The Department of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix is proud to celebrate the accomplishments and milestones of 2024. This year, our faculty, researchers and students have continued to push the boundaries of discovery, innovation and education, reflecting our commitment to advancing medical science and improving health outcomes.
The 2024 Year in Review highlights the remarkable achievements within the Department of Basic Medical Sciences. This page features key successes, including:
- Faculty Promotions celebrating the growth and recognition of our esteemed educators and researchers.
- Awards and Honors acknowledging exceptional contributions to research, teaching and service.
- Grants and Funding showcasing critical support for groundbreaking projects and studies.
- Publications underscoring the department's impact on global medical knowledge.
- Key Dates and Events marking important moments and milestones from the past year.
Together, these accomplishments reflect the unwavering dedication and excellence of our department as we continue to shape the future of medical science.
Faculty Promotions
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Founding faculty member, Taben Hale, PhD, has been named vice chair |
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Faculty member, Shenfeng Qiu, PhD, MD, has been named |
Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS)
The 7th Annual Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) Fall Networking Event was held November 20 to highlight the advancement of women faculty at the college.
2024 Faculty Awards
Each year, faculty at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix nominate and recognize the outstanding work of their colleagues through peer-nominated faculty awards.
On November 6, the 4th Annual Faculty Peer Awards were presented at the General Faculty Meeting. Seven faculty were honored for their outstanding contributions to medicine in service, teaching, leadership and research.
Shenfeng Qiu, PhD, MD |
Professor, Tenured 2024 Excellence in Research Award |
Christopher Burns, PhD |
Professor, Educator Scholar 2024 Faculty Education Research Award |
Neha Dahiya, MD, MBA |
Associate Professor, Educator Scholar “Rockin’ the Blocks” Award |
Evan Garofalo, PhD |
Associate Professor, Educator Scholar Excellence in Teaching by a Block or Course Award by the class of 2025 |
Anne Titelbaum, PhD |
Associate Professor, Educator Scholar Excellence in Mentorship Award |
Governor’s Celebration of Innovation – Gholam Peyman, MD
Gholam Peyman, MD, received the IPLAC (Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago) 2024 Creator of the Year Award. In honor and recognition of his work as a pioneer in the field of ophthalmology and inventor with over 220 patents covering surgical devices, LASIK surgery, intraocular lenses, vaccines, as well as over 800 publications, wide recognition, and strong community engagement.
Anthropology provides backbone to Glowacka’s work
U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix assistant professor lays solid foundation for future health-care providers through her teaching of anatomy. Anthropology provides backbone to Glowacka’s work. An anthropologist, Halszka Glowacka, PhD, first took anatomy as a graduate student and loved it so much, she now teaches anatomy of the head and neck. Read more
Grants, Publications and Patents
- Total Grant Applications Submitted: 57 proposals submitted since July 2024
- 2/2 Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (U54CA143924-16)
- Publications (2024): 41 published articles and 5 in BioRxiv.
Patents
- Submission of provisional patent application through Tech Launch Arizona (TLA) entitled, “METHODS FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA DIAGNOSIS.” Inventor Amelia Gallitano.
- Patent UA17-149 "VERTICAL FLOW MOLECULAR ASSAY APPARATUS" has been allowed and has been issued on January 2nd, 2024. Inventors are Frederic Zenhausern, Jian Gu, Jerome Lacombe, and Peng Chen.
- PCT international patent filed (01/19/24) for “PLANT-BASED EXTRACELLULAR-LIKE VESICLES FOR BIOTHERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS.” Inventors are Frederic Zenhausern, Jerome Lacombe, Ashlee Harris, and Zhu Zhao.
- US patent entitled “SAFE SPECIMEN TRANSPORTATION ISOLATION CONTAINER” has been issued on 07/20/2024. Inventors are Frederic Zenhausern and Devasier Bennett.
- US patent provisional filed by TLA for “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS.” The inventors are Jerome Lacombe, James Heaton, Matt Barrett, Sean Dunn, and Frederic Zenhausern.
- U.S. patent 12,102,997 granted, Devasier Bennett and Zenhausern, Safe specimen transportation isolation container.
- U.S. patent provisional filing, Application # 63/715,325, entitled, “CONTAINER THERAPEUTICS AT POINT OF CARE.” Inventor Frederic Zenhausern.
BMS Collaborative Research Awards
(01/01/2025–06/30/2026)
- Rayna Gonzales, PhD and Shenfeng Qiu, PhD, MD
Title: The role of S1PR1 in the heterogeneity of brain endothelial cells following acute ischemic stroke - Shalini Sharma, PhD and Ling He, PhD, MD
Title: Regulatory Mechanisms of Human Early Erythropoiesis - Amelia Gallitano, PhD, MD and Shenfeng Qiu, PhD, MD
Title: Validation of method to identify brain-related gene expression signatures from blood - Three Faculty Recruitment to start in January 2025.
Service Mission
University of Arizona's COACHE Working Group
- Vasudeva Kamath, PhD
Admissions Committee
- Anne Titelbaum, PhD
Appointment, Promotions, and Tenure Committee
- Taben Hale, PhD
- Shalini Sharma, PhD
- Chris Burns, PhD
Curriculum Committee
- Shawn Zack, PhD
- Halszka Glowacka, PhD
Honor Code Committee
- Neha Dahiya, MBBS
Honors and Awards Committee
- Neha Dahiya, MBBS
Research Senate Committee
- Frederic Zenhausern, PhD
- Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz, PhD
- Amelia Gallitano, PhD, MD
- Taben Hale, PhD
- Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, MD
Ronald P. Hammer, Jr., PhD, Retires
Ronald P. Hammer, Jr., PhD, a founding faculty member of the College, retired after 18 years of dedicated service. Dr. Hammer played a key role in developing the preclinical curriculum and establishing the College’s first PhD graduate program. As director of the Graduate Training Office, he helped grow the Clinical Translational Sciences program into the largest biomedical PhD program in the colleges of medicine. A committed mentor and accomplished researcher, Dr. Hammer fostered a dynamic learning environment while contributing to numerous committees and initiatives, leaving a lasting legacy on the college and its students.
Year End Faculty, Staff and Trainee Appreciation
The Department of Basic Medical Sciences came together to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff and trainees with a special year end appreciation gathering. This event served as a heartfelt thank you to the individuals who contributed to the success of our department throughout the year. Attendees enjoyed a warm and festive atmosphere, complete with refreshments, camaraderie and shared accomplishments. From groundbreaking research to unwavering support in education and training, this gathering was a moment to reflect on the collective efforts that make our team extraordinary.
We look forward to another year of collaboration, innovation and growth!