Arizona Physician Podcast

Yoshie Umemura, MD , talks about clinical trials for Neuro-Oncology. Dr. Umemura is the Division Chief of Neuro-Oncology, the William R. and Joan R. Shapiro Chair in Neuro-Oncology Research, associate professor of neurology at Barrow Neurological Institute , and Chief Medical Officer at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center . She is board certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurolo...

Shane Speirs, MD, MBA, President and Chief Medical Officer of HealthyU Clinics , discusses how the practice leverages big data to improve patient care. Dr. Speirs is a physician with experience in healthcare leadership, healthcare data modeling, predictive analytics, geriatric care management. He completed his Family Medicine Training with Abrazo Health, and went on to complete a fellowship in Ger...

Laurie B. Jones, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, FABM, Pediatrician at Agave Pediatrics , talks about the value of breast milk and challenges mothers overcome when breastfeeding their newborns. Dr. Jones is a speaker and educator for physicians and others in health care on the topics of nutrition, feeding, and breastfeeding medicine. She founded Dr. MILK , a physician mother breastfeeding support network. Dr. Jo...

Ronald K. Jorgensen, MD, talks about Fall allergy season, why allergies have increased, and allergy testing and injections. Dr. Jorgensen is an owner-physician of the Arizona Asthma and Allergy Institute . He is board certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology and by the American Board of Internal Medicine. After graduating from the University of Utah Medical School, Dr. Jorgensen c...

Ann Cheri Foxx, MD, D.ABA, shares her thoughts on what it takes to run a private medical practice. Dr. Foxx also talks about what skills or information would have been helpful at the start of her practice Nocio Interventional Pain Management . Dr. Foxx graduated from the South Carolina School of Medicine in Charleston, where she also completed an internship in general surgery before pursuing a res...

Alyx Porter Umphrey, MD, FAAN, and Greg Umphrey, MD, co-founders of non-profit ElevateMeD , talk about the cost of attending medical school, why greater racial and ethnic diversity of physicians matters to patient care, and what they're doing about it. ElevateMeD focuses on creating financial assistance for bright and talented medical students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. They w...

Thanes Vanig, MD, AAHIVS, talks with us about advances in the prevention and treatment of HIV. Chief Medical Officer of Spectrum Medical , Dr. Vanig opened his practice in 1998 after graduating Magna Cum Laude as a King’s Scholar from Mahidol University Medical School in Thailand, completing his Internal Medicine residency at Harvard Medical School, and receiving his Postdoctoral Fellowship in Inf...

Baharak Tabarsi, MD , talks about her journey as an immigrant from Iran and how that experience informs how she treats refugees, especially those from Afghanistan. Dr. Tabarsi received her medical degree from the Memorial University in Canada. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at McGill University with an additional year of training at the University of Vermont. She is Board-Certified...

Guy Reed, MD, MS , Dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, talks about plans to expand the residency positions in their partnership with Banner Health. We discuss why more slots are needed and the value added to patient care and local economies. We also discuss which residency programs, if funding is approved by CMS, could be added to the valley. Dean Reed is an internationa...

Claudia Gaefke, MD, speaks about the body's response to allergens, food allergies and intolerance, and testing. She also covers allergies specific to Arizona and treatment options. Dr. Gaefke completed her B.S. degree with a major in Physiology and minor in Psychology at the University of Arizona, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She obtained her M.D. degree from The University of Arizona Coll...

Michael White, MD, MBA, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer of Valleywise Health , discusses hospital management, what aspects of his role are the most difficult, and what motivates him. Dr. White works to advance the mission, vision and values of Valleywise Health to improve clinical outcomes, enhance patient experience, and grow key programs. He also serves as a liaison with our...

Lori Kemper, DO, MS, FACOFP, Dean of the Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine , discusses graduate medical education. Dr. Kemper joined the faculty of Midwestern University after 25 years of practicing family medicine in Chandler and Tempe, Arizona. She enjoys working with patients of all ages. Dr. Kemper has served as Dean of the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine si...

Drs. Jason and Sara Beste discuss global health. Jason talks about the Creighton University Arrupe Global Scholars Program . Sara talks about why global health and health equity matter. We also discuss what's happening here in Arizona that compares to what they have seen abroad. Jason Beste, MD, MPH is an infectious disease and public health specialist who was named the inaugural Executive Directo...

Kory Castro, BC-HIS, discusses with Arizona Physician hearing loss and the importance of treating it early. Kory Castro, BC-HIS is a Hearing Aid Dispenser and practice owner with 14 years of industry experience. He is currently the co-owner and President of Beltone Arizona . He is board-certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences and is a member of the National Board for Certification in Hearing Inst...

Priyanka Costa Hennis, MD, discusses her approach to coaching physicians and why it matters. Priyanka Hennis is a family physician and certified transformation coach on a mission to serve ambitious professionals who are looking to show up energized in all aspects of their lives. She helps men and women, master their boundaries, create more time, so that they can create the results they want in the...

Adnan Saithna, MD, speaks about his training in the UK and Canada as an orthopedic surgeon with a special interest in arthroscopic surgery of the knee and shoulder. He has recently moved to Arizona and his clinical practice is based at AZBSC Orthopedics . Dr. Saithna has published over 200 research articles and received multiple awards for his work. Dr. Saithna is originally from the UK, where he...

Debora Fox-McClary, MD, speaks with us about serving in the US Navy. Dr. Fox-McClary grew up in western Washington state, serving in the US Navy out of high school as a hospital corpsman and later continuing service in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander in the Medical Corps. She attended college in Ellensburg, WA, and medical school at the University of Washington School of Medicine i...

Jan Basile, MD , talks about recent findings from his research on hypertension. Dr. Basile is professor of medicine in the Cardiology division at the Medical University of South Carolina. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. He then completed his internship and residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he was chief resident...

Greg Aran, DO, hospitalist at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, talks about starting his medical career in Arizona. He discusses the licensing and credentialing processes, what he's talking about with other young docs, and what he needs from the medical community. Dr. Aran earned his medical degree from Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.  About the show: Hosted and produced...

Bob England, MD, MPH, and Will Humble, MPH, discuss increasing rates of exemptions for childhood vaccines, why it matters, and what to do about it. Dr. Bob is a longtime Arizona public health physician and former Director of both the Maricopa and Pima County health departments. He’s currently the Interim Executive Director of The Arizona Partnership for Immunization. Mr. Will Humble is Executive D...

Paulo G. Peña, Gillian Reynoso, and Orlando Acuna, medical students at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, are involved with the Latinx Medical Student Association. They speak about why learning medical Spanish matters, what programs are offered by LMSA, and other resources available for both students and practicing physicians. Paulo G. Peña is a second year medical student and...

Suganya Karuppana, MD, MHCD, CPE, CHC, CHPQ, Chief Medical Officer at Valle del Sol , talks about the shortage of mental health professionals in Arizona and what's being done about it. We discuss the continued integration of behavioral health and primary care. Dr. Karuppana shares some tips for physicians considering the integration process. Dr. Karuppana is a Board-Certified Family Physician with...

J. Aaron Allgood, DO, FACP, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Science Medicine at the ATSU School of Osteopathic Medicine Arizona ( ATSU SOMA ), talks about their approach to clinical rotations for medical students. He is board certified in internal medicine and a former U.S. Air Force physician. Dr. Allgood is the director for medical student rotation courses in Neurology, Cri...

James Seymour, MD, trauma psychiatrist at Sierra Tucson , discusses trauma-informed care, signs of trauma, and offers ways primary care physicians can adjust to hold high quality discussions with patients. Doing so may help to connect the dots between traumatic events and illness or injury. Dr. Seymour, received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee and completed his psychiatric resi...

Warren Kane, MD, talks about physician burnout and shares some common tips for building up your resilience and improving workplace policies to create an environment that prevents or reduces burnout. Dr. Kane is an Arizona native who grew up in Tucson. He graduated from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and finished training in psychiatry at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. D...