The Medical Student Research Program

UA Home | AHSC | College of Medicine | AZCC

What is PDF?

Ana Maria Lopez, MD, MPH, FACP
Associate Professor, Clinical Medicine and Pathology
Medical Director of the Arizona Telemedicine Program
Medical Director of the Women's Health Initiative

Associate Dean for Outreach and Multicultural Affairs
Member, Arizona Hispanic Center of Excellence

Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology

Leon Levy Cancer Center 1969F
P.O. Box 245024
Tucson AZ 85724-5024
Phone: 626-2271

Fax: 626-2225
E-mail: alopez@azcc.arizona.edu

EDUCATION:

- Bryn Mawr College, 1982 (AB), Philosophy and Chemistry
- Jefferson Medical College, 1988 (MD)
- University of Arizona, 1992-1995, (Fellow)
- University of Arizona, 1994 (MPH)

HONORS/AWARDS:

Epidemiology Fellowship Award, University of Arizona, 1993-1994

Dean's Teaching Scholar Award, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, 1996-1997

Outstanding Fellow Award, Pharmacia & UpJohn, Arizona Cancer Center, 1998

Redes En Accion, the National Hispanic Latino Cancer Network: Rising Star in Cancer Award, 2003

Developmental Research Award, 2004

American Medical Women's Association Local Legends Award, 2005

Best Practices Gold Award for Distance Learning Teaching, 2006

MAJOR AREAS OF RESEARCH INTEREST:

Dr. Lopez has a long-standing interest in reducing disparities in the access to health care services and in reducing disparities to the quality of health care that is experienced by many poor, underserved and minority populations. Dr. Lopez is involved with the following projects that seek to reduce these disparities:American Cancer Society Research Scholar GrantDr. Lopez is the Principal Investigator for a Research Scholar Grant entitled, "Examining Barriers to Minority Participation in Cancer Clinical Trials." This grant, funded for a period of four years, seeks to determine whether the beliefs of ethnically distinct populations affect the accrual of Latino/Hispanic participants to cancer clinical trials.

Arizona Telemedicine Program
Dr. Lopez is Medical Director of the Arizona Telemedicine Program (ATP), established in 1996 to increase access to specialty care for underserved populations, including ethnic minorities in the state of Arizona. In addition to providing clinical care, ATP provides clinical education to rural health care providers.

Access and Utilization of Telemedicine Health Service
In order to better understand and address the needs of Arizona's diverse population, the ATP is conducting a 2-year community-based intervention evaluation study that will provide a profile of telemedicine service utilization by different ethnic populations in order to broaden our understanding of the role of culture in the access and utilization of telemedicine health services.

Telecolposcopy
Telecolposcopy involves the use of telemedicine technology to access the cervix from a distance. Several pilot studies were undertaken to examine the efficacy and diagnostic accuracy of telecolposcopy in a tertiary and general primary care women's health clinic. Outcomes from the tertiary clinic reveal diagnostic accuracy of telecolposcopy to be consistent with in-person colposcopy.

BMT Telehomehealth
Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) requires hospitalization for up to 100 days. Due to the prolonged nature of this intervention, BMT patients experience social isolation that may be ameliorated by the implementation of a tele-home health care monitor during the in-patient stay. Adult and pediatric patients will be randomized to the tele-home health monitor or usual care. Participants randomized to the tele-home health monitor will have a monitor placed in their hospital room. The other camera will be placed in the patient's home.

Dr. Lopez's research interests include understanding what, if any, role physical activity has in supporting the physical and emotional recovery of cancer patients. Patients who are survivors of three different types of cancer have participated in or will participate in research to determine the role of physical activity in their recovery.

Although the benefits of physical activity are widely held, actual studies among cancer patients have been limited. Dr. Lopez conducted a pilot study with breast cancer patients to determine if physical activity benefited the quality of life of these patients. Study findings did suggest a positive trend in quality of life for structured, group-led, internally directed physical activity. Similar studies are being developed for colon cancer and ovarian cancer survivors.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH RESEARCH:

A medical student interested in a clinical experience with Dr. Lopez in any of the above areas would have the opportunity to learn and utilize a number of skills. Exposure to quantitative and qualitative methodologies and tool administration would be a key part of several studies listed above. In addition, the student would have the opportunity to gain experience in grant writing, as well as proposal and IRB submission processes. The student would also have the opportunity to gain valuable experience working with clinical trials, through all the stages of the clinical trial process.