Welcome to Tucson: Dr. Bital Savir-Baruch

By Benjamin Weiss

Dr. Bital Savir-Baruch is an Associate Professor of Radiology and Chief of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Arizona's College of Medicine. Born in the central Israeli city of Rishon LeZion, she received her MD degree from Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, and completed a Nuclear Medicine Residency at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to clinical expertise in diagnosing and managing prostate, thyroid, neuroendocrine, and breast cancers, she specializes in diagnosing patients with cardiac amyloidosis and sarcoidosis. She is passionate about research, patient care, and education. How long have you been in Tucson? 6 months. What brought you here? Work, and I had heard there is a good Jewish community here. This was very important to me. Where did you move from and how is Tucson compared to it? I moved from Chicago. Tucson is warmer, smaller, significantly less organized, but also a welcoming environment. Currently reading/learning: I wish I had time to do that. These times, I struggle to find time to breathe. A hobby: Being with family and traveling are my current hobbies. Tzedaka motto: We should (and in our case we do) give often and discreetly. A favorite Mitzvah/holiday: Passover because that is the only holiday I actually get to see my whole family including my parents and brothers. A cherished Jewish memory: My younger brother's Brit. I was 7 years old at the time. Jewish app on phone: Do Israeli news apps in Hebrew count as Jewish? Go-to Yiddish or Hebrew word: Yallah (“let's go” or “come on”) but that’s technically Arabic, and sababa (“wonderful”). Favorite historical Jewish figure: King David and former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. I think they had some similarities. Chabad: When my son was born in Atlanta, the first thing I did was to call Chabad. It's an amazing organization that takes care of Jews around the world. Comfort food: Red wine. It means that I’m not on-call and have a minute for myself which doesn’t happen a lot. Happiness: I start out each day trying to be happy and everything else follows. I find happiness in daily activities. Kvetch: I don’t like a lack of honesty. Kvell: The happiness of my kids. I have 2 boys. Something you’re looking forward to: I came here to grow the nuclear medicine division and hope it will happen.

Photo: acadrad.org