the language barrier during the mock interview, it brought back memories of when Hamzah first came to America at the age of 12 and experienced the language barrier and discomfort with cultural discordance in healthcare settings. As he reflected on his experiences, he realized that the young him would have appreciated more diversity in the clinics all those years ago. With that being said, he answered the question by stating that ultimately the most effective solution to the language barrier along with other healthcare disparities faced by minority populations is diversity within the workforce. With diversity always emphasized in healthcare settings and his experiences as an immigrant, he has decided for his research project to conduct a literature review aiming to investigate the advantages of integrating diversity within the healthcare workforce on care delivery for culturally-diverse patient populations.

ALEJANDRA ZAPIEN-HIDALGO

MD, MPH Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine

azapien8@arizona.edu

Alejandra Zapien-Hidalgo is an Assistant Professor and Director of Continuing Medical Education (CME) in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the College of Medicine Tucson. Additionally, she serves as the UAHS Bilingual Medical Spanish and Distinction Track Director in the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI).

As a founding member and recording secretary of the National Association for Medical Spanish, Dr. Zapien-Hidalgo has been advancing medical Spanish proficiency. She also contributes significantly to the College of Medicine-Tucson as a committee member of Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS).

Beyond her academic roles, Dr. Zapien-Hidalgo is crucial in serving the community. Her dedication is evident as the Vice President of the board of directors for Clinica Amistad, a commendable initiative providing free healthcare services to uninsured and underserved populations in South Tucson. Over the years, Dr. Zapien-Hidalgo has made a remarkable impact by working with the Focusing Research on the border area summer internship (FRONTERA) program. As the Program Director, she led and mentored more than 100 students, who have since excelled in various health professions careers, including Medicine, Nursing, Physician Assistant (PA), Public Health, Pharmacy, and Ph.D. programs. The students have consistently praised the FRONTERA internship for equipping them with the skills and tools to achieve their professional career goals.

Building on her vast experience, Dr. Zapien-Hidalgo assumed the position of Director for the BLAISER/FRONTERA summer program in 2023, continuing her mission to guide and empower future healthcare professionals. As the director of the BLAISER/FRONTERA summer internship, she provides mentorship and leadership, furthering OEDI’s mission to promote diversity within the health sciences workforce. Dr. Zapien-Hidalgo actively fosters collaborations with UArizona clinical and research departments, faculty, and mentors and engages with organizations in Tucson and the border communities.

ANIKA ATTALURI

Arizona State University, BS

Anikaattaluri@arizona.edu

Anika Attaluri is an upcoming junior at Arizona State University studying biomedical engineering and global health. As the daughter of immigrants, Anika has noticed how medical disparities detrimentally affect the overall well-being of underrepresented populations. In the future, Anika wants to be a compassionate physician that improves the quality of care for Arizona communities. She is especially interested in combining engineering and medicine to overcome the cultural barriers faced by underserved populations. At ASU, Anika is Vice President of the Honors College Council at Barrett and the Director of Advocacy for the United Nations Association. She is also the Aftercare team lead for the Refugee Education and Clinic Team, a free student-led clinic for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. In her free time, Anika enjoys traveling, learning various dance styles, and playing board games.

⊲ PROJECT

Unraveling the Hispanic Paradox: A Case-Control Study Exploring the Mechanisms of Pulmonary Hypertension in Hispanic Populations

Recent studies have shown that Hispanics have a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors and an average low socioeconomic status, both of which are strong predictors of mortality. However, Hispanic subjects notably live longer than non-Hispanic Whites, a phenomenon known as the “Hispanic Paradox”. The Hispanic Paradox has been investigated for decades, but no factor has been identified to explain this phenomenon. To explore the underlying mechanism of the Hispanic paradox, this project specifically focused on the manifestation of pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH). The objective of this case-control study was to investigate the effect of biological factors, environmental factors, and social determinants of health on mortality, quality of life, and function status in Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations. Additionally, the study analyzed ethnic differences in right ventricular function as a potential mechanistic link to the Hispanic Paradox. A univariate analysis was conducted to identify potential variables that influence the Hispanic Paradox phenomenon. The results indicated that Hispanics report more mental disability and a poorer quality of life despite their mortality advantage. Additionally, for an equivalent amount of afterload on the right heart, Hispanics better overcame the amount of pressure on their right heart. Therefore, the differences in right heart function in Hispanic subjects may explain their mortality advantage in spite of their poor social determinants of health. Studying the underlying factors influencing the progression of rare diseases, such as PAH, can shine a light on more common diseases affecting the Hispanic population. This knowledge can be utilized for targeted interventions addressing the specific needs of the Hispanic population, ultimately reducing cardiovascular health disparities and improving overall health and well-being.

FRANZ RISCHARD

DO

Professor, Medicine

Rischard@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.

AYDA BAYATI

Ayda Bayati, is an upcoming senior at Arizona State University studying medical studies with a minor in family and human development. She was born in Iran and immigrated to the states to pursue an education. She is a first generation interested in apply to medical school. Her goal is to obtain an MD/DO in emergency medicine so that she can offer her wide range of skills to rural communities. In her free time, she enjoys baking and spending time with her friends.

⊲ PROJECT

The Impact of Pollution on Upper Respiratory Disease

This research project is a meta-analysis literature review which seeks to answer the question “What impact does pollution have on upper respiratory disease?”. Based on current research, pollution can have significant impacts on upper respiratory diseases. Air pollution, specifically particulate matter, can irritate the respiratory system and exacerbate conditions like rhinitis, sinusitis, and other upper respiratory diseases. It can also increase the risk of respiratory infections and worsen symptoms in individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions. This literature review helps identify gaps when evaluating the linkage between pollution and upper respiratory disease. influencing the progression of rare diseases, such as PAH, can shine a light on more common diseases affecting the Hispanic population. This knowledge can be utilized for targeted interventions addressing the specific needs of the Hispanic population, ultimately reducing cardiovascular health disparities and improving overall health and well-being.

TARA CARR

MD

Associate Professor, Medicine

Tcarr@deptofmed.arizona.edu

Dr. Tara Carr is a board-certified allergist and immunologist. She performed her residency and fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL, one of the leading institutions for allergy and immunology. Dr. Carr specializes in allergic rhinitis and asthma and sees patients in conjunction with the Sinus and Allergy Center of the UA Department of Otolaryngology. She is also president of the Tucson Asthma Society and secretary-treasurer of the Arizona Allergy and Asthma Society.

SCARLETT BELTRAN LEON

University of Arizona

Sbl@arizona.edu

Scarlett Beltran Leon is a passionate and dedicated senior undergraduate and first-generation college student studying microbiology with a minor in applied biotechnology. She is currently engaged in research and aspiring to pursue a career either as a Medical Laboratory Scientist or as a Researcher. Scarlett is currently building a strong foundation in scientific principles and exploring her interests about the microbial world. Born and raised in Tucson, AZ, Scarlett developed an early fascination with the natural world and the wonders of science. This innate curiosity, combined with her love for biology, led her to pursue a degree in microbiology at the University of Arizona. From the very beginning of her academic journey, Scarlett has demonstrated exceptional dedication and curiosity to gain more knowledge in the field. Driven by her desire to contribute to scientific research, Scarlett has actively sought out research opportunities. She joined the lab of professor Dr. Paloma Beamer at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona, where she has been actively involved in research projects that involve identification and quantification of environmental microbes and their relationship with childhood asthma in children in both Mexico and Southern Arizona.

Also, she is actively involved in assessing the efficacy of box fan filter air cleaners to aid with indoor air quality monitoring in homes of Diné children in the Navajo Nation to help reduce pediatric asthma disparities. Through her research, Scarlett has gained hands-on experience in various laboratory techniques with qualitative and quantitative methods that can be applied in versatile and interdisciplinary areas

⊲ PROJECT

Assessment of Vacuum’s Airflow for the Efficacy of Environmental Dust Samples Collection in Households

Children born in Southern Arizona are four times more susceptible to developing asthma compared to children born in Nogales, Mexico. The potential explanation could be the decreased exposure to protective environmental microbes due to improvements in sanitation and use of disinfectants during pregnancy and early life.

Through the Binational Early Asthma and Microbiome Study (BEAMS), the Beamer Lab assesses environmental microbial exposure through the collection of dust and water samples from participants’ households to further investigate the protective effects against the development of childhood asthma. Household dust samples are collected using vacuums; however, due to heterogeneity concerns and to maintain quality control, airflow velocity measurements were collected, analyzed and compared their performance under different environmental conditions to address inconsistencies in sample collection.

PALOMA BEAMER PhD Professor, Public Health Pbeamer@arizona.edu

Paloma I. Beamer, Ph.D., is a professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. She holds joint appointments as a professor of Chemical & Environmental Engineering and as a research scientist in the Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center. She is the Community Engagement Core Director for the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center (NIEHS P30). She is an environmental engineer by training and earned her BS from the University of California Berkeley and her MS and PhD from Stanford University. Her research focuses on understanding how individuals are exposed to environmental contaminants and the health risks of these exposures with a special focus on vulnerable populations, including children, lowwage immigrant workers, Native Americans and those in the US-Mexico Border Region. The ultimate goal of her work is to develop more effective interventions and policies for prevention of avoidable cases of certain diseases such as asthma.

Dr. Beamer has received a Mentored Quantitative Research Award from NIH, a Scientific Technological Achievement Award (Level I) from the US EPA, and Young Investigator Award from Yuma Friends of Arizona Health Sciences. She was selected as one of Tucson’s “40 under 40” and as an Emerging Investigator for an international journal, Environmental Science: Processes & Impact. She has served on the Board of Scientific Counselors for both US EPA and ATSDR. She is currently an Associate Editor for Environmental Health Perspectives.

Dr. Beamer is the Past President for the International Society of Exposure Science. She is a lifetime member of the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).

Dr. Beamer uses field sampling, GIS, computer modeling and laboratory techniques in her research. She has led multiple studies to collect of multi-media exposure samples for metals, pesticides and VOCs with minority and rural populations. She has also developed an exposure and dose simulation model for children’s exposures to pesticides, a model that quantifies the transport of outdoor contaminants to the home environment, and a model focused on transfer of viruses via hand contacts.

Dr. Beamer is also an expert in the collection and quantification of key exposure factors aimed at improving risk assessment. She is currently funded by NIH for a to conduct a clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of a promotoras intervention at reducing exposures in small businesses like auto repair shops or beauty salons. During the COVID-19 pandemic that project has been expanded to include a “tele-promotora” program and to understand how work practices and risk perceptions have changed during the pandemic.

YANELY ITZEL BOLANOS

University of Arizona

Ybolanos@arizona.edu

Yanely Bolaños is an upcoming senior at the University of Arizona studying Biochemistry and Spanish with a minor in Public Health. Yanely is from Union City, California and has had a passion for working in medicine since the 4th grade. She hopes to go to medical or PA school to eventually help underserved communities. She currently is a senator for ASUA and hopes to use her job to advocate for the wildcat community. In her free time, Yanely enjoys hiking, traveling, an hanging out with her friends.

⊲ PROJECT

Targeting SELPLG/P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 in preclinical ARDS: Genetic and epigenetic regulation of the SELPLG promoter

The lab previously identified a missense single nucleotide polymorphism rs2228315 ( in the selectinP-ligand gene (SELPLG), encoding P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1), to be associated with increased susceptibility to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Earlier studies demonstrated that SELPLG lung tissue expression was increased in mice exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)and ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) suggesting that inflammatory and epigenetic factors regulate SELPLG promoter activity and transcription. By using a novel recombinant tandem PSGL1 immunoglobulin fusion molecule (TSGL-Ig), a competitive inhibitor of PSGL1/P-selectin interactions, we are able to demonstrate significant TSGL-Ig-mediated decreases in SELPLG lung tissue expression as well as highly significant protection from LPS- and VILI-induced lung injury. In vitro studies examined the effects of key ARDS stimuli on SELPLG promoter activity and showed LPS-mediated increases in SELPLG promoter activity and identified promoter regions associated with increased SELPLG expression. SELPLG promoter activity was strongly regulated by the key hypoxia-inducible transcription factors, HIF-1α, and HIF-2α as well as NRF2. These findings indicate SELPLG transcriptional regulation with the significant TSGL-Ig-mediated attenuation of LPS and VILI highly consistent with PSGL1/Pselectin as therapeutic targets in ARDS.

CHRISTIAN BIME

MD, MSc Associate Professor, Medicine Cbime@arizona.edu

Christian Bime is a junior investigator whose translational research is focused 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 P-selectin ligand (PSGL1) in preclinical ARDS models. He is currently recruiting a cohort of ARDS patients at the University of Arizona that will be critical for validating identified biomarkers.

MONICA BRODY-D’URSO

University of Arizona

Mbrody22@arizona.edu

Monica Brody-D’Urso is an incoming transfer student entering her junior year at the University of Arizona studying Medicine with Integrative and Practice Focused Medicine emphasis and Spanish. She is transferring from the University of Rochester, where she met her husband, cat and participated in the UR Predoc program. She is a first-generation, low-income college student hailing from Peoria, Arizona. After graduation, she aspires to take a gap year to join the military, and then attend the University of Arizona medical school, and serve as a primary care physician in rural communities, specifically to migrant communities providing care to both documented and undocumented individuals. During her time in Tucson, her goals are to continue serving with the mobile health clinic, Casa Alitas, and El Rio.

⊲ PROJECT

The influence of malnutrition on geriatric trauma patients

The impact of nutritional status on the outcomes of geriatric trauma patients remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of malnutrition on both short-term and post-discharge outcomes of a multi-institutional cohort of geriatric trauma patients.

BELLAL JOSEPH

MD, FACS Chief, Division of General Surgery

Bjoseph@arizona.edu

Bellal Joseph, MD, FACS, is the Martin Gluck Endowed Professor of Surgery and oversees the Division of General Surgery and the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns, and Acute Care Surgery at the University of Arizona. He is also the vice chair of research for the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Joseph has authored over 310 peer reviewed publications and 30+ books chapters. His research has been funded by the National Institute on Aging, the Department of Defense and DARPA. His areas of expertise encompass traumatic brain injury, transfusions and factor replacement in trauma patients; frailty; and diversity, equity and inclusion. Dr. Joseph is a member of numerous national associations, he is executive director of GeriTrac for the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, president of the Arizona Trauma Association, and vice chair of the Committee on Trauma in the State of Arizona. Dr. Joseph is also a member of the steering committee of the National Trauma Research Action Plan (NTRAP). His passion lies in nurturing the professional development and growth of aspiring young surgeons.

BRIANNA BROWN

University of Arizona

Briannabrown@arizona.edu

Brianna Brown was born and raised in Arizona and always knew medicine was her true calling before attending the University of Arizona. Brianna Brown is an upcoming senior at the University of Arizona and is majoring in Public Health with an emphasis in Health Promotion and a minor in Spanish. Additionally, ever since Brianna was a young girl, she pictured herself in a white coat making a difference and helping the world. Undoubtedly, Brianna clearly saw her life ahead, wearing a “White Coat” and working in pediatrics for minority populations. Furthermore, after graduation, Brianna plans to take a gap year and prepare for medical school and is very passionate about giving everyone the quality care they deserve. As an African American woman, Brianna wants to change the disparities among African Americans and the stigmas they face in the medical field. Aside from attending football games, volunteering at elementary schools, and traveling, Brianna is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. Brianna is so grateful to be doing this internship and thanks the staff for all their hard work and dedication.

⊲ PROJECT

Theraplay with Children at U.S and Mexico Border: A Pilot Study

Within the research Brianna has found on Theraplay it is evident that this form of therapy will have a positive impact on families and children. Theraplay is an effective short-term approach leading to the problems children have. This method of Therapy has shown significant promise for dealing with depression, learning difficulties, and emotional problems. With that said, Brianna would want to conduct a pilot study to see if it is safe and feasible to have Theraplay at the U.S and Mexico border. Furthermore, Theraplay is a child and family therapy that focuses on enhancing attachment, building trust, and promoting healthy relationships between children and their caregivers. Theraplay started in the 1960s and is an essential aspect of child life. Immigrant children have been struggling with mental health issues amongst other physical issues for many years. This innovative therapeutic approach has the potential to create and transform the lives of individuals and families. So, Brianna wants to see how incorporating Theraplay into border communities is feasible and safe. As an aspiring pediatrician, Brianna is eager to do this study to understand the impacts on Theraplay and child development. In this study particularly, after a pilot study is conducted in the future, Brianna would want to see the different Theraplay techniques used at the U.S and Mexico border since it is a vulnerable population. If the research shows that Theraplay is feasible and safe Brianna would want to study 12 children ages 3-5 years old at the U.S and Mexico Border for eight weeks having one session a week. Her goal is to contribute my skills and expertise in Theraplay to organize a study and mini Theraplay clinics at the U.S and Mexico border to study the behavior of children before and after Theraplay. By focusing on this intervention in young children Brianna hopes to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma, mental health and create positive change in this environment. Brianna firmly believes that everyone deserves access to quality care and the resources to foster healing through Theraplay. So overall, the goal of the first step of this research project is to start with safety and feasibility using Theraplay.

JULIA JERNBERG

MD Director, Ambulatory Medicine Clerkship, Medicine

Jbj@arizona.edu

Julia Jernberg is the director of the Ambulatory Medicine clerkship and of the Health & Societies continuity thread for the UACOM-T. As a physician certified in Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, and Integrative Medicine, she attends the Internal Medicine residents’ clinic for Banner-University Tucson.

Dr. Jernberg works with Dr. Heidi Brown (MPH, PhD, professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at MEZCOPH) as a co-lead for the Arizona Climate & Health group of human and animal physicians and public health experts. The faculty and students work together to develop medical education modules for medical and veterinary students, in addition to public health students that address Climate and Environment teaching using basic science, clinical findings, and epidemiology. Their work is funded by the Technology Research Initiative Fund/Water, Environmental and Energy Solutions Initiative administered by the University of Arizona Office for Research, Innovation and Impact

EZDNA CAZARES

University of Arizona

Ecazares@arizona.edu

Ezdna Cazares, I am a first-generation college student attending the University of Arizona majoring in Nursing. I am a rising sophomore from Yuma, Arizona. My career goal is to become an OB-GYN. After becoming a Nurse, I plan to save up to attend medical school. After completing schooling, I plan to return to my hometown to help my community, especially those near the border and low income.

⊲ PROJECT

The Effects of Midwife Shortage in Arizona

In my research, I had the opportunity to interview 3 midwives. I gained insight into their opinions and experiences dealing with the midwifery shortage. Through the interviews, I was able to conclude the main factors they believed would help in this time of need.

TIMOTHY JOSEPH SOWICZ

PhD, RN

Assistant Professor, Nursing

Sowicz@arizona.edu

Timothy J. Sowicz, is an assistant professor within the advanced nursing practice and science division at The University of Arizona College of Nursing.

Dr. Sowicz conducts research to facilitate personal access to health care. Currently, he concentrates on how the social determinants of health affect treatment access for Hispanic adults living with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. He also teaches qualitative research methods in the Ph.D. program. Dr. Sowicz practiced as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner in hospitals and community health centers before beginning his academic career.

VICTOR CHIQUETE

University of Arizona

vachiquete@arizona.edu

I am a Neuroscience major with an emphasis on Neurobiology and a minor in biochemistry. My initial interest in the brain came when I was 7 years old and was treated for a tic disorder. We did not have specialty care in the small border town where I grew up but through these challenges, I developed a desire to help others. After high school I wanted to follow this purpose by joining the military and after being cleared by my Neurologist I enlisted in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. During this time I fell in love with medicine and decided that I wanted to pursue it as a career. I plan to apply to medical school and specialize in Neurology in the hopes of contributing to movement disorder research. In my free time I love to destress by playing golf and spending time outdoors.

⊲ PROJECT

Habitual Dietary Quality Associated with Habitual Sleep Duration, Insomnia, Daytime Sleepiness, and Fatigue in a Community Sample

Previous studies have shown a relation between sleep duration/quality and dietary intakes, but relatively few have examined characteristics of habitual diet associated with sleep, using validated measures. The present study examined relationships between overall diet quality and a range of sleep-related factors.

MICHAEL GRANDNER

PhD, MTR, CBSM, FAASM Associate Professor, Medicine Grandner@arizona.edu

Michael Grandner is a licensed clinical psychologist, Director of the Sleep and Heath Research Program at the University of Arizona, and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic at the Banner-University Medical Center in Tucson, AZ. His work focuses on translational sleep research and Behavioral Sleep Medicine, including studies of sleep as a domain of health behavior and the development and implementation of behavioral interventions for insufficient sleep and sleep disorders. Specific areas of focus include:

(1) Downstream cardiovascular, metabolic, and behavioral health outcomes associated with habitual sleep duration and/or insufficient sleep, (2) Upstream social, behavioral, and biological determinants of habitual sleep duration, insufficient sleep, and poor sleep quality, and

(3) Development and implementation of behavioral interventions for sleep as a domain of health behavior.

YLIA CHUFFE

University of Arizona, BA Ychuffe@arizona.edu

Ylia Chuffe, is a recent graduate of the University of Arizona who received his B.A in Biochemistry with Minors in Spanish and Music. He was born in Tucson, Arizona and is happy to call the valley home. He is an active violinist in the music community around Tucson, performing with the Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and Mariachi Pueblo Viejo throughout college. Ylia volunteers at Clinica Amistad as a prior participant of FACES Conversantes, where he enjoys assisting providers and patients through Spanish-English interpretation. As a medical scribe at BUMC-T, he had the opportunity to gain exposure and a deep appreciation for medicine and its many specialties. He plans to obtain his Master’s in Healthcare Management before applying to medical school. In his free time, he enjoys weight lifting, running, practicing instruments, and working on his project car.

⊲ PROJECT

This research aims to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy of blue light therapy specifically in the context of complex burn and trauma patients, who are particularly susceptible to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Retrospective photographs of wounds were captured at both inpatient and outpatient clinics to document and assess the progress of patients’ treatment. These photographs served as visual records, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of the patients’ condition over time. With this approach, we aim to visually compare and analyze the results, and ultimately contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding blue light therapy.

LOURDES CASTANON

MD, FACS Director, Burn Program Lourdescastanon@surgery.arizona.edu

Lourdes Castañón, is the director of the Burn Program at Banner - University 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, Penn., 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.

SAMARA CUEVAS

University of Arizona

samaracuevas@arizona.edu

Samara Cuevas is a first generation Mexican American intern who grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and is a senior at the University of Arizona double majoring in Physiology & Medical Sciences and Nutritional Sciences, with a minor in Biochemistry. She is most passionate in helping underserved communities and people such as her own, which has given her the interest of continuing that path for her medical career. She is interested in applying to medical school and specializing in an area that will allow her to continue her help and volunteering for underserved populations.

Not only did Samara’s inspirations for her aid to these communities came from the hardship her parents face in healthcare, but also from the plenty volunteer opportunities she participates in throughout the semester and summer. Volunteering as a Spanish interpreter at Clinica Amistad and CUP clinics with MexZona, she saw first-hand the challenges many face in the limited access for healthcare and has decided that an ultimate goal of hers is to open such clinic of her own to continue to serve these populations. Being born and raised by immigrant parents, she learned from young how hardworking the Hispanic community can be and plans to continue that mindset for herself to continue to be proud of her own work and make her family proud as well.

⊲ PROJECT

Training/Credentials of Individuals Who Deliver CBT-I to Cancer Survivors: A Literature Review

Samara’s project was a literature review that aimed to better understand the training and credentials of individuals who deliver cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia to cancer survivors within the context of research. A myriad of cancer survivors report sleep disturbance or the inability to sleep. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has been the gold standard treatment to aid cancer survivors who face these challenges. CBT-I is traditionally delivered in-person with a licensed individual who iscapable of delivering this treatment for the cancer population. To do this work, Samara leveraged five recently published systematic reviews of CBT-I among cancer populations to aid in the identification of appropriate studies for review.

RINA FOX

PhD, MPH Assistant Professor, Psychiatry Rsfox@arizona.edu

Rina Fox is a clinical health psychologist and an Assistant Professor in the University of Arizona College of Nursing. She received a BA in Psychology and Spanish from Tufts University, an MPH in Epidemiology from the San Diego State University Graduate School of Public Health, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the San Diego State University / University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. She also completed an American Psychological Association accredited clinical internship at Rush University Medical Center, and a postdoctoral fellowship in cancer prevention and control at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the University of Arizona Cancer Center.

My research is broadly focused on delineating how psychosocial processes impact adjustment to and coping with cancer, with an emphasis on symptom management and health related quality of life (HRQOL). I am particularly interested in the role of sleep disturbance and fatigue in HRQOL, and the development of interventions to improve these outcomes among cancer survivors. I am also interested in better understanding the chronobiological mechanisms underlying symptom burden in cancer survivors.

JAYLA CURTIS

Arizona State University

Jlcurtis@arizona.edu

JAYLA CURTIS was born and raised in Missouri but has lived in Arizona for nine years as of July 2023. Further, she is a rising senior at Arizona State University, soon to be earning her Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies. After graduation, she plans on earning a master’s degree in the Science of Healthcare Delivery, reinforcing her research skills, and studying abroad. Additional career aspirations that she has in life is to matriculate into medical school to become the first physician in her family. Likewise, to specialize in an area that is currently experiencing physician shortages such as becoming an OB/GYN, to contribute to significantly declining the mortality rates in African American women and babies. Likewise, the presentations that she attended within this program that have covered the mental health, physician shortages, burnout and overall health disparities within minority communities, has further ignited her interest in serving underserved individuals within an urban and rural community. While reflecting on the office of equity, diversity, and inclusion internship this summer, she is filled with an immense amount of gratitude for being able to receive support and unique preparation for her future and graduate school applications through an MCAT prep course, multiple miniinterviews, research experience, and an oral poster presentation. Outside of working towards being a part of the next generation of well - rounded healthcare professionals through rigorous classwork, internships, clubs, and service work, she enjoys painting canvases, self - care activities (going to the car wash, nail salon, target, online shopping etc.), watching movies, and overall spending time with her mom.

⊲ PROJECT CANCER NAVIGATION AND SCREENING INTERVENTION WITH INDIGENOUS WOMEN WHO HAVE IDD

The My Health My Choice team was created to serve women from the underrepresented indigenous community who have Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD). IDD’s are defined as lifelong physical and cognitive impairments that first appear during childhood and are prolonged throughout one’s lifespan. Through the partnership with the Tucson Indian Center amongst other entities, the objectives are to deliver this six – session program to indigenous women with IDD within this facility, to encourage early detection cancer screenings and to enhance their health literacy and self – advocacy skills in healthcare through cancer navigation. Cancer screening navigation is an intervention that focuses on the inequities that minority cancer patients experience. The MHMC team works toward decreasing these disadvantages in healthcare that inhibits these women from proactively receiving breast and cervical cancer screenings such as Mammograms and Pap tests, by addressing the historical ableism in healthcare toward this group and the limited access that they have toward receiving scarce resources. Within the ten weeks of this program, I had the opportunity to contribute to piloting cancer screening navigation by assembling a social determinants of health resources sheet for the health educator within this team to share with Native women with IDD at the Tucson Indian Center. This component to MHMC is significant because it contributes to positively impacting women within this community during their individual healthcare journeys. Further, feasibility and acceptability are evaluated through cancer screening navigation and through the assessment of the program’s engagement, patient satisfaction, and improvements.

JULIE ARMIN PhD Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine

Jarmin@arizona.edu

As a medical anthropologist, my goal is to improve healthcare and reduce health disparities for historically underserved populations using qualitative, multi-method and community-based methodologies. My 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. I have examined how cancer care is affected by immigration status, social class, and gender. My 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.

HANNA ALI DELLER

Virginia Commonwealth University

Dellerha@arizona.edu

Hanna A. Deller is a rising senior attending Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. She is double-majoring in Biology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies with a minor in Chemistry. Her professional goals include becoming a General Physician in underserved and marginalized communities working to improve health equity and access.

She has a strong passion for improving community health which is demonstrated through her past research fellowships at Harbor-UCLA Summer Urban Health Fellowship and the CDC John Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program. She was inspired to conduct research related to health outcomes after shadowing in a clinic and witnessing health disparities firsthand. At Virginia Commonwealth University, she is currently the Co-president of VCU PRIME, a mentorship organization dedicated to helping underrepresented students on their pre-professional health journey, as well as being a Supplemental Instruction Leader for Intro to Biology. In her spare time, she loves to paint and cook street food from around the world.

⊲ PROJECT

“SAFE” Student Awareness of Fentanyl Education

This study is dedicated to understanding the differences in knowledge concerning Fentanyl between Arizona parents and children through surveys. The project is specifically aimed to identify factors that stop a potential addiction, general understanding of the dangers of Fentanyl, interest in learning more about Fentanyl, and the best learning platforms for children. From there, we are planning to use our findings to establish an educational curriculum for children about the dangers of Fentanyl.

Vanderah screening

Todd

navigation and through the assessment of the program’s engagement, patient satisfaction, and improvements.

TODD VANDERAH

PhD

Department Head, Pharmacology

Vanderah@email.arizona.edu

Todd Vanderah is Head and Professor of Pharmacology, and is a Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Anesthesiology. His research interests include mechanisms of cancer pain, neuronal integration in pain pathways, neurochemical release during conditions of neuropathy, neuronal plasticity, opioid receptor pharmacology, and novel targets for drug discovery. He is author of over 135 original research articles.

SARAH DELLER

University of California, Irvine

Sdeller@arizona.edu

Sarah Q. Deller is a rising sophomore at the University of California, Irvine. She is majoring in Public Health Sciences and getting a minor in Medical Humanities. Her ultimate goal is to become a Family Medicine doctor working in underserved communities. Equipped with a foundation of public health, Sarah hopes to promote preventative medicine as a physician dedicated to community health. Raised in a multiracial family, she learned about the disproportionate health consequences facing minorities first-hand. Through her Harbor-UCLA Health Research fellowship, alongside doctors, she researched the disproportionate health effects caused by urban oil drilling faced by those living in the Harbor region of Los Angeles. Additionally, through Harbor-UCLA, she researched the education gap prevalent among different high schools in South Central LA and presented findings to medical professionals. In the past, she started a tutoring center for BranchOut! Veritas in order to fight the education gap.

At UCI, she volunteers at a food pharmacy through the Global Medical Training Club and volunteers at the SERVEOC Health Fairs.

⊲ PROJECT HIV Acceptance Amongst Patients of the University of Arizona Mobile Health Unit

Through the Blasier/Frontera Internship, Sarah was introduced to Dr. Sheila Soto who is the Director of the Mobile Health Units for the University of Arizona. In the last year, the mobile health units added routine HIV testing to the services offered. Getting tested for HIV is crucial because knowing one’s status decreases spread, fights stigma, and provides treatment to those who are positive. In response, Sarah researched ways to increase the acceptance of HIV testing and reported the amount of patients who accepted HIV testing at the University of Arizona’s Mobile Health Units.

SHEILA SOTO

DrPH

Assistant Research Professor, Public Health

Ssoto2@arizona.edu

Sheila Soto, is an Assistant Research Professor and the Director of the Community Engagement and Outreach Programs (CEO) at the University of Arizona, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Department of Public Health Practice, Policy, and Translational Research.

Dr. Soto completed her MPH and DrPH at the University of Arizona with a concentration in Public Health Policy and Management. Her dissertation focused on the health status of farmworkers at a national, state, and local level. She incorporated secondary data analysis using national datasets, completed a systematized literature review, and a preliminary research study with farmworkers working in Yuma and Cochise County. For her MPH placement, she worked with SEAHEC and established a health-focused manual and handbook for community health workers living in Winchester Heights, Arizona.

Dr. Soto’s research addresses health disparities among disadvantaged populations, including immigrants, farmworkers, and rural and border communities. She has a background in community health with specific training in community-based participatory research and mixed methods. The CEO model consists of community health workers (CHWs) and interprofessional health science students who provide various services throughout Arizona. The Primary Prevention Mobile Health Units (MHUs) and Ventanillas de Salud in Phoenix and Douglas (VDS) aim to reduce the number of individuals who rely on the emergency room as their primary form of health care by establishing routing care in local clinics. Street Medicine Phoenix (SMP) is a student-run program that focuses on providing services and care to the unsheltered population in Phoenix. All these programs provide basic health screenings, HIV testing, referrals to designated services for linkage to care, and access to PREP or PEP, among other direct services.

ESTHER NEVEAH ESQUIVEL

University of Arizona

Estheresquivel@arizona.edu

Esther Nevaeh Esquivel is a first-generation college student attending the University of Arizona. She was born in Tucson, Arizona but her family descends from the states of Zacatecas and Sonora. She is a junior working to receive her Bachelor of Physiology and Medical Sciences with a minor in Biochemistry. Her long-term plan involves pursuing medical school to realize a career in obstetrics and gynecology. Her goal as a medical doctor is to work with underserved communities. Being fluent in Spanish and English, she wants to help limit language barriers within the underserved communities and healthcare services. Being raised in a border town has exposed Nevaeh to the health disparities and knowledge gaps present in her community. She hopes to raise awareness and contribute her part in abolishing these barriers. In the fall, she will be a part of the F.A.C.E.S. Conversantes program with the University of Arizona where she will receive training and opportunities to volunteer as a medical interpreter in health care facilities located in southern Arizona. In her free time, Nevaeh plays the violin with Mariachi Sonido de Mexico for various communities in Tucson. She would like to thank her amazing family and friends who raised her to be who she is today.

⊲ PROJECT

INFERRING ANCESTRY USING NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING TO HAVE A MORE ACCURATE ASSAY ABOUT HOW GENETIC VARIATION AFFECTS GENE EXPRESSION IN AN ADMIXED POPULATION

The objective of this study is to accurately infer ancestry using next-generation sequencing techniques from the data of 33 individuals from Tucson, Arizona. F.L.A.R.E (also known as fast local ancestry estimation) is a program that achieves exceptional computational performance through incorporation of computational techniques developed for genotype imputation. RfMix (also known as rapid and robust local-ancestry inference) is another computational program created for genotype imputation. RFMix shows high sensitivity and specificity in simulated Hispanics/Latinos and African Americans and admixed Europeans, Africans, and Asians. Ancestry can affect the mapping of various traits to various alleles. Additionally, patterns of swapping are different in varying populations. Through this research we can acquire relatively accurate local ancestry estimates for free. Furthermore, we can have a more powerful assay about how genetic variation affects gene expression in admixed populations. In this research, Nevaeh learned how to perform next-generation sequencing using computational techniques. She showed ability in processing big data, troubleshooting and generating a report using various programs including R, freebayes, bcftools and tabix. These programs allow to call genotypes in addition to visualizing, transforming, and filtering big data.

DARREN CUSANOVICH PhD Assistant Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Darrenc@arizona.edu

Our lab is interested in understanding how the human genome regulates itself to bring about all of the cellular diversity present in our bodies. In addition, we are interested in how genetic variation and environmental exposures in human populations impact that regulation and sometimes leads to complex disease. The particular disease model that we focus on is asthma, a complex disease affecting ~10-20% of the population that involves many cell types of the lung and immune system and offers exquisitely detailed examples of gene-environment interactions that influence disease outcomes. To study these phenomena, we use single-cell genomics technologies so that we can evaluate the impact of genetic and environmental variability from the perspective of whole tissues rather than having to isolate individual cell types or use simplistic cellular models. Working at the nexus of functional genomics, computational biology, and cellular biology, our group is both experimental and computational and often has to develop novel technologies or methods to address our research questions.

ASIYA FALAK BS

Arizona State University

Asiyafalak@arizona.edu

Asiya Falak is a graduate from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University (ASU) with a degree in Biological Sciences and a degree in Computer Science. Asiya immigrated to America when she was two, and growing up, she has harbored a passion for medicine. She is as a phlebotomist at Clinica Liberacion, a nonprofit clinic that provides healthcare to underrepresented Latinx and queer communities. She also works as a nursing aide on the Medical/Surgical floor helping geriatric patients. After earning her certification as an Emergency Medical Technician, her aspirations are becoming a Trauma surgeon. She hopes her copious amounts of research hours will earn her a place at the University of Arizona’s MD/ PhD program. She is fond of data and bioinformatics; she served as a teaching assistant for Calculus at ASU, and she has a background in genomics and population statistics. In the distant future, Asiya hopes to work as a global doctor, working on projects abroad to better serve disadvantaged communities overseas, and she speaks multiple languages to help her engage better with patients.

⊲ PROJECT

Characterizing Interactions between Vaginal Microbiota and Metabolic Pathways in Patients with Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer, the proliferation of tumor cells in the lining of the uterus, is the 4th most common cancer for women in the United States. To add on, many women of color do not receive a proper diagnosis until they are at a later stage of their condition, and they suffer a poorer outcome. This project aims to integrate microbial data and metabolite data from patients with both benign conditions and endometrial cancer. Analyses of both datasets will reveal enriched pathways involved with endometrial cancer, correlations between metabolites and microbial bacteria, and significant upregulations and downregulations of certain metabolites and bacteria due to the cancer. The significant pathways revealed in this study, such as glycerophospholipid metabolism and teichoic acid biosynthesis, must be studied further to understand the progression of endometrial cancer throughout vaginal microbiomes.

MELISSA HERBST-KRALOVETZ

PhD

Associate Professor, Basic Medical Sciences

Mherbst1@arizona.edu

Dr. Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz received her bachelor’s degree from Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO and her doctoral degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX in the Experimental Pathology Program. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Biodesign Institute at ASU in the Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology. Dr. Herbst-Kralovetz joined the University of Arizona, College of Medicine-Phoenix in 2009 as Oncology Block/Course Director in the medical curriculum. Dr. Herbst-Kralovetz was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in the Departments of Basic Medical Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2016 and Director of the Women’s Health Microbiome Initiative at the College of Medicine-Phoenix in 2017.

The Herbst-Kralovetz lab is focused on understanding the microbiome and host-microbe interactions in the female reproductive tract as it relates to gynecologic and oncologic health outcomes. She has been funded by NIH NIAID and foundations including the Flinn Foundation, ARDF and most recently the Mary Kay Foundation to study cervical and endometrial cancer. Dr. Herbst-Kralovetz utilizes clinical specimens, animal models and an innovative 3-D bioreactor system to study human epithelial and innate immune responses to commensals, pathogens, and microbial products at this site. In addition, she has recently moved into other -omics technologies including immunoproteomics and metabolomics and has a long-standing interest in enhancing women’s health outcomes through translational research.

ANA FERNANDEZ

University of Arizona

Anafernandez@arizona.edu

Ana Fernandez is an upcoming junior at the University of Arizona, majoring in Medicine with a minor in Spanish. She was born in Tucson but grew up in Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, a small town about an hour away from the border. Her goal is to become a general surgeon and work for underserved areas, as she has experienced the lack of access to health services in her town.

Ana is also a peer leader educator for El Rio Reproductive Health Access Program (RHAP), which offers free reproductive services to young people. She is a voting member of the Youth Action Committee, providing strategies to prevent and end youth homelessness. Additionally, she serves as a consultant for the Youth Catalyst Team, a group of young leaders from across the country committed to using their knowledge, skills, insights, and lived experience to improve program practices and further mobilize the youth services field.

Through these programs, Ana has gained more interest in finding ways to support her community in fighting homelessness and other issues and the barriers that lead to it, while combining it with medicine and her skills in Spanish. She wants to continue advocating for young and underrepresented people to help reduce health disparities and make the system more accessible to everyone.

Aside from shadowing her internship mentor and a surgeon in Mexico, Ana volunteers at UAMobile Health Unit, Casa Alitas, and El Rio Food Distribution. In her free time, she enjoys going to Mexico, trying new food, and spending time with her family and friends. She is grateful for this incredible opportunity and thanks everyone involved for making it possible.

⊲ PROJECT

PRIMARY MUCINOUS ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE RENAL PELVIS: CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

The research project conducted was a case report and literature review of a very rare type of cancer that a patient presented. The project focuses on a 68-year-old female who presented a rare malignancy, known as primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis. Mucinous adenocarcinoma usually arises in the ovarian and colorectal regions. Primary renal adenocarcinoma of the pelvis is exceedingly rare, accounting for less than 1% of malignancies arising from the renal pelvis epithelium. The carcinogenesis behind primary renal adenocarcinoma is unknown. It carries a poor prognosis and there are no guidelines, recommendations, or evidence of active systemic cancer therapy effective for primary renal adenocarcinoma. By doing this research, newer cancer technologies could be utilized in order to best guide clinical recommendations and report them for future reference. Although, more studies on variant histology renal tumors are needed to provide more therapeutic insights into this rare disease.

ALEJANDR RECIO-BOILES

MD, FACP Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine

Areciomd@arizona.edu

Since early on my professional and personal career, I had the desire and strived to contribute to medical science and as a Hispanic physician-scientist, it has been my personal goal to reach out to underrepresented and underserved minority populations. Therefore, I have chosen a path that will closely serve them in highly prevalent areas such as Houston, Tx, Bronx, NY, and Tucson, Az. During all these years of preparation, I have acquired the experience, training, and expertise to successfully lead the proposed research project.

CHANTAL A. FIGUEROA

University of Arizona

Chantalf1@arizona.edu

Chantal A. Figueroa is a fourth-year student at the University of Arizona studying Neuroscience & Cognitive Science, with an emphasis in Cognition, and a double-major in Biochemistry. Chantal is a first generation college student from Douglas, Arizona, a rural border-town community. After completing her undergraduate degree, Chantal aims to apply to medical school in hopes of exploring different fields. She aspires to serve underrepresented communities in an effort to expand healthcare resources and help lessen disparities. In her free time, Chantal enjoys watching whatever the newest movie is out in theater, reading, and playing sports.

⊲ PROJECT

Markers of Ventricular Repolarization in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea as defined by i) polysomnography apnea/hypopnea index or respiratory disturbance index of at least 5/hour or ii) home sleep apnea test with a respiratory event index of at least 5/hour will be included. QT, QTc intervals and QT variability will also be reviewed from electrocardiograms as the primary outcomes in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea when compared to those without obstructive sleep apnea. QT variability can be calculated by many different methods as outlined by the European Heart Rhythm Association and the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology (reference below). All methods of measuring QT variability will be included in this review. If obstructive sleep apnea is associated with any other electrocardiographic changes for instance—QT dispersion, Tp-e etc. these will also be reviewed as secondary outcomes.

Baumert M, Porta A, Vos MA, Malik M, Couderc JP, Laguna P, Piccirillo G, Smith GL, Tereshchenko LG, Volders PGet al. QT interval variability in body surface ECG: measurement, physiological basis, and clinical value: position statement and consensus guidance endorsed by the European Heart Rhythm Association jointly with the ESC Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology. Europace. 2016 Jun;18(6):925-44. PMID: 26823389.

SALMA PATEL

MD, MPH Assistant Professor, Medicine Salmapatel@arizona.edu

Salma Patel is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Sleep Medicine. She received her Doctor of Medicine and Masters in Public Health degrees from the University of Arizona. She completed her Internal Medicine residency and Sleep Medicine Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Patel enjoys seeing patients and strongly ascribes to Dr. William Mayo’s philosophy “The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered” and is often caught repeating this quote at patients’ bedsides. She is an active educator and mentor for undergraduate students, graduate students, post-doctoral students, medical students, residents and fellows.

Dr. Patel believes strongly in interprofessional collaboration in healthcare and serves as the Medical Director for the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Arizona. She also serves as the Associate Program Director for the Sleep Medicine Fellowship and Core Faculty for the Internal Medicine Residency Program. She serves on several college committees at the University. Nationally, Dr. Patel writes board examination questions for the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) for Maintenance of Certification and Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment Examinations for physicians seeking certification. She has also been involved with writing clinical guidelines for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

Most of Dr. Patel’s contributions to science are in the area of Sleep Medicine, Cardiology, and Vascular Medicine. She studies cardiorespiratory interactions in obstructive sleep apnea. She enjoys collaborating with and supporting colleagues with their research as well. Her work is supported by grants from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and the University of Arizona Health Sciences. She gives numerous local and national presentations and has multiple publications in her area of expertise.

KARLA FONSECA PARDO

Arizona State University

Paolapark@arizona.edu

Karla Fonseca was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, to parents from Nayarit, Mexico. She is extremely proud of her culture, values, and experiences, which have been greatly influential in her life and her decision to pursue medicine. Karla is an arising senior at Arizona State University and is studying medical microbiology. After completing her undergraduate studies, Karla plans on attending the University of Arizona College of MedicinePhoenix and is interested in the specialties of oncology and family medicine. As a physician, Karla would like to work with minorities and members of underserved communities in Phoenix. She aims to reduce the language barrier between providers and patients and provide compassionate care.

Currently, Karla is an assistant TA for the microbiology labs at ASU and enjoys working with bacteria. She is also a medical scribe at an accident-related injury clinic. During her free time, Karla enjoys studying, cooking, and volunteering at her local soup kitchen and at the Mobile Health Clinic.

⊲ PROJECT Neuroblastoma Summary

Neuroblastoma is the most common form of extracranial tumor that arises from neural crest progenitor cells that form the sympathetic nervous system. This form of pediatric cancer can be classified into three categories: low risk, intermediate risk, and high risk. Patients with high-risk neuroblastoma have a worse prognosis and 5-year survival rate compared to low and intermediate risk patients. In high-risk neuroblastoma, the proto-oncogene MYCN is amplified, which drives cell proliferation and blocks differentiation. The standard treatments for patients with MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma such as chemotherapy and surgery are ineffective, and require more effective targeted treatments. The tumor suppressor gene Inhibitor of Growth 4 (ING4) has been shown to be mutated in neuroblastoma cell lines. The relationship between ING4 and MYCN in neuroblastoma is not yet clearly understood.

In this study, we will assess whether ING4 affects cell proliferation and morphology in the non-MYCN amplified neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-AS. Proliferation assays will be used to determine the proliferation rate of vector control PMIG cells and ING4-overexpressing cells. Changes in cell morphology will also be assessed based on cluster formation (number, size, and network projections). Understanding the relationship between MCYN and ING4 will allow us to develop better targeted treatments for patients exhibiting high-risk neuroblastoma and improve their prognoses.

SUWON KIM

PhD

Associate Professor, Basic Medical Sciences

Suwon@arizona.edu

Suwon Kim is an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona College of MedicinePhoenix and the Translational Genomics Research Institute. Dr. Kim obtained her undergraduate degree from University of California Berkeley and her PhD from Yale University School of Medicine. She completed her postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. J. Michael Bishop at University of California San Francisco. Dr. Kim’s research focuses on oncogenes and tumor suppressors that play a role in the emergence and therapy-resistant recurrence of breast cancer. One of her main projects is to characterize the ING4 tumor suppressor related to its functions in chromatin remodeling, transcriptional regulation, and tumor immune microenvironment modulation.

AIREN JAMES FORTUNADO

University of Arizona

Airenjf@arizona.edu

Airen Fortunato is a rising junior at the University of Arizona studying Neuroscience & Cognitive Science with minors in biochemistry and classics. Airen is a first-generation college student who was born in Chandler Arizona, before moving and being raised in Maricopa, Arizona. He is interested in pursuing a career as a physician scientist and seeks to combine his passion for science and medicine to help advance medical research and serve populations that are often disadvantaged and lack access to quality healthcare, particularly in those in rural areas like he grew up in. Airen enjoys hiking, reading, and playing guitar in his free time.

⊲ PROJECT

Efficacy of inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Polymerase Subunits

Description: The SARS-CoV-2 virus replicates itself in host cells using an RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). The RdRp of SARS-CoV-2 consists of 3 protein subunits that provide it functionality. The subunits are Nonstructural Proteins (NSP) 7, NSP8, and NSP12. When assembled, there are 2 NSP8 proteins, 1 NSP12 protein, and one NSP7 protein. Preventing the formation of SARS-CoV-2’s RdRp would be an effective mechanism of action for an antiviral treatment of COVID-19. Designing compounds that could inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp could then provide a novel form of treatment.

This project assesses an RdRp inhibitor and its efficacy in preventing the binding of NSP8 and NSP12, the proteins which possess the catalytic domains of RdRp. The RdRp inhibitor acts by binding to NSP12 and preventing the association of NSP8, thus preventing RNA replication. An ideal candidate for SARS-CoV-2 antiviral treatment will exhibit dose response behavior. Using protein-protein interaction assays, the efficacy of the RdRp inhibitor can be determined.

HONGMIN LI

PhD Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology

Hli1@pharmacy.arizona.edu

Hongmin Li, PhD, joined the College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona Tucson in 2020 from the Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health. During the last 20 years, my laboratory focuses on both basic and translational sciences. In basic science part, we investigate the structures, functions and mechanisms of essential macromolecules involved in various cellular actions and disease processes. The knowledge gained from these basic science studies leads to the second category, the drug discovery part where we develop novel biochemical and cellular assays for different drug targets, carry out high throughput screening (HTS) assays to identify novel target-based inhibitors, perform cellular antiviral/antifungal/anti-cancer assays, and conduct ADMET profiling and mouse model efficacy studies for lead compounds.

My laboratory has developed a research platform that integrates virology, mycology, bacteriology, RNA, biochemistry, structural biology, cellular biology, and in vivo animal model in the same lab. We also work closely with collaborators and colleagues in the aspects of medicinal chemistry, computational biology, immunology, cancer biology, and in vivo pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD).

The Li laboratory has been continuously funded by the NIH and various foundations since 2002. Currently, the main research focuses on development of therapeutics against cancers and human pathogens such as dengue virus, Zika virus, SARS-CoV-2, Cryptococcal fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Students and postdoctors joining in the lab will have opportunities to explore all areas in the Li laboratory, as stated above. We currently have multiple positions opening at all levels (undergraduate and graduate students, technician, and postdoc).

SOFIA GARBER

University of Arizona

Sofiagarber@arizona.edu

Sofia Garber is an upcoming senior at the University of Arizona Honors College majoring in Physiology and Medical Sciences with minors in Spanish and Biochemistry. She is very passionate about Mental Health and Health Disparities.Throughout her time at UA, Sofia has been involved with a Sleep Health Research Lab where she is studying the causes and the implications of how Sleep can impact not only one’s health, but also quality of life. In addition, Sofia has taken various classes studying Health Disparities and how to promote education and advocacy to establish equity and equality in healthcare. This summer, she has been working with Dr. Grandner and studying more in depth about sleep, specifically in minority groups, learning how different sleep schedules can affect cardiovascular health, mental health, and longevity

⊲ PROJECT Disparities in Bed and Wake Times in the US Population Associated with Typical Work Hours

This summer, Sofia did her research project with Dr. Grandner analyzes the relationship between different races and what time they will get in and out of bed when working various hours. The overall goal of this study is to examine disparities in circadian rhythms, with hopes to come up with culturally targeted interventions for sleep health.

MICHAEL GRANDNER

PhD, MTR, CBSM, FAASM Associate Professor, Medicine Grandner@arizona.edu

Michael Grandner is a licensed clinical psychologist, Director of the Sleep and Heath Research Program at the University of Arizona, and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic at the Banner-University Medical Center in Tucson, AZ. His work focuses on translational sleep research and Behavioral Sleep Medicine, including studies of sleep as a domain of health behavior and the development and implementation of behavioral interventions for insufficient sleep and sleep disorders. Specific areas of focus include:

(1) Downstream cardiovascular, metabolic, and behavioral health outcomes associated with habitual sleep duration and/or insufficient sleep, (2) Upstream social, behavioral, and biological determinants of habitual sleep duration, insufficient sleep, and poor sleep quality, and (3) Development and implementation of behavioral interventions for sleep as a domain of health behavior.

ANDREA GONZALEZ

University of Arizona

Andreagon26@arizona.edu

Andrea Gonzalez is a University of Arizona senior studying Neuroscience and Biochemistry. She was born in Dallas, Texas, but spent her childhood in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Her parents were born in and came from Mexico, and she is a first-generation student interested in applying to medical school after finishing her undergraduate studies. Andrea’s goal is to be an endocrinologist. She is especially interested in overcoming linguistic and cultural obstacles in healthcare and serving Arizona’s underprivileged, non-English speaking Hispanic community.

⊲ PROJECT

Breastfeeding Outcomes Among Women With and With out Opioid Use Disorder: Racial and Ethnic Disparities

Breastfeeding is widely recognized as a vital component of early infant health, providing numerous benefits such as optimal nutrition and enhanced bonding. However, women facing opioid use disorder (OUD) experience unique challenges in breastfeeding initiation and duration. Furthermore, healthcare disparities based on race and ethnicity have been well-documented, raising concerns about equitable maternal and infant health outcomes.

In response to these critical issues, our research project was initiated with the primary aim of investigating breastfeeding outcomes among women with OUD from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. By shedding light on potential disparities and identifying contributing factors, we sought to make a positive impact on the lives of mothers and infants affected by OUD.

ALICIA ALLEN

PhD, MPH

Associate Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences

Aliciaallen@arizona.edu

Alicia Allen, PhD, MPH, 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 evaluating causality. She has conducted randomized clinical trials, controlled cross-over trials, and cross-sectional online surveys, as well as analyzed data from large epidemiological datasets.

Dr. Allen’s current research focuses on topics that occur in the intersection between substance misuse (e.g., nicotine/tobacco, cannabis, opioids) and women’s health (e.g., pregnancy, postpartum, hormonal contraceptive use). Alicia has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, ClearWay Minnesota, and University of Arizona. She has published over 45 peer-reviewed manuscripts to-date, primarily with Addictive Behaviors, Nicotine and Tobacco Research, Addiction, and Journal of Addiction Medicine. She is an associate editor with Nicotine Tobacco Research (NTR), the clinical director with Society for Research on Nicotine Tobacco University (SRNT-U), and co-director of the Resident Scholarly Project Program (RSPP). In 2020, Dr. Allen received the prestigious National Institutes of Health’ New Innovator Award to explore how postpartum hormones influence relapse to opioids.

MIRACLE HALL

Arizona State University

Miracleh@arizona.edu

Miracle Hall is from Memphis,TN and moved to Arizona the summer of 2022. Since moving here for internship at Tgen she has switched to in person and started to make Arizona her new home. She is an upcoming senior at Arizona State University majoring in neuroscience. After graduating in spring 2024 she plans on obtaining a post bacc degree and attending medical school. Through working as a behavioral health technician she has realized how underserved inmates and the homeless population is in healthcare. Her goal to serve underrepresented minorities, the homeless population, and veterans. Currently she is working as a patient care tech at a rehabilitation hospital and as a research associate at Arizona State University.

⊲ PROJECT

Diving into the etiology and ongoing symptoms of long Covid (PASC)

Diving into Long Covid-19 Etiology and Symptoms is a project based on a literature review. In doing this literature review the goal is to come across similarities between the studies. These similarities can help understand the etiology of long covid, common symptoms, and future treatments. In December 2019 Covid-19 took the world by storm and uprooted most of our lives. Even after being initially infected prolonged symptoms might last for weeks even months later. Symptoms can worsen a person’s quality of life and may even cause death depending on the severity. The question is what makes people susceptible to getting long covid, where it comes from, and how can it be treated. MY PI has a few wonderful experiments that incorporate real-life hospitalized patients and the lab and this could make an impact on them.

KAREN LUTRICK

PhD, MS

Associate Professor, Family and Community Medicine

Klutrick@arizona.edu

Karen Lutrick is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the University of Arizona. Her research interests focus on disaster medicine research, research operations, health disparities, dissemination and implementation science. She is also the Director of the National Foundation of Emergency Medicine, supporting Emergency Medicine physicians in developing translational research skills throughout the US.

BREANNE HARVEY

University of Arizona, BS Bharvey00@arizona.edu

Yá’át’ééh, my name is Breanne Harvey, and I’m a recent graduate with my B.S. in Public Health and an emphasis on Health Promotion here at the University of Arizona. I was able to obtain a Tribal Law certificate as well. My home is on the Navajo Nation, located in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, but I had moved to Sahuarita, AZ for high school.

My passions lie in the betterment and growth for marginalized communities. I aspire to attend the James E. Rogers College of Law here at the University of Arizona to receive a dual degree with a J.D. and an MPH to combine my passions for public health and be able to be a voice for those impacted by our system.

⊲ PROJECT An Indigenous Data Governance Approach For Enhancing Ethical Research Policies And Practices

Under Dr. Stephanie Russo Carroll, and along with Ibrahim Garba and Adam Fernández, the NSF ER2 funded project: An Indigenous Data Governance Approach for Enhancing Ethical Research Policies and Practice aims to address historical barriers that hinder effective and ethical intercultural knowledge exchange in contexts of open science, open data, and data sharing. To do so the project strives to apply an innovative Indigenous data governance framework to review institutional norms and practices that promote or inhibit ethical design, outcomes, and approaches across the STEM research landscape. Research activities will include a comparative document analysis, an institutional analysis, expert and community engagement, and resource development and dissemination.

STEPHANIE RUSSO CARROLL

DrPH, MPH Assistant Professor, Public Health and American Indian Studies Graduate Program

Stephaniecarroll@arizona.edu

Stephanie Russo Carroll is Dene/Ahtna, a citizen of the Native Village of Kluti-Kaah in Alaska, and of Sicilian-descent. Based at the University of Arizona (UA), she is Assistant Professor, Community, Environment and Policy Department at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) and American Indian Studies Graduate Interdisciplinary Program; Affiliate Faculty, College of Law; Acting Director and Assistant Research Professor, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy; Associate Director, Native Nations Institute (NNI) at the Udall Center; and Director, Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance.

Stephanie’s research explores the links between Indigenous governance, data, the environment, and community wellness. Her interdisciplinary lab group the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance Research, develops research, policy, and practice innovations for Indigenous data sovereignty. Indigenous data sovereignty draws on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that reaffirms the rights of Indigenous nations to control data about their peoples, lands, and resources. The lab’s research, teaching, and engagement seek to transform institutional governance and ethics for Indigenous control of Indigenous data, particularly within open science, open data, and big data contexts. The lab primarily collaborates with Indigenous Peoples and nations in the US Southwest and the Arctic, as well an international network of Indigenous data sovereignty and governance experts. Lab members also often partner with communities to which they belong, including Indigenous communities. Stephanie offers Indigenous women-led mentoring of undergraduate through pos doctoral scholars and research staff with the goal of producing policy-relevant research through skill and knowledge acquisition. The lab’s disciplinary breadth includes public health, law, business, geography, sociology, social work, public policy, and environmental and climate sciences.

Stephanie co-edited the book Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Policy and led the publication of the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance. Stephanie co-founded the US Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network and co-founded and chairs the Global Indigenous Data Alliance (GIDA) and the International Indigenous Data Sovereignty Interest Group at the Research Data Alliance. She Chairs the Indigenous Data Working Group for the IEEE P2890 Recommended Practice for Provenance of Indigenous Peoples’ Data. Stephanie is an ENRICH: Equity for Indigenous Research and Innovation Coordinating Hub Global Chair. Stephanie was also a founding member of the UAs American Indian and Indigenous Health Alliance Club at MEZCOPH and the UA Native Faculty, working to support the recruitment and retention of Indigenous students and faculty at the UA. Stephanie is a founding board member for the Copper River Tribal College in Chitina, Alaska. Stephanie received her AB from Cornell University and MPH and DrPH from MEZCOPH.

KATHRYN HURST

University of Arizona

Kathrynhurst@arizona.edu

Kathryn Hurst is an incoming Senior majoring in Public Health with an emphasis in Quantitative Methods and minoring in Molecular Cellular Biology and Chemistry. She is a first-generation college student who is working towards attending medical school. After medical school, she hopes to continue her career in primary care or emergency medicine. She wants to continue to use her education in public health while working in the medical field by focusing on patient advocacy. In her free time, Kathryn enjoys reading and exploring outdoors Tucson has to offer.

⊲ PROJECT

This project investigates the risk factors that can lead to pneumonia, a very common infectious disease that affects the lungs. Using longitudinal data for adults collected through the Tucson Epidemiological Study of Airway Obstructive Disease (TESAOD), FEV1/FVC scores, age, sex, BMI, and smoking status was collected. Through review of death records up to the year 2021, cause of death for participants, if applicable, was recorded. In addition, lung function patterns for participants were defined as normal, restrictive, and obstructive. Using mortality data and lung function categories for each group, an unadjusted odds ratio table was created to compare pneumonia mortality and mortality by other causes. A Kaplan-Meier’s unadjusted survival analysis was performed for the participant population to measure the association between lung function and pneumonia mortality. A Cox regression survival analysis, that was adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and smoking status, was performed for the participant population to assess the significance of the hazard ratio for each lung function category. Using the described tests for the population, data was analyzed to determine if restrictive lung function is a risk factor for pneumonia mortality.

STEFANO GUERRA

MD, PhD, MPH Professor, Medicine

Stefano@arizona.edu

Stefano Guerra, is a professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson and the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department at the UArizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, director of the Population Science Unit at the Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, and a leading expert in the natural history and biomarkers of obstructive lung diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He also is a member of the UArizona BIO5 Institute.

As principal investigator, he is engaged in the leadership and coordination of multiple studies that use bio-specimens and phenotypic information from independent epidemiological cohorts to characterize the natural history, profile the risk factors, and identify novel biomarkers of lung diseases.

Dr. Guerra’s work includes an epidemiologic study, which used a household-based approach to assess prevalence and longitudinal changes in respiratory health. Other biomarker projects include a study on molecular biomarkers of asthma and COPD from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

Jacob Lasher is a dedicated individual with a diverse range of experiences and interests. He is a junior at the University of Arizona majoring in Physiology with minors in health and human values as well as biochemistry. He holds a Phlebotomy Licensure and has actively volunteered at organizations such as Gospel Rescue Mission, leading groups to serve the community. Jacob also initiated street runs to provide donations to the homeless population and organized The Giving Back Packs Community Service Project. He has worked as a Phlebotomist at Sonora Quest Laboratories and gained experience in patient care. Additionally, Jacob has been involved in various school clubs and enjoys activities like weightlifting, intramural sports, hiking, and traveling. Jacob is also currently involved in research focused on studying glucose uptake within a cell and how it relates to type two diabetes. His main goal is to enter medical school.

During Jacob Lasher’s internship, he contributes to a study investigating the threshold for classifying abnormal dilations as aneurysms based on size. By analyzing a large dataset and using statistical methods, Jacob aims to provide insights into aneurysm classification and appropriate diagnostic thresholds. Additionally, he shadows an experienced endovascular surgeon, gaining firsthand knowledge of aortic thrombus colonization and abdominal aneurysms. This practical experience allows him to observe procedures, study patient cases, and deepen his understanding. By combining theoretical analysis with real-world observations, Jacob seeks to enhance his comprehension and make valuable contributions to the research project, ultimately improving diagnosis and treatment approaches in this field.

⊲ PROJECT

The primary goal of the research project was to investigate the prevalence of bacterial colonization in AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm) disease by conducting a comprehensive analysis of various academic research articles. The study aimed to identify patterns and trends related to bacterial colonization within AAA, considering varying socioeconomic factors that might influence its occurrence. By synthesizing data from different sources, the research aimed to provide valuable insights into the relationship between AAA and bacterial colonization, contributing to a better understanding of the disease’s pathogenesis and potential risk factors associated with varying socioeconomic statuses.

MELISSA D’ANDREA

MD Resident/Fellow

Melissa.dandrea@arizona.edu

Melissa Marie D’Andrea, is a third-year resident in the integrated vascular surgery residency program at the University of Arizona-Tucson College of Medicine. She did her medical school training at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

Her specialty involves taking care of patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia, aortic aneurysms, dialysis access problems, venous insufficiency, and the broad range of vascular disease. Her research over the years has consisted of the following topics: reducing health disparities in patients with peripheral arterial disease, comorbid depression effect on amputation outcomes, predictors of long-term mortality after AAA repair, statin and antiplatelet compliance in patients who underwent major vascular surgery, ultrasound criteria in renal artery stenosis of transplant patients, and blunt cerebrovascular injury outcomes. She also dedicates some of her time to the GME Spanish Language/Healthcare Disparities Distinction Track offered by the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ODEI).

JONATHAN LUGO

University of Arizona

Jonathanlugo@arizona.edu

Jonathan, also goes by Jonny, was born in a small town called Castro Valley in the Bay Area of California. He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona where he got to experience underserved populations at a young age. Jonathan is a current Junior at the University of Arizona majoring in both Physiology and Nutritional Sciences with a minor in Pharmaceutical Sciences. He spends his time volunteering in Puerto Penasco under MexZona to provide care for those underserved populations, helps manage risk under Delta Chi fraternity and working at a pharmacy. Jonathan is passionate about giving back to the less fortunate and bringing smiles to patients he interacts with. He hopes to one day become a Doctor and work in an emergency department. Jonathan wants to be able to gain the knowledge of medicine to be able to one day open a clinic in his community in Mexico.

⊲ PROJECT Health Disparities in a Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic

Jonathan’s project was a survey on health disparities on the eastern side of Tucson in Banner Health Children’s Pulmonary Center. The survey was based on limitations and demographics that could be involved in asthma control within pediatric patients. Asthma incident rates are higher when patients fall into the categories of lower income households and minority groups. This project evaluates the effects that financial status and demographics have on asthma control to the same known variables that affect incident rates. The data will show if financial status and demographics affect the control of asthma in pediatric patients after the first asthmatic incident.

CORI DAINES

MD

Professor, Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine

Cdaines@arizona.edu

Cori Daines is a Professor of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona and division chief of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine. Dr. Daines received her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and her medical degree from St. Louis University. She completed her residency in Pediatrics at St. Louis University/Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and her fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at the University of North Carolina. She was faculty at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital prior to coming to Tucson in 2007. She serves on several national committees for the American Thoracic Society and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Dr. Daines has broad-ranging interests in Pediatric Pulmonology, serving in Tucson as the CF Center Director, Director of the Pediatric Flexible Bronchoscopy Program, Director of the Home Tracheostomy and Ventilator Program, Director of the Pulmonary Neuromuscular Program, Director of our Children with Special Needs Program, Director of Pediatric Respiratory Care for the University of Arizona Hospital, and the pulmonary member of the Pediatric Aerodigestive Program. She also has been involved in Banner’s Advanced Leadership for Physician’s Program and serves on the Operations Committee for Banner University Medical Group.

Dr. Daines’ research interests have focused on clinical and translational research in cystic fibrosis as well as quality improvement research with cystic fibrosis. She currently directs the Tucson Therapeutics Development Center of the CFF to lead clinical research, directs Tucson’s participation in the CFF Success with Therapies Research Consortium, sits on the CFF North American Conference Planning Committee and serves as a Coach for the CFF TDN’s eQUIP-CR quality improvement in CF clinical research program. She also serves on the board of the Southern Arizona’s Chapter for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

STEPHANY MALDONADO

University of Arizona

Smaldonado@arizona.edu

Stephany Ruby Maldonado was born in Tucson, Arizona; but was raised in Banamichi, a small rural town in Sonora, Mexico. She is majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Spanish at the University of Arizona and expects to graduate in December of 2023. After graduation Stephany plans to attend medical school, she aspires to become a gynecologist and work with rural underserved communities in Arizona and Sonora. Stephany currently volunteers in Clinica Amistad, which serves the underrepresented and uninsured community of Tucson. In addition, she also volunteers as a Spanish interpreter with Mexzona in their Rocky Point and Sonoyta clinics. She has been a research assistant in the Margolis Orthopedic Surgery Lab since May of 2021 and has had the opportunity to present her projects in various research conferences. This summer she had the opportunity to work with Dr. Holly Bullock for her research project and also shadow her in clinic. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and going back home, to Banamichi.

⊲ PROJECT

Pharmacy Access to Ulipristal Acetate in Tucson.

This summer Stephany had the opportunity to work with Dr. Holly Bullock in a project that assessed the accessibility of Ulipristal Acetate (UPA), an emergency contraceptive pill (ECP), in retail pharmacies across Tucson. This was an observational population-based study using a secret shopper/simulated patient methodology contacting Tucson retail pharmacies by telephone. A standardized script was developed to inquire about filling a UPA prescription and after the call a questionnaire based upon the telephone encounter was completed.

HOLLY BULLOCK MD, MPH

Associate Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hbullock@arizona.edu

Hailing from North Carolina, Dr. Holly Bullock (she/her/hers) completed a Master of Public Health at Boston University before returning home for medical school at East Carolina University. She left the mainland for OBGYN residency at University of Hawaii and crossed the pacific again for a Complex Family Planning Fellowship at University of Utah. She is double boarded in OBGYN and Complex Family Planning and is an Associate Professor in the Department of OBGYN at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson. In the department she serves as Director of the Ryan Residency Program in Family Planning, Director of OBGYN Resident Research and is Co-Director of the OBGYN Clerkship.

Research interests include: emergency contraception, improving access to permanent contraception methods, health care systems improvement, and medical education.

ABIGAIL MARTINEZ

University of Arizona

Abigailjmartinez@arizona.edu

Abigail Martinez is an incoming junior at the University of Arizona, majoring in Biology with a biomedical science emphasis and minors in Spanish and biochemistry. She hopes to graduate in 2025 and attend medical school to become a pediatrician. Abigail is a first-generation Mexican-American student born in Tucson, AZ.

She is interested in research and especially enjoys being a mentor for the Research Associates Program at the UofA. Additionally, she volunteers at NETlab, focusing on different forms of memory and its ties as predictors for Alzheimer’s. Abigail is also interested in health disparities relating to language barriers in the Hispanic community. She volunteers at Clinica Amistad and also at El Rio, where she participates in medical translation in Spanish for this specific patient population. She is also interested in mental health issues for the Hispanic population and is a CAPS peer counselor who holds support groups for Hispanic/bilingual students at the university.

In her free time, Abigail enjoys baking and spending time with family, as well as teaching Sunday school classes.

⊲ PROJECT

Breastfeeding support among mothers with opioid use disorder and its association with perceptions of breastfeeding reward and challenge.

The prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) among pregnant women in the US has increased 600% over the past 2 decades. Prenatal exposure to opioids can result in withdrawal symptoms and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Breastfeeding benefits mothers with OUD and reduces NAS severity as methadone and buprenorphine are transferred through breast milk. Given the advantages for the physical and emotional development of the newborn, as well as protective effects for the mother, breastfeeding is recommended for mothers receiving opioid maintenance medication, according to several professional and governmental organizations.

However, due to worries about opioid toxicity in babies, breastfeeding is frequently discouraged for moms with OUD. Despite evidence that breastfeeding can improve infant health and mother-infant attachment, common barriers to breastfeeding among mothers with OUD persist, including lack of support, stigma, and dissemination of inaccurate information.

This research focuses on lack of support as a barrier to breastfeeding, and the hypothesis is that mothers with OUD receiving professional and/or familial social support to breastfeed will report higher levels of perceived reward and lower levels of perceived challenge with early breastfeeding. On the other hand, those discouraged with no support will perceive higher levels of challenge and lower levels of reward.

LINNEA LINDE-KRIEGER

PhD, LCSW

Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine

Llkrieger@arizona.edu

Linde-Krieger is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Family and Community Medicine working with PI Dr. Alicia Allen. Dr. Linde-Krieger received her PhD in developmental psychology from the University of California, Riverside in 2021, and also holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. The overall goal of her research is to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families from underserved communities through the identification and promotion of resilience factors. In particular, Dr. Linde-Krieger examines how caregiver risk (e.g., substance misuse, history of trauma) and caregiving features (e.g., caregiver behavior, physiology) influence family processes and perpetuate or prevent negative intergenerational patterns (e.g., cycles of substance misuse, family violence). Dr. LindeKrieger has advanced training in longitudinal data analysis, including both quantitative and qualitative methods. She is interested in the development of new statistical methods to examine time-varying and bidirectional influences on dyadic caregiver-child relationships.

KIMBERLY MEDINA RIOS

Arizona State University

Kmedinarios@arizona.edu

Kimberly Medina Rios, born in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, is a dedicated first-generation honors student at Arizona State University. She is currently in her fourth year of studying Biological Sciences and Global Health. Having observed the impact of limited healthcare access on her hometown community, Kimberly has developed a passion for addressing health disparities in underrepresented populations. She actively participates in multiple community projects in Maryvale, Arizona, a predominantly Hispanic village.

As a College Peer Advisor for Arizona State University, Kimberly actively engages with high school students in Maryvale, Arizona, guiding them in the development of professional skills and empowering them to lead a community youth project. Additionally, she remains dedicated to an ongoing research initiative called “Photovoice,” utilizing visual media, podcasts, and public speaking to amplify the voices of youth on critical social issues prevalent in her community. These issues encompass health disparities, colorism, and the concept of “machismo” in the Hispanic community.

Kimberly’s future plans involve pursuing a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies upon graduation, with the goal of making a meaningful contribution to healthcare.

⊲ PROJECT

A survey of barriers to transitional care for the uninsured in Phoenix, Arizona.

Kimberly Medina Rios conducted the FRONTERA/BLASIER Internship research project under the guidance and mentorship of Kareem Raad, MD, MPH. The project aimed to thoroughly investigate the follow-up appointment process at primary care clinics in West Phoenix, with a specific focus on understanding the challenges faced by uninsured patients when scheduling follow-up appointments after leaving the hospital.

The research involved conducting informative phone interviews with local primary care clinics, particularly during the crucial “transitional care” period immediately following hospital discharge. To ensure consistent and reliable data collection, a structured phone script was used during the interviews. Key areas explored included the financial impact on patients, the availability of appointments shortly after hospitalization, and any prioritization systems in place for hospital follow-ups.

KAREEM RAAD

MD, MPH

Assistant Clinical Professor, Family and Community Medicine

Kareemraad@arizona.edu

Kareem Raad, is an Assistant Clinical Professor, Director of the Community Health Initiative, Phoenix and Assistant Director of the Service Learning Certificate of Distinction at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix in the department of Family and Community Medicine. He also works as both a hospitalist at a community hospital in West Phoenix and as a primary care physician at a Federally Qualified Health Center in South Phoenix.

He completed his residency training at the Abrazo Health Network Family Medicine Residency, a master of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, and medical school at the Lebanese American University School of Medicine in Beirut, Lebanon.

Through this work he has had the opportunity to volunteer alongside medical students at various community programs. His research interests have previously centered around the intersection of social determinants of health, quality improvement, and medical education, as well as the topic of medical calling.

JEFFREY LEE MOSQUEIRA

University of Arizona

Jmosquiera@arizona.edu

Jeffrey Lee Mosqueira is an up-and-coming senior at the University of Arizona majoring in Physiology with an Emphasis in Medical Sciences and is seeking a minor in Biochemistry and Leadership Studies & Practice. Jeffrey was born in Tucson but was raised in Tokyo, Japan, Hermosillo, Mexico, and currently Tucson. He plans on applying to medical school in the summer of 2024. He is interested in assisting people around the world by working with Doctors Without Borders and pursuing an MD/MPH to understand the health disparities prominent around the globe. Since a young age, Jeffrey has been interested in medicine. He always assisted anyone who got hurt in the playground. His grandfather, an excellent anesthesiologist in Mexico, allowed him to experience healthcare at a young age. Jeffrey is currently the co-president of the Global Medical Brigades chapter at the University of Arizona. The chapter works with five countries worldwide to host clinics in medically underserved communities. He recently attended a brigade in Honduras, where he stayed a week with fellow members of the chapter, building eco-stoves, shadowing Doctors, triaging patients, and presenting an interactive workshop with adults and children. During his leisure time, Jeffrey likes to indulge in activities such as listening to music, swimming, and watching sports.

⊲ PROJECT

Characterization of Low-Density Lipoproteins Subclasses in Plasma Using Orbitrap Charge Detection Mass Spectrometry

Lipoproteins are known biomolecules that facilitate triglycerides and cholesterol transport. High levels of specific LDL subclasses are positively correlated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). When being tested for cholesterol levels in someone’s bloodstream, about five subclasses of LDL are identified to measure this; This all depends on the characterization of LDL subclasses. Usually, a high cholesterol level could lead to atherosclerosis, plaque buildup in your arteries, leading to a more severe CVD. Reports show that these plaque buildups still occur even when cholesterol levels are low. By classifying LDL subclasses using Mass Spectrometry, we might be able to identify different subclasses of LDL that cause plaque buildup to occur even in low quantities. Charge Detection Mass Spectrum has only been done once; therefore, this project will delve into a new field of biochemistry.

MICHAEL MARTY PhD

Associate Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Mtmarty@arizona.edu

Michael Marty, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at The University of Arizona. Dr. Marty earned his B.A. in chemistry and mathematics at St. Olaf College in 2010, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He completed his Ph.D. in chemistry as a Springborn Fellow at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2013 followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford until joining the faculty in 2016. He has been awarded the ASMS Research Award, the Bisgrove Scholar Award, and the NIH MIRA award. His research applies lipoprotein nanodiscs with mass spectrometry to study membrane proteins, antimicrobial peptides, and their interactions with lipid bilayers.

Prof. Marty’s research centers on developing new technologies to study interactions at biological membranes, with a special focus on combining lipoprotein nanodiscs and native mass spectrometry. One aspect of his research focuses on characterizing membrane protein-protein and membrane protein-lipid interactions. Membrane proteins are important drug targets, and the Marty lab seeks to understand how lipids influence membrane proteins important in cancer. The second aspect of Prof. Marty’s research focuses on assembly of antimicrobial peptide complexes, which also show anticancer activity. By characterizing the biophysics of peptide interactions with and within lipid bilayers, they seek to shed light on the mechanisms of anticancer peptide toxicity and selectivity.

AMY NORIEGA PINEDA

Arizona State University

Amyn1@arizona.edu

Amy Noriega Pineda is an aspiring sophomore majoring in Psychology at Arizona State University. She plans to graduate in 2026 with both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Psychology. With hopes of completing a Ph.D. program in order to become an expert in the field of psychological practices, she aims to enlighten others with the knowledge her research findings bring.

As a first-generation Latina student, born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, she hopes to positively impact the lives of those in the community she lives in. As part of this internship, she has expressed her gratitude and appreciation towards those who have handed her the knowledge and resources to gain experience in the fields she so hopes to be a part of.

In an effort to get deeper connections into the Hispanic/Latino community, she currently serves as the President for the Hispanic Honor Society on the Arizona State University West Campus, in hopes to grow connections to impact others.

⊲ PROJECT

Recurrent Deficiencies in Immigration Detention Centers: The Impact on Traumatized Women with Children Seeking Asylum.

Many asylum seekers in the US are made up of women and children. This underrepresented and continuously growing population faces several humanitarian violations in the place they come to seek relief. These individuals who have often been submitted under immense amounts of emotional distress are met with unknown, unforgiving and unwelcoming environments. Environments in which they are left to fend for themselves. Immigration detention centers often simulate prison facilities and retraumatize these asylum seekers searching for a chance of immigration detention centers that hinder these individuals’ right to seeking asylum and negatively fuel their state. In hopes of raising awareness to the scarce research and initiatives sought to help this vulnerable population, research with current understandings of these dynamics was heavily relied on to draft a proposal to help these individuals.

NOSHENE RANJBAR

MD

Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry

Noshene@arizona.edu

Noshene Ranjbar is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Integrative Psychiatry Clinic at Banner - UMC South. She also serves as the Training Director for the Integrative Psychiatry Fellowship.

Dr. Ranjbar’s interests include integrative psychiatry, health disparities with a focus on Native American and immigrant mental health, and mind-body medicine.

Dr. Ranjbar is involved in advocacy for refugees seeking asylum to the United States. She also serves as faculty at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine where she is involved in building health promotion programs within Native communities.

TRINH NGUYEN

Arizona

Trinhn05392@arizona.edu

Trinh Nguyen, is a first generation college student attending Arizona State University majoring in Biological Science with a Biomedical concentration. She was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, and moved to the states in 2013 in pursuit of a better education and livelihood for her family. Her background results in her interest in social determinants of health, mental health, and health disparities among immigrants and her career in the medical field. Currently, Trinh is working as a teaching assistant for organic chemistry labs, assisting students in the same major. She is also volunteering virtually as a crisis counselor at Crisis Text Line, a non-profit organization that provides mental health text service through confidential crisis intervention via SMS message. After undergraduate school, she plans to either pursue medical school or a master degree in healthcare administration. Her overall goal is to spread further mental health awareness among the immigrant population and lessening the healthcare disparities through culturally competent approaches tailored to optimize strategies in management and prevention of leading causes of death among rapidly growing ethnic populations.

⊲ PROJECT Prevalence of Insurance as a Social Determinant of Hispanics Cardiovascular Health in Maricopa County

According to the United States Census Bureau, 32.5% of Arizona population comes from a Hispanic origin with Maricopa County consist of 31% among their residents. In comparison with other counties, Maricopa is ranked the 6th highest with no health insurance (10.6%). In general, the Hispanic population have a higher death rate for diabetes, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis compared to their white counterpart. It is also found that 41.5% of Hispanics lacked health insurance, hence, the delay in their needed medical care due to cost concerns. With the leading causes of death among Arizona residents as disease of the heart, it is imperative to understand the social and physical determinants of health unique to this community. Social determinants such as lack of access to health services, presence of cultural and socioeconomic barriers such as language, unemployment, low income, and lack of insurance were identified for the Hispanics community. To address such problems, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the US Mexico Border Health Commission launched mobile health units to improve health promotion and educational services for underserved and underinsured Hispanics/ Latino residents across Maricopa County. The unit provide free preventive health screening assessments for individuals that normally would not seek medical attentions, referrals to federally qualified health centers, health education and pharmacy benefit saving program resources. The unit also provides additional services such as HIV/Hep-C screening, skin cancer screening and flu vaccination through adulated healthcare partners when available. Through working with these mobile health units, data was obtained in order to see the prevalence of cardiovascular health in the uninsured. Hispanics population in order to demonstrate that the lack of affordable insurance is one of the major factors that affect the delay in their needed medical care and its preventative measures.

SHEILA SOTO

DrPH Assistant Research Professor, Public Health Ssoto2@arizona.edu

Sheila Soto, is an Assistant Research Professor and the Director of the Community Engagement and Outreach Programs (CEO) at the University of Arizona, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Department of Public Health Practice, Policy, and Translational Research.

Dr. Soto completed her MPH and DrPH at the University of Arizona with a concentration in Public Health Policy and Management. Her dissertation focused on the health status of farmworkers at a national, state, and local level. She incorporated secondary data analysis using national datasets, completed a systematized literature review, and a preliminary research study with farmworkers working in Yuma and Cochise County. For her MPH placement, she worked with SEAHEC and established a health-focused manual and handbook for community health workers living in Winchester Heights, Arizona.

Dr. Soto’s research addresses health disparities among disadvantaged populations, including immigrants, farmworkers, and rural and border communities. She has a background in community health with specific training in community-based participatory research and mixed methods. The CEO model consists of community health workers (CHWs) and interprofessional health science students who provide various services throughout Arizona. The Primary Prevention Mobile Health Units (MHUs) and Ventanillas de Salud in Phoenix and Douglas (VDS) aim to reduce the number of individuals who rely on the emergency room as their primary form of health care by establishing routing care in local clinics. Street Medicine Phoenix (SMP) is a student-run program that focuses on providing services and care to the unsheltered population in Phoenix. All these programs provide basic health screenings, HIV testing, referrals to designated services for linkage to care, and access to PREP or PEP, among other direct services.

ROTIMI ODENEYE

University of Arizona

Rotimiodeneye@arizona.edu

Rotimi Odeneye was born in Lagos Nigeria but grew up in Phoenix Arizona before deciding to attend the University of Arizona in the Fall of 2020. Rotimi is a rising senior at the University of Arizona majoring in physiology and medical sciences and a double minor in Biochemistry and Emergency Medical Services. After graduation, Rotimi plans on taking a gap year to gain more experience in the medical field before ultimately applying to medical school. Rotimi’s interest are both surgery and internal medicine, with those juxtaposing specialties being in gastroenterology and orthopedic surgery. Rotimi is the President of Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS) at the University of Arizona which aims to provide guidance for underrepresented students in medicine, works as an Emergency Medical Technician for the University of Arizona EMS, and works as a researcher in the department of Endocrinology in the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona. One of many medical aspirations that Rotimi has is to start up a free clinic to provide care to underserved populations and work towards reducing health disparities. One certain health disparity that is often overlooked is a potential language barrier a provider may have with their patient. Through volunteering at Clinica Amistad, Rotimi has been continually improving his Spanish with an overall goal to comfortably communicate with patients in both English and Spanish.

⊲ PROJECT

Differences of certain proteins post-differentiation in myotubes as compared to myoblast that govern insulin signaling

As part of the Langlais Lab in the College of Medicine, Rotimi’s research is focused on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, specifically exploring the proteins involved in this process. Insulin signaling triggers glucose uptake by employing various proteins in the body. One such protein, called microtubule-associated protein CLASP2, has been identified as aiding in the translocation of GLUT-4 to the plasma membrane. GLUT-4 is responsible for glucose uptake in response to insulin. The objective of my thesis is to contribute to the identification of specific proteins that play a role in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. I will investigate the contrasting roles of myotubes and myoblasts in this process, as myotubes are known to participate in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake while myoblasts do not. By comparing the protein profiles of myotubes and myoblasts, I hope to uncover the specific proteins responsible for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in myotubes. This research will contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying glucose uptake and may have implications for the development of novel therapeutic interventions targeting insulin resistance and diabetes. Please let Rotimi know of any questions you may have and would also like to thank you for your time.

PAUL LANGLAIS PhD Associate Professor, Medicine Langlais@arizona.edu

I was born French Canadian, in Montreal to be exact, in 1975. My family moved to San Antonio in ‘78, so I grew up in the good old Texas public school system while spending my summers as a kid back in Quebec (which I still do when I can). I graduated from Texas Tech University in 1997 and realized that I liked Cell Biology, so I got lucky and ended up as a Research Assistant in an insulin signalling lab that Fall, all of which led me to a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. I met my boss, Larry Mandarino, PhD, when he interviewed me for grad school and we both left UTHSCSA for Arizona State University together in 2005, him as the Chair of Kinesiology (a department that later went bye-bye), me as a Post-Doctoral Fellow. Spent too long there before taking an Assistant Professor position at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2012. Realized pretty quickly that Mayo held no future for me, so we all ended up at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson in the Fall of 2016, which turned out to be where we should have started in Arizona in the first place. Love the UA, so good to be back at a health science center and an institution that has a passion for basic biomedical research.

MIGUEL ANGEL PEREZ

University of Arizona

Migangper@arizona.edu

Miguel Angel Perez is a rising junior majoring in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a minor in Japanese Language and is a National Hispanic Scholar. Despite being born in Phoenix, Miguel was raised in Maricopa, Arizona.

By enrolling and studying at the University of Arizona, Miguel is a first-generation student. While his next step is going to medical school, Miguel’s career goals include serving underserved communities similar to that he grew up in. His personal interests include volunteering at shelters for unhoused individuals, pharmacology, toxicology, and creating connections through language such as English, Spanish, and Japanese. Outside of school, Miguel enjoys going to arcades, strength training, and watching movies.

⊲ PROJECT Synthesis of Intermediate Compounds for Novel SARS-CoV-2 PLpro Inhibitors

The catalytic activities of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro and PLpro are essential for viral replication. PLpro also supports viral replication beyond the role of viral polyprotein processing by disrupting the host innate immune response. Thus, targeting PLpro is an attractive strategy to treat SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, unlike the rapid development of 3CLpro inhibitors (Paxlovid), drug discovery at PLpro has been challenging due to the restricted P1 and P2 sites with glycine recognition that limits the druggable interactions to design potent PLpro inhibitors. Research led to novel, noncovalent PLpro inhibitors being successfully developed by leveraging cooperativity of multiple shallowing binding sites on PLpro’s surface.

The immediate goal of this project is to synthesize the intermediate compounds necessary for optimization of PLpro inhibitors. Steps towards optimization during intermediate stages includes utilization of various molecular scaffolds and strategic addition and removal of functional groups. Current efforts are focused on creating PLpro inhibitors that will form a covalent bond with Glu167.

RUI XIONG PhD

Assistant Professor, Pharmacology & Toxicology

Rxiong@pharmacy.arizona.edu

The Xiong lab is focused on the structure-based design of bioactive molecules to modulate disease-causing proteins or genes. We use modern molecular biology tools to develop biochemical, biophysical, and cellular assays to screen and optimize molecules for various therapeutic targets. Our projects also heavily utilize X-ray crystallography and computational modeling to guide molecule design. Two novel molecules developed from this pipeline successfully entered human clinical trials for treating advanced breast cancer (NCT03201913: Xiong R., et al., J Med Chem. 2016, 59, 219-237; NCT03455270: Xiong R., et al., J Med Chem, 2017, 60, 1325-1342). Current research is focused on the newly NIH RO1funded project to develop potent SARS-COV-2 PLpro inhibitors.

We are also interested in developing novel technologies to selectively activate therapeutically relevant proteins. Traditional drug discovery research has been focused on inhibiting disease-driving proteins, while chemical tools for activating disease-causing proteins are lacking. We are interested in developing tools to study and mimic how nature selectively activates gene transcription.

MARIELLA RODRIGUEZ

University of Arizona

Mrr22@arizona.edu

Mariella R. Rodriguez is a first-generation Latina student set to graduate in Fall 2023 with a B.A. in Spanish with an emphasis in Interpretation and Translation, and a B.S. in Public health with an emphasis in quantitative methods. Mariella strives to bring representation for Latina women in public health and higher education and plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Epidemiology at the University of Arizona. She has an interest in chronic disease epidemiology, Latino health disparities, and border health having grown up in a border community herself in Yuma. She has had the opportunity of working with Amistades, a local nonprofit working with various Latino health issues including substance use, sexual health, and cultural awareness. By merging her backgrounds in math, Spanish, and public health, Mariella hopes to continue building upon strengths within the Latino community and raise awareness on Latino health disparities. In her spare time, she enjoys reading fiction, learning new recipes, and cuddling with her 14-year-old chihuahua.

⊲ PROJECT

Cosechando la Salud: Understanding the Root Causes of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Migrant/Seasonal Farmworkers

This project aims to fill a gap in research regarding NAFLD among Mexican origin migrant/seasonal farmworkers in the Yuma County area. Data collection included a physical report, medical history, and liver scans to provide access to a first screening process for many individuals who are unaware of the severity of NAFLD or how to approach it. The second phase of this project consists of a photovoice project that allows participants within this target group to voice their perspectives on their environment and health through photos and narratives. This work will prompt future investigations and provide guidance for medical professionals and policymakers to make decisions regarding allocation of resources.

DAVID GARCIA PhD, FACSM Associate Professor, Public Health Davidogarcia@arizona.edu

David 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.

Dr. Garcia’s current research focuses on the development of gender and culturallysensitive weight loss interventions for Hispanic males. To support this effort, Dr. Garcia recently established “Nosotros Comprometidos a Su Salud -Committed to Your Health”, a program developed to support research through community service and partnering with underserved Tucson residents. 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. The long-term vision of his research is to implement and evaluate large, multi-site trials to systematically influence community environments and eventually, policies in order to improve health among underserved populations.

LUIS IVAN SAUCEDO

Arizona State University

Luissaucedo@arizona.edu

Luis Saucedo is an incoming junior into the Arizona State University Biological Sciences Program with an emphasis on Biomedical Science. Luis was born in Nogales, AZ in 1990 and lived in Mexico for 5 years before his family immigrated to the United States and relocated to Phoenix, AZ. Luis served in the United States Navy for 10 years and transitioned into semiconductor manufacturing before returning to school to honor his mother, who lost her battle to cancer. While at Phoenix College, he discovered biology as a passion via his microbiology instructor and now mentor Dr. Robin Cotter. He is currently working on his prerequisite courses for medical school while assisting with research and working part-time at Phoenix College. Luis ultimately hopes to contribute to the medical field via research as a pathologist or immunologist. During his free time, Luis spends time with his wife, Krystal, and puppy, Bailey, and enjoys cooking, hiking, and rooting for the Phoenix Suns.

⊲ PROJECT

Detection of Microplastics from Different Stages of the Wastewater Treatment Process

As people go about their day, it would be difficult to not come across a material that has been proliferated in modern society since the post-World War 2 era: plastic. According to Avery Hildebrand, Public Land & Outdoor Recreation Program Manager at Conservation Minnesota (2019), over 8 million metric tons of plastic had been produced up until 2019 with most of that plastic being discarded. These plastics then break down into smaller pieces and are able to spread into the ecosystem, act as a reservoir for harmful pathogens, and potentially be consumed by living organisms. As a contaminant of emerging concern (CEC), microplastics have been found in sewage treatment facility effluent samples with some estimates around 6.5 x10⁷ particles per day (Kang et al., 2018). Such an estimate shows that one of our most important resources, water, can be a harbinger of toxic microplastics in the near and long-term future and can pose a serious health risk to human life (Campanale et al., 2020). Thus, our research question looks to answer what types of CECs (chemical and biological) are present in different stages of the water treatment process at a local wastewater treatment plant in Surprise, AZ. It is hypothesized that there will be a reduction in microplastic concentration as water is treated through different stages.

ROBIN COTTER

PhD Professor, Biology

Robin.cotter@phoenixcollege.edu

Robin Cotter is a professor at Phoenix College where she has enjoyed teaching biology and microbiology since 2005. Trained in neuroimmunology, her research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center focused on the role of inflammation in HIV-associated dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. An advocate for undergraduate research, she has helped over 200 students engage in research through both independent research projects and course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). Her current research focuses on the detection of microplastics and other contaminants of emerging concern in public water systems.

Committed to making research experiences accessible and equitable for all students, she currently serves as co-PI of the HSI in STEM (NSF #183254; 2019-2023) “Reinventing the Common CURE at 2-year HSIs (STEM-CURE) grant” and as senior personnel on the INCLUDES grant (NSF #2120021; 2021-2026) ALRISE Alliance “Accelerate Latinx Representation In STEM Education with Institutional Intentionality and Capacity Building for Experiential Learning.” In these roles, she helps train and mentor educators who are interested in integrating research into the STEAM curriculum at their HSIs.

She is also a certified trainer for the Tiny Earth CURE network and a former fellow of the Ethics Network for Course-based Opportunities in Undergraduate Research (ENCOUR) (NSF award #1727867), which focuses on the integration of ethics and the responsible conduct of research (RCR) in CUREs.

YESENIA SIEMENS

University of Arizona

Ysiemens@arizona.edu

Yesenia Siemens is an upcoming senior at the University of Arizona. She is a Honors Biology major with a bio-medical emphasis. She was raised in Yuma, Arizona, a border town. She’s worked in a COVID diagnostic lab, estimating the amount of people currently infected by sampling sewage wastewater. Her thesis will be a research project testing the efficacy of community engagement for reducing mosquito population, as well as a new method for mosquito control. Her goal is to attend medical school and return to her community in order to assist her medically underserved hometown.

In her spare time, she’s the President of the University of Arizona Roller Derby team- the Derby Cats, skating under the name Hot Soup. She also likes to read, cook, and talk about obscure media.

⊲ PROJECT

Opioid Use Disorder and Behavioral Health Services for People who are AI/AN in Rural Southwestern Arizona

This research project was made to provide a resource for American Indians seeking assistance for Opioid Use Disorder. It collates and confirms locations and services in Yuma and Pima County that can help with addiction support. This both provides data for what is available at this time and what is not, and gathers information for easier access. This project was done under the guidance of Dr. Bridget S. Murphy.

BRIDGET MURPHY

DBH, MEd Assistant Research Professor Bridget@arizona.edu

Bridget Murphy has three decades of education and experience in behavioral health and educational research/evaluation, services, and support. She has held positions in academic institutions, communitybased and private sector organizations. Dr. Murphy’s holds a doctorate in behavioral health and master’s in education. Her principal experience is substance use, mental health and related infectious diseases for culturally diverse children, youth, and families in various settings. As a teen, Dr. Murphy struggled with substance use and mental health issues and participated in treatment. This experience provided the foundation for her academic and professional direction.

Dr. Murphy began her career by providing services to adolescents involved with the juvenile justice system. This led to various projects implementing evidence-based services for adolescents and their families, transitional-aged youth, and pregnant, parenting, and childless women. Previously, she was the director of adolescent services and research and was responsible for intervention evaluation projects. These included trauma-focused recovery-oriented systems of care, evidence-based treatment, recovery supports, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention, testing, and counseling projects. She led the day-to-day implementation of a multi-site screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment (SBIRT) project for juvenile justice involved youth and their caregivers. More recently, she coordinated a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of an online training for parents who have children with or suspected of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Dr. Murphy has provided or directed professional continuing education, training, and technical assistance activities in a variety of settings for professionals across the U.S. Today, she is managing a project designed to match experienced medication assisted treatment (MAT) providers with less experienced MAT providers to increase capacity for treating people with opioid use disorders. She is the PI for the Overdose Data to Action project where she led the development and implementation of Opioid Stewardship Program strategies which resulted in a career development award. Dr. Murphy oversees the overdose recognition and naloxone administration training for community health workers and other professional training activities. She is the chair for the Interprofessional Education and Practice on the topic of opioids.

Dr. Murphy is the instructor for the undergraduate course Drugs and Society. Dr. Murphy is a member of the Hepatitis C Elimination Advisory Group. This group aims to influence policy changes to reduce barriers to care and support community level harm reduction efforts.

JAMES SILVA

Arizona State University, BS Jamessilva@arizona.edu

James Silva completed his undergraduate studies at Arizona State University, where he earned dual degrees in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience. As a dedicated learner and aspiring medical professional, he is passionately driven to make a positive impact on the world through medicine.

Throughout his academic journey at ASU, James immersed himself in the fascinating world of biomedical sciences and neuroscience. His coursework allowed him to develop a strong foundation in the intricacies of the human body and mind, sparking a profound curiosity about the complexities of health and disease. James has always been drawn to the medical field, seeing it as the ideal path to combine his passion for science with his desire to help others. His experiences and interactions with patients and healthcare professionals have only further solidified his commitment to becoming a medical student and, ultimately, a physician. His career endeavors center around attending medical school where he can continue to grow and learn under the guidance of top-notch educators and mentors. James envisions himself diving deeper into various medical disciplines, exploring diverse specialties, and acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to provide compassionate and exceptional care to his future patients.

As a future medical student, James intends to approach his studies with dedication, empathy, and a genuine concern for the well-being of those he will serve. His ultimate aspiration is to become a physician, where he can use his expertise to positively impact individual lives, contribute to cutting-edge research, and be an advocate for better healthcare practices on a larger scale. Beyond his academic pursuits, James actively engages in volunteering and extracurricular activities that allow him to give back to the community and foster a sense of responsibility and compassion towards others. He believes that being a well-rounded individual with a focus on both academic excellence and empathy is essential in the field of medicine. James is excited to embark on the path of becoming a medical student and eventually a physician, and he looks forward to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others through his dedication to the art and science of medicine.

⊲ PROJECT

The study aims to investigate the level of fentanyl awareness among the youth and their parents in Arizona and understand the sources of information they utilize. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid, and its rising use has become a major public health concern, leading to an increase in overdose-related deaths. By conducting structured surveys among youth (ages 13-22) and their parents/legal guardians in diverse communities in Arizona, the study seeks to assess their knowledge of fentanyl and its associated risks. The study will explore the various sources through which respondents acquire information about fentanyl, including social media, word of mouth, and other mediums. Although preliminary data is not available, expected data will align with a similar study from the previous year, which showed a preference for social media as the primary information source among respondents. The study’s findings will shed light on critical gaps in fentanyl awareness among Arizona’s youth and parents, emphasizing the importance of targeted educational strategies and campaigns to improve awareness and prevent adverse consequences in this vulnerable population.

ALLISON HUFF

DHEd

Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine

Allison7@arizona.edu

Allison Huff MacPherson’s research focuses on the impact of acculturation and sociocultural factors on substance use and abuse, particularly in underrepresented minorities. She started her academic career in the UA College of Optical Sciences, where she continues to serve as principal investigator and co-principal investigator on several National Science Foundation grants centered on community capacity building with Native Nations and Indigenous peoples. Dr. Huff MacPherson earned her Doctor of Health Education degree in Community Health and Wellness from A.T. Still University.

GABRIELA SOLIS

University of Arizona

Gnsolis@arizona.edu

I am a second, going on third year here at the University of Arizona. Currently working toward my bachelor degree in public health with a minor in psychology. From here I am excited to move forward into law school to focus on creating policy change here in the state of Arizona to directly combat systemic inequity perpetuating health disparities that we have learned in depth about this summer. I worked alongside an amazing team within fentanyl awareness, under the mentorship of Dr. Allison Huff and discovered a passion for expanding education and fighting health inequity. I have worked first-hand with communities facing disparities and have absorbed great knowledge from my team and supporters and I cannot wait to use my gained passion to move forward into my career.

⊲ PROJECT

S.A.F.E. Study for Fentanyl Awareness

This project is the result of a summer’s worth of research, originally surrounding pain relief and impulsivity, now surrounding fentanyl awareness. The summer consisted of teamwork in preparation of our study protocols now awaiting approval of the IRB. This project demonstrates the newly earned experiences as well as connections over these past ten weeks, as well as foreground to future plans for myself and my academic journey.

ALLISON HUFF

DHEd

Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine

Allison7@arizona.edu

Allison Huff MacPherson’s research focuses on the impact of acculturation and sociocultural factors on substance use and abuse, particularly in underrepresented minorities. She started her academic career in the UA College of Optical Sciences, where she continues to serve as principal investigator and co-principal investigator on several National Science Foundation grants centered on community capacity building with Native Nations and Indigenous peoples. Dr. Huff MacPherson earned her Doctor of Health Education degree in Community Health and Wellness from A.T. Still University.

RAVEN STEPHENSON

University of Arizona, BS

Ravenmstephenson@arizona.edu

Raven M. Stephenson is a first-generation college graduate who recently graduated from the University of Arizona in Fall 22’ with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Biomedical and a minor in Arabic and Military Science. She has been currently serving in the Arizona Army National Guard for the past seven years. Raven was born and raised in Southern California where she has always been passionate about giving back to the community in any feasible way. She has a strong devolution to helping children.

Over the past two years, she has volunteered at Tucson Medical Center with events such as the Back to School Drive, Spooktacular, Blood Drive, Food Drive, Booster Seat Safety Days, and much more. During her senior year of college, she was able to gain employment at Tucson Medical Center as a Patient Care Technician where she experienced firsthand interactions with various patients that came from different backgrounds.

Raven is passionate about research for Sickle Anemia Disease. Her plan after college is to become a military Board Certified Physician in Pediatrics Surgery in hopes to provide medical assistance to underserved communities where she will later establish an all-in-one care clinic with a specialty in pediatrics.

⊲ PROJECT

The Benefits of Duola Support For Pregnant Women in Prison

The research highlights the importance of having a Doula but more importantly a Doula in prison. Our research time conducted over 100 hours of visual representation of Doula hands-on within the Estella Women’s Prison here in Arizona. Given that women who are pregnant in prison experience increased perinatal risks (Hotelling, 2008), providing gender-specific, trauma-informed care is an important step for improving maternal, fetal, and neonatal health and supporting the mother-child dyad.

JONATHAN CARTSONIS

MD

Associate Clinical Professor, Academic Affairs

Jcartsonis@email.arizona.edu

Jonathan Cartsonis attended the University of Arizona, Tucson, where he earned his medical degree and developed his interest in family and community medicine. During this time, he also met his wife — a fellow UA alumna and Family Physician in the Valley. Dr. Cartsonis has worked in many different settings, including the federally funded clinics Avondale Family Health Center and Health Care for the Homeless. He currently cares for patients at the Estrella Women’s Jail in Phoenix.

He is the medical director for the PA program for Northern Arizona University. In addition, he is highly involved in the Pathway Scholars Program for the UA College of Medicine –Phoenix, as well as many other programs involving rural health.

Dr. Cartsonis is passionate about rural health and seeks to cultivate an environment at the UA where medical students can incorporate individualized learning styles and experiences to engage in the vibrant communities of rural towns/cities. His hope is that, ultimately, these same towns and cities will employ our medical students as they continue in their professions.

FAWAZ STIPHO

University of Arizona

Fstipho1@arizona.edu

Fawaz Stipho was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2003 and spent the following years evading the war-torn nature of his country: from Lebanon and Syria, to Germany, to Boston, and finally to Phoenix where he spent most of his years prior to moving down to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona. Fawaz is a rising Junior with a double major in Physiology & Medical Sciences and Psychology, minoring in Spanish. He plans to attend Medical School to become a psychiatrist and hopes to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health commonly held in patriarchal and underserved communities. Fawaz is passionate about the correlation between mental and physical health and how it is often ignored, along with how societal norms encourage the suppression of emotion and vulnerability, causing a generational, cyclical cascade of mental health problems. He has been involved with OEDI since the summer before his freshman year and they have helped him align his career and future with his passions. He works as a Behavioral Therapist at a Therapy Group, helps run a campus organization, FACES, that strives to bring cultural equity to the health professions, provides care at US/Mexico Border Clinics, and works at a Psychiatry lab in the College of Medicine, optimizing the multi-modal treatment of psychiatric ailments. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, reading, painting, and spending time with friends and family. He would like to thank Dr. Zapien, OEDI, and all the speakers that gave their time and effort!

⊲ PROJECT

Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Focus on Clinical Outcomes, Uptake, and Satisfaction.

Depression and anxiety are common in primary care, and their prevalence has only increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, outpacing the mental health workforce’s capacity to provide adequate treatment. Over the past 15 years, Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) has demonstrated promising results in symptom improvement and enhanced functioning, offering a scalable and cost-effective solution to address this growing mental health crisis. Notably, in 2021, Banner Health initiated a pilot project by acquiring 1000 SilverCloud licenses to assess utilization rates, patient satisfaction, and clinical outcomes. This research seeks to present an early account of engagement, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes among 489 patients receiving care at Banner Health’s primary care and specialty mental health sites, shedding light on I-CBT’s impact on mental health care delivery during these unprecedented times.

JORDAN

MD Chair, Psychiatry Karpjf@arizona.edu

KARP

Jordan Karp, is the Department Chair, Professor of Psychiatry, and Medical Director for Behavioral Health Technology. He is an expert in the fields of geriatric psychiatry, depression treatment, and suicide prevention. Dr. Karp’s priorities for the Department include: providing the best care possible to our patients and their families today; preparing the next generation of psychiatrists to provide better care in the future; produce the advancements in knowledge required to improve our ability to diagnose, treat, and ultimately prevent mental illness; and engage with diverse stakeholders to assure our workforce represents and meets the needs of our community and promotes social justice. Prior to joining the University of Arizona, Dr. Karp served as a professor of psychiatry, anesthesiology and clinical and translational science at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he directed the Late-Life Depression Prevention and Treatment Research Program, served as Director of Medical Student Mental Health Services, and was program director for the geriatric psychiatry fellowship.

Dr. Karp has authored more than 140 peer reviewed publications and has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) since 2006.

ESPERANZA VALENCIA

University of Arizona

Esperanzav@arizona.edu

Esperanza is an incoming Junior studying Psychological Science and Physiology and Medical Sciences with minors in Spanish and Health & Human Values. She was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and has a strong desire to practice medicine in a border community. Her professional goals include medical school with a desire to become a general surgeon or practice family medicine. Esperanza is currently the treasurer of the Minority Association of Premedical Students where she has had the opportunity to volunteer at ZMansion, a resource for the Tucson houseless community. Additionally, she is a member of the Student Health Advocacy Committee and has organized health education workshops for local elementary students. She shadows a trauma surgeon and will be working with a DO family medicine doctor in the fall at an El Rio Community Health Center. Esperanza hopes to work in a similar organization where she can focus on mental and emotional health, decreasing stigma in communities of color and preventative health.

⊲ PROJECT

The Differences in Reasons to Breastfeed Between Mothers Who Do and Do Not Have Opioid Use Disorder

Esperanza is working with the RENEW (Recovery through Engaging and Empowering Women) team in analyzing data from the Orchid study. The Orchid study hopes to answer the question “Could hormones help women avoid using opioids in the postpartum period?”. Participants complete multiple studies before and after giving birth and Esperanza is focusing on the question “What are your top three reasons to breastfeed?”. This research project hopes to determine if there is a difference in the reasons behind breastfeeding between mothers who do and do not have opioid use disorder and are participating in the Orchid study. This has the potential to be used in further Orchid and RENEW team research in understanding motivations to breastfeed.

ALICIA ALLEN

PhD, MPH Associate Professor, Clinical Translational Sciences

Aliciaallen@arizona.edu

Alicia 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 evaluating causality.

She has conducted randomized clinical trials, controlled cross-over trials, and cross-sectional online surveys, as well as analyzed data from large epidemiological datasets. Dr. Allen’s current research focuses on topics that occur in the intersection between substance misuse (e.g., nicotine/tobacco, cannabis, opioids) and women’s health (e.g., pregnancy, postpartum, hormonal contraceptive use). Alicia has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, ClearWay Minnesota, and University of Arizona.

She has published over 45 peer-reviewed manuscripts to-date, primarily with Addictive Behaviors, Nicotine and Tobacco Research, Addiction, and Journal of Addiction Medicine. She is an associate editor with Nicotine Tobacco Research (NTR), the clinical director with Society for Research on Nicotine Tobacco University (SRNT-U), and co-director of the Resident Scholarly Project Program (RSPP). In 2020, Dr. Allen received the prestigious National Institutes of Health’ New Innovator Award to explore how postpartum hormones influence relapse to opioids.

PRISCILLA VILLALOBOS IXCOTOYAC

Arizona State University

Pvillal2@arizona.edu

Priscilla Villalobos Ixcotoyac is a rising senior at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University. She is a double major in Biological Sciences and Global Health while also pursuing a minor in Educational Studies. Priscilla is from Phoenix, AZ– her mother is from Guatemala, Suchitepéquez, and her father is from Sonora, Mexico. While at Barrett, Priscilla has been a TA for several courses such as The Human Event and a Community Service Mentoring course guiding students in developing impactful service projects. She is also a student researcher in the Castro Lab that focuses on Type 2 Diabetes prevention in Latino communities in AZ. She is also a volunteer for the UA Mobile Health Unit and at St. Vincent de Paul’s Clinic serving as a bilingual interpreter/scribe. Throughout her undergraduate experience, she has been involved in organizations such as the Latino Medical Student Association, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and Medical Directive at ASU. She is a violin instructor to younger students, and she is involved in several musical groups such as mariachi. Priscilla is on the Accelerated MS/BS track, and after she graduates with her MS in Biology, she will apply to medical school to become a pediatrician where she intends to work in lower-income communities in AZ.

⊲ PROJECT

Reducing At-Risk Community Disparities: SARS-CoV-2 Point of Care Vaccination Strategy for Respiratory Illnesses

Under the guidance of Dr. Christina Bergin and her research team, this study is dedicated to exploring the health effects specific to vulnerable populations who lack access to COVID-19 vaccinations. The disease’s severe impact on minority groups in Arizona emphasizes to urgent need to quantify benefits of a pointof-care vaccination strategy for these at-risk patients. The group targeted in this study are patients who were unable to receive COVID-19 vaccinations during their care/treatment at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix. A retrospective chart review will be conducted to assess the vaccination status and health outcomes of these patients one year later. This study will provide crucial guidance for developing strategies that mitigate these existing health inequities.

CHRISTINA BERGIN

MD, FHM Clinical Associate Professor, Medicine

Cbergin@arizona.edu

Christina Bergin, is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. She is the associate program director for the Internal Medicine Residency, as well as the Internal Medicine Clerkship director. Clinically, she works as a hospitalist at Banner –University Medical Center Phoenix, and is a fellow of Hospital Medicine (FHM) with the Society of Hospital Medicine.

Dr. Bergin attended the University of Notre Dame for her undergraduate education, receiving her BA in Anthropology. She received her MD from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency training at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center/Phoenix VA combined residency program (now the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Internal Medicine program). After completing her residency, she served as chief resident for the program and then joined on as a faculty member and academic hospitalist the following year.

Dr. Bergin’s professional interests include medical education, improving physician-patient communication and working to reduce health disparities through advocacy. Outside of work, she loves hiking and camping with her husband, daughters and dog, as well as reading and Peloton cycling.

JOSHUA WARREN

Arizona State University, BS Jwarren2@arizona.edu

Joshua Warren is a post-bacc student who recently graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies. There, he tutored and led review sessions for science courses, and as a TA for Anatomy and Physiology, taught laboratory sections. He is a first-generation college graduate and Chief Manuelito scholar. Joshua’s family is from Hunters Point, Arizona on the Navajo reservation. With the experience of growing up both in the Phoenix metro area and the Navajo Nation, Joshua’s goal is to attend medical school and provide care to urban Native American populations through the Indian Health Services. In his free time, he likes to read, draw, and explore new cuisines with friends.

⊲ PROJECT

SGK1 is a Key Mediator of Pathological Cardiac Fibrosis

Pathological cardiac fibrosis, as arises from prolonged cardiac stress, can ultimately result in heart failure or cardiac arrest. The cell type that initially responds to this stress or injury is the cardiac fibroblast, which responds adaptively by proliferating and differentiating into myofibroblasts in an attempt to maintain cardiac structure and function. Thus, major interest is placed in identifying novel therapeutic targets to alter fibroblast differentiation and sustained activation. We recently identified the cytosolic protein kinase, serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1), as being largely involved which pathological remodeling in the cardiac myocyte via escaping proteasome-mediated degradation. While there have been reports that SGK1 may also play role in cardiac fibrosis, the mechanistic role for SGK1 in cardiac fibroblasts in response to injury remains unknown.

ERIK BLACKWOOD PhD

Research Assistant Professor, College of Medicine-Phoenix Eablackwood@arizona.edu

Erik Blackwood is the Senior Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Chris Glembotski’s lab at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. Erik was recruited to UA-COMP as a Faculty-in-Training and the Logistics Director for the Translational Cardiovascular Research Center of which Dr. Glembotski is the inaugural director. Erik completed his Ph.D. in the Cell and Molecular Biology Joint Doctoral Program between San Diego State University and UC San Diego where his research broadly concerned molecular cardiology focusing on the cardiac structure and function in the ischemic, hypertrophic, and failing heart, in vivo. He led a team at the SDSU Heart Institute that was focused on developing novel proteotoxic-based therapeutics for ischemic heart disease and hypertensive stress. More recently, Erik’s research has progressed into the development of novel large animal models of heart failure with either reduced or preserved ejection fraction and the efficacy testing of many of the lead candidate small molecule therapies in these swine models. His recruitment to UA-COMP has served to reinvigorate the lab’s interests in these therapies in the setting of neurodegenerative diseases and, appropriately enough, many national leaders in preclinical and clinical Alzheimer’s disease research reside right here in Arizona.

NOAH WEAVER

Noah Weaver was born in Palm Springs, California and grew up in Iowa City, Iowa before deciding to attend the University of Arizona in Fall 2020. Noah is a rising senior with a double major in Physiology and Medical Sciences and then Public Health with an emphasis in Health Promotion. Additionally, Noah is set to graduate with a double minor, in both Biochemistry and Spanish. After graduation, Noah plans to enter Medical School and specialize in Pediatrics. In addition to being a Pediatric physician, Noah has great goals to work with underserved communities throughout the world to bridge the many health disparities that currently exist. A major health disparity Noah is passionate about connects to how lack of access to healthy diets can increase rates of systemic diseases, such as diabetes and CVDs, in the Hispanic community. Noah works as a Medical Scribe at a Cardiology Clinic, a tutor at the UA SALT Center, and a research assistant at the UA Sleep and Memory Research Lab. In his free time, Noah loves to spend time outside with friends and family. One of his favorite activities is to go on hikes at beautiful places such as Mt. Lemmon and Sabino Cannon. Lastly, Noah is a huge UA Sports fan and can often be seen in the middle of the ZonaZoo cheering on our amazing sports teams here. He would like to thank the ODEI and all faculty for this amazing summer internship opportunity and recommends all students interested in the health field check it out!

⊲ PROJECT Differences in Cardiovascular Function in Children with Down Syndrome during Swim Exercise

As part of Dr. Jamie Edgin’s Research Lab, Noah’s research seeks to better understand the differences in cardiovascular function in children with Down Syndrome vs typically developing children, using swimming as he mechanism to increase the heart rate of participants. In the summer of 2022, we saw that swimming effectively increased the average HR for both groups. Data collection included DS (N = 12), ages 6-16 (mean = 10.97) and TD (N = 13) children ages 5-12 (mean = 8.08) years participated in the University of Arizona Campus Recreation Center’s two-week swim camp, for a total of eight, 30-minute evening swim sessions. Group differences were observed for average and maximum HR only while swimming, but not baseline, between children with and without Down syndrome. In other words, children with Down syndrome had statistically lower heart rates than typically developing children while exercising, but not when they are sedentary. When the children swam, we saw that heart rate range increased more for typically developing children than children with down syndrome. Throughout this 2023 summer, we have continued our work with an additional 25 children. Results thus far have shown consistency in the data concluded last summer, but future data collection will better confirm this idea. Noah looks forward to the presentation and poster session opportunity and would love to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you so much!

JAMIE EDGIN PhD Associate Professor, Psychology Jedgin@arizona.edu

Jamie Edgin is a Psychologist specializing in the area of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. Her area of expertise is memory development and sleep in typical and atypical development. Dr. Edgin is an Associate Professor in the Cognition and Neural Systems Program in the Department of Psychology, with departmental and GIDP affiliations in Family Studies and Human Development, the Frances McClelland Institute, the School of Education, the Sonoran University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disability, and the Cognitive Science Graduate and Interdisciplinary Program. Dr. Edgin is a first generation college student.

Dr. Edgin serves on a number of national, state and local community boards to support individuals with developmental disabilities (visit our community outreach link). For her work in the community she received the University of Arizona’s Koffler Prize for Outreach in 2018. She visits parent advocacy groups across the globe, delivering talks in Canada and Mexico.

Dr. Edgin’s work in the early 2000s was instrumental in characterizing the specific learning/memory profiles (i.e., the individual strengths and weaknesses) of individuals with Down syndrome and autism. For these efforts, she received the 2015 David Cox “Rising Star” Award from the LuMind Foundation and the 2020 Distinguished Contribution to Science Award from the Arizona Psychological Association. Dr. Edgin’s most recent work has shown links between sleep problems and cognition in Down syndrome and is the first empirical evidence to suggest that poor sleep may limit how well these individuals can learn to communicate. Dr. Edgin has numerous national and international collaborations, including collaborations with UNAM/Mexico City. In 2014 she was awarded a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations Grant to study sleep disturbance in at-risk infants. She has been continuously funded by the NIH/ NICHD since 2010. Finally, she is the Director of the Sonoran UCEDD pollicy fellowship in developmental disabilities, and is engaged in efforts to support advocacy and policy change for individuals with disability in the state of Arizona.

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 I 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, I 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. Morris-Wiseman 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.

Getting ready to pick up trash in Benson, AZ

Service-learning actiivity in Benson, AZ

Tucson cohort visiting Benson Hospital

Photos by Romi Campuzano

Students visiting the Benson’s visitor’s Center

Students with representatives of Benson, AZ

Tucson cohort at Benson Hospital

Certification to drive the train at the Benson’s Visitor Center

ACTIVITY PHOTOS

Phoenix students gathering items for the homless as part of their service learning activity.

Phoenix cohort visiting CAAHEC

Photos by Romi Campuzano

Narcan Training by Dave Schad with Terros Health

Visit to the College of Medicine-Phoenix. Presentation by Izzy Jado BF alumni.

Students giving away bags with hygene items to the homeless at The Zone in Phoenix,

WORKSHOPS- INSTRUCTORS

WRITING RESEARCH PRE-HEALTH

Christine Hamel-Brown, MA Senior Lecturer

Alejandra Zapien-Hidalgo, MD, MPH

Alejandro Recio-Boiles, MD, FACP

Alicia Allen, PhD, MPH

Allison Huff, DHEd

Allison Huff, DHEd

Bellal Joseph, MD, FACS

Bridget Murphy, DBH, M.Ed.

Christian Bime, MD, MSC

Christina Bergin, MD, FHM

Cory Daines, MD

Craig Weinkauf, MD

Dan Yi, PhD

Darren Cusanovich, PhD

David Garcia, PhD, FACSM

Elise Erickson, PhD, CNM, FACNM

UARIZONA HEALTH SCIENCES

OFFICE OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Francisco Moreno, MD

Shelley Rodrigo, PhD Senior Director, Writing Program

MENTORS

Erik Blackwood, PhD

Franz Rischard, DO

Holly Bullock, MD

Hongmin Li, PhD

Jamie Edgin, PhD

Jonathan Cartsonis, MD

Jordan Karp, MD

Julia Jernberg, MD

Julie Armin, PhD

Kareem Raad, MD

Karen Lutrick, PhD

Linnea Linde-Krieger, PhD, LCSW

Lourdes Castañón, MD, FACS

Melissa D’Andrea, MD

Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz, PhD

Michael Grandner, PhD, MTR, CBSM

Michael Marty, PhD

Noshene Ranjbar, MD

Paloma Beamer, PhD

Paul Langlais, PhD

Rina Fox, PhD, MPH

Robin Cotter, PhD

Rui Xiong, PhD

Salma Patel, MD, MPH

Sheila Soto, DrPH

Stefano Guerra, MD, PhD, MPH

Stephanie Russo Carroll, DrPH, MPH

Suwon Kim, PhD

Tara Carr, MD

Timothy Joseph Sowicz, PhD, RN

Todd Vanderah, PhD

Tiffany Sorrell, PhD Learning Specialist

Maria Hernandez, BS, MPH Administrative Associate

Associate Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion Professor, Psychiatry

Lydia Kennedy, MEd, CDP

Executive Director, UAHS-Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Alejandra Zapien-Hidalgo, MD, MPH Director, BLAISER/FRONTERA program Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine

Ycied Talavera, BS, MPH Coordinator, BLAISER/FRONTERA program

Darlene Lopez Evaluator

Alex Parmar, BSHS, BS Administrative Assistant, BLAISER/FRONTERA program

Josie Gin Morgan Senior Academic