Although we don’t have the traditional mistletoe you’d see in the movies, Arizona has a unique member of the kingdom Plantae that is only found in desert climates. Desert mistletoe can be found attached to some of our state’s most famous trees. The plant — typically found in the southern part of Arizona — is considered parasitic as it burrows itself deep inside the canopies of legume trees, stealing water and nutrients from its host. So why all the smooching? The mistletoe became a common symbol of fertility and life as the plant will remain green regardless of cold temperatures and snow ..read more

Becoming a physician is a long and difficult process but with the proper education and determination, it will only require 10-13 years of schooling plus a seemingly endless number of tests, exams, and certifications. For someone with no background in medicine, the different titles and years of additional schooling may seem convoluted and secretive. However, this couldn’t be a bigger misconception. Pursuing the practice of medicine is a devotion that takes years of discernment and hard work. For those interested, this article will break down how an undergraduate student can pursue a life as ..read more

Dr. Carlos Montezuma, birth name Wassaja, is known as one of the most influential indigenous persons of his day and a prominent leader in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1866 to Yavapai parents in central Arizona, Wassaja was kidnapped at a young age by members of the Pima Tribe. He would then be transported far south and sold into the slave trade, where Italian photographer Carlo Gentile purchased him for 30 silver dollars. Gentile moved them to Chicago and viewed Wassaja as a son, educating him in different public schools across Illinois. Renamed Carlos Montezuma, the youn ..read more

We are so excited for you to meet Sarah Patel, MD, our latest Arizona Medicine Spotlight! Dr. Patel is a board-certified adult and pediatric sleep medicine doctor, and she is the director and owner of the Sonoran Sleep Center in Glendale. Dr. Patel has had a unique and inspiring journey with medicine, but perhaps most inspiring is her appreciation for the simple joys of life: family, cooking, and nature. Without further ado, get to know our medicine spotlight below! What is one message you would give to your 18-year-old self? You are not the same person you are at 18, 25, or 50. Y ..read more

Written by: The Arizona Pulse staff Each year, medical schools in Arizona train some of the best and brightest medical students in the country. With the education they receive in Arizona, they’ll go on to dramatically advance the practice of medicine in our state and the nation at-large. One such bright pupil is Timothy Durr, a doctor of osteopathic medicine candidate studying at A.T. Still University. Before becoming a medical student at A.T. Still University, Timothy completed his undergraduate training at Arizona State University, receiving a bachelor’s in Health Sciences. Outside of his ..read more

In this episode of The Arizona Pulse Podcast, we sit down with Tom Leggett from Sonora Quest Laboratories to discuss the companies’ COVID-19 pooled testing strategy taking place in schools across Arizona. Utilizing the companies’ innovative method of pooled COVID-19 testing, schools in our state are protecting students and keeping them in school. Sonora Quest Laboratories and Concentric by Ginkgo have teamed up to provide onsite PCR pooled testing to all Arizona schools for free thanks to federal funding distributed through the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). As COVID-19 rate ..read more

Written by: Libby McDannell, Chief Executive Officer of the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) Who speaks for the House of Medicine when physicians are busy in their practice, hospital, or clinic caring for patients, while legislators, often with no medical background, make decisions about bills that could become law and influence how we treat patients? Organized medicine ensures the collective voice of the physician community is represented. Organized medicine is defined as the result of physicians joining an organization to advocate for themselves and their patients. More than 50 years a ..read more

In episode seven of The Arizona Pulse Podcast, Damien Johnson sits down with a representative from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to discuss the organization’s new opioid treatment tool. As Arizona, and the country at large, continue to battle a worsening opioid epidemic, AHCCCS’ new opioid treatment tool is an innovative way to provide help to those in need. Listen now to learn more! Episode Links and Resources:OAR Line Website: https://www.azdhs.gov/oarline/ OAR Line Number: 1-888-688-4222 Opioid Services Locator Tool: https://opioidservicelocator.azahccc ..read more