Dr. Nancy Sweitzer (center) with her son, Peter, and daughter, Geneva.

Perhaps the greatest honor a mother might receive is to be nominated by one of her children to be a "Remarkable Mom." This is the case for Nancy Sweitzer, MD, PhD, who is being recognized by Tu Nidito as one of five remarkable moms. Dr. Sweitzer, director of UA Sarver Heart Center and chief of cardiology, was nominated by her daughter, Geneva, who was a volunteer at Tu Nidito after the family moved to Tucson about five years ago. Dr. Sweitzer shared how a similar organization in Wisconsin helped her family cope with the death of her husband, Kurt. 

Congratulations to Ariel Shirley, a graduating senior at the UA Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health who completed an internship focused on community education at the UA Sarver Heart Center. Ariel is the 2019 recipient of the Arizona Indians Into Medicine (AZ INMED) Award for Excellence and Service, presented by Alberta Arviso, PhD, a learning support specialist in the UA Health Sciences Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Following graduation, Ariel plans to pursue a master of public health degree via the UA online program while working as a program assistant for the Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE) Food Access Program. COPE works in partnership with the Navajo Nation Community Health Representative Outreach Program to improve the lives of those living with chronic diseases in Navajo. 

If you missed Ariel's blogpost, "Running at Dawn: A Diné Cultural and Health Teaching," click on the "Read more" link. 

What's the connection between heart disease and diabetes? Learn why people who are living with diabetes  too often progress to heart disease. Join us  Saturday, Sept. 28 for a "Lunch & Learn" program presented by the UA Sarver Heart Center Women's Heart Health Education Committee. 

Wilbur signs up to learn more!

Have you ever wondered what you can do, personally, to beat heart disease?  Consider becoming part of the UA Sarver Heart Center Biorepository. Our clinical research team will warmly welcome you to participate whether or not you have heart disease or a known risk factor. Enrollment  means completing a questionnaire, signing an informed consent form that allows researchers to view your electronic medical record and donating about three tablespoons of blood. These blood samples will help scientists better understand heart disease to improve care and treatment now and in the future. Click on the Cardiology Research Registry link to get started. 

Danielle Spencer-Bearham, a UA senior graduating with a degree in biomedical engineering, competed as a UA GymCat while also working in the Goldman-Juneman Lab. She received a Sarver Heart Center Investigator Award for her work. Donors make such research awards possible. After graduation, Dani will work as an intern at a Phoenix biomedical company. Congratulations, Dani!