Dear Friends,

I am pleased to once again begin my weekly e-updates to keep you informed about what’s happening at the Capitol.

This week, I’d like to share some exciting news about the University of Arizona College of Medicine- Phoenix.  Earlier this week, The College of Medicine announced its accreditation for the expansion of its Phoenix program and will be welcoming its first class of 24 students this July.

This is an important milestone for both the College of Medicine and our state.  In August 2004, the University of Arizona and Arizona State University set aside old rivalries, and joined forces to build a new medical school and biomedical campus in downtown Phoenix , previously the largest city in the country without a four-year medical school. 

Now, less than three years later, what began as a historic partnership has become a reality. The state of the art biomedical campus will help Arizona meet the health care needs of its growing population while conducting world-class research to foster medical advances to help future generations live healthier lives. 

Over the next decade, the Phoenix campus will grow from 24 medical students a year to 150, more than doubling the number of doctors graduating from Arizona schools. In addition to training new doctors, the campus will serve as a teaching and research hub for the ASU College of Nursing, NAU’s Allied School of Public Health and the U of A College of Pharmacy and College of Medicine —addressing many of our healthcare provider needs.

Through the Translational Genomics Institute (TGen), the campus will also be on the cutting edge of biomedical research, helping to grow Arizona ’s burgeoning bioscience industry, and attracting new businesses and medical professionals to Arizona .   This important work will lead to new medicines, treatments and cures and breakthroughs in diseases like autism, diabetes and cancer. 

I applaud this unprecedented partnership between the Universities, private and public sector. Together, we are creating a powerful catalyst to modernize our economy and improve health of all Arizonans.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please contact my office at

1-800-253-0883 and ask to speak to Constituent Services.