College of Medicine Catalog 2006

ARIZONA ARTHRITIS CENTER

David E. Yocum, M.D., Director

The Arizona Arthritis Center is a comprehensive arthritis research center that is university wide and contains physicians, basic scientists and allied health personnel interested in research, education and care of patients with arthritis, autoimmune diseases and related disorders.  The Center's activities cover both basic and clinical research.  Multiple programs in the area of basic mechanisms of disease in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, metabolic bone disease, scleroderma, inflammatory muscle disease, spondyloarthropathies and various autoimmune diseases are actively being pursued.

There is a large clinical pharmacology study unit within the Center. Basic work on the immunology of inflammatory cell function and the mechanisms of bone formation and destruction are being studied.  Other areas of research include neuroendoimmunology, the epidemiology of autoimmune disease in Hispanic and Native Americans and study into the mechanisms of action of a variety of immunomodulatory agents.   There is also research on the development of artificial joint prosthesis and biomaterials.  Basic educational and health sciences research in rheumatic diseases are also a focus of the Center.  Educational activities are carried on at the level of medical student, postgraduate trainees in primary care, medicine and specialists in the area of orthopedics, rheumatology, and immunology.  There are extensive programs in patient education and postgraduate and continuing educational programs in the state, region and nation. The patient care model of interdisciplinary team care is emphasized. There are programs in both adult and pediatric rheumatic disease care that provides for statewide consultative programs.

The Arizona Arthritis Center is a division of the College of Medicine reporting to the Dean of the College. This program, however, includes faculty and staff in the College as well as on main campus and is linked to staff and university physicians in University Physicians, Inc. and University Medical Center.

Centers and Divisions

2006 College of Medicine Catalog Table of Contents