Health Sciences In The Media

G. Marie Swanson, founding dean and professor emerita of the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, writes a letter to the editor about Gov. Doug Ducey's executive order prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine mandates and mask requirements at Arizona's public universities.

Quitting smoking is a challenge for many Americans, but according to Dr. Alicia Allen, women in postpartum may have it the hardest. "Even though half, or maybe even 60% of pregnant women, quit smoking, almost all of them relapse within a year of having a baby. That's what we're trying to prevent," said Allen, an assistant professor at the College of Medicine – Tucson. Allen is leading up what is called the PEACH Project.

A new study finds that tai chi may reduce depression, anxiety and stress, as well as improve sleep, in people who have had a stroke. "Tai chi practice allows the individual to quiet the mind by dwelling in the present and setting aside unnecessary negative emotions, such as depression," said study co-author Ruth Taylor-Piliae, an associate professor at the College of Nursing.

Lynn B. Gerald, PhD., MSPH, Canyon Ranch endowed chair and professor in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, has been appointed to the American Lung Association Leadership Board.

"The study is impressive in its scope, presenting comprehensive genomic profiling of the longitudinal samples from multiple patients," said Suwon Kim, PhD, an associate professor of basic medical sciences at the College of Medicine – Phoenix. "The results are significant, revealing the emergence of the alternate specific pathways in single tumor cells as they become resistant to CDK inhibitors and endocrine therapy. The study findings offer opportunities for evidence-guided therapeutic intervention for therapy-resistant breast cancer." Kim was not involved in the research.

The College of Medicine – Tucson earned its best ranking on the U.S. News & World Report diversity index – tied for No. 17 overall and tied for No. 13 among public universities.

As part of Walmart's Health and Wellness Giving Day, Walmart Neighborhood Markets across the country are committing to award more than $1 million to local organizations that support health and wellness in their communities. The largest grant of $20,000 is going to The University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center Minority Outreach Program.

Although the pandemic has led to more frequent and intensive cleaning procedures in many airports, certain germs are seemingly unavoidable in that environment. As a general rule, try to avoid crowded areas in airports to protect your health. “Germs are spread via contact with others and contaminated surfaces. The best defense is to avoid close contact with people, particularly if they exhibit illness symptoms," said Kelly Reynolds, a professor of environmental health sciences at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Schools cannot share with parents information about a specific teacher's vaccination status – that would violate the federal health privacy law known as HIPAA. But schools can release information about aggregate staff vaccination rates at the school, according to Education Week magazine. "Anyone can refuse to answer the question, but they should be prepared to be treated as if they are unvaccinated," said Sarah Whitley Coles, a professor at the College of Medicine – Phoenix.

New state data shows vaccination rates are at the lowest they've been since vaccines became readily available, with younger people least likely to be vaccinated. "The same thing that's happening in the country is happening in Arizona – younger people, meaning less than 30 years old, are reluctant to get the vaccine," said Dr. Ricardo Correa, an endocrinologist at the College of Medicine – Phoenix.