Banner Health

10/27/2025

Missing sleep doesn’t just drain our energy. Poor sleep can also alter how the body handles blood sugar (glucose). And for those with diabetes, it could make managing blood sugar even more difficult.

Poor sleep can affect your blood sugar. Learn how sleep patterns and stress affect blood sugar, insulin resistance and diabetes. Get tips to improve sleep.

10/27/2025

Eric M. Reiman, MD, an internationally renowned Alzheimer’s researcher and chief executive officer of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, has earned AZBio Pioneer Award for lifetime achievement, the state’s highest bioscience honor. The award is extended to an Arizonan whose body of work has made life better for people at home and around the world.

Dr. Reiman, who was presented the honor on Oct. 15, is a pioneer in the scientific and clinical fight against Alzheimer’s disease, biomarker, genetic, and neuroscientific research, and the development of new models of collaboration and resource sharing. He leads the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix and Tucson and Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City. He is also director of the Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, a leading example of statewide collaboration in biomedical research.

“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition on behalf of my fantastic colleagues and collaborators,” said Dr. Reiman. “I’m indebted to our heroic research participants, our valued patients and family caregivers, and our incredible supporters for giving us a chance to fulfill our lifetime goals.”

Dr. Reiman received his research training in the lab that invented PET and galvanized brain mapping research at Washington University in St. Louis. After moving to Arizona in 1988, he and his colleagues established a leading brain imaging research program at the then-Samaritan Health System, which later became Banner Health, and established close collaborations with leading researchers throughout the state. In paradigm-changing studies, they characterized brain regions involved in human memory, emotion, appetite regulation and pain.

During that time, Dr. Reiman and his colleagues introduced the idea of detecting and tracking Alzheimer’s disease long before the onset of symptoms in people at increased risk, as well as using this approach to speed up the evaluation and FDA approval of promising prevention therapies. In 1996, their landmark New England Journal of Medicine article demonstrated the ability to detect characteristic brain changes in healthy middle-aged people at increased genetic risk. Soon after, he and his colleagues established the Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, a leading example of statewide collaboration in biomedical research and a destination center in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

In late 2006, he and his colleagues established Banner Alzheimer’s Institute to find and support approval of the first effective Alzheimer’s prevention therapy within 20 years, establish a standard of care that better addresses the medical and nonmedical needs of cognitively impaired patients and their families, and forge new models of collaboration in biomedical research. In 2012, their Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative (API) received NIH, industry and philanthropic support for the very first prevention trial of an investigational drug therapy in healthy people who are at increased risk for the clinical onset of Alzheimer’s disease (based on their genetic background or biomarker findings). The collaborative prevention trial, which was conducted in Colombian members of the world’s largest autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease kindred — including 1,200 people who carry a genetic mutation that makes that destined to develop Alzheimer’s at an early age — was named one of the “World Changing Ideas” by Scientific American.

In addition to his other roles, Dr. Reiman is a professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, university professor of neuroscience at Arizona State University, a TGen Senior Scientist, and board chair of the Flinn Foundation. Working closely with Jerre Stead, he and his colleagues co-founded a company called AlzPath to help fulfill the promise of blood tests in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Its pTau217 antibody was named one of TIME Magazine’s “Best Inventions” and licensed to several diagnostics companies for their Alzheimer’s blood tests. He is an author of more than 800 publications, inventor of several patents, leader of numerous NIH grants, and recipient of the Potamkin Prize, considered the Nobel Prize in Alzheimer’s research.

10/26/2025

Burns are one of the most common household injuries in children. They can happen in seconds, so it’s important for parents and caregivers to know how to prevent them and what to do if they happen.

Learn how to protect your child from burns at home. From safe water temperatures to kitchen and appliance safety, these tips help keep your family safe.

10/26/2025

Hepatitis is a serious condition, but with proper diagnosis, treatment and lifestyle changes, it can be managed effectively. Those at risk or who have symptoms of hepatitis should talk to a health care provider about getting screened and receiving appropriate treatment.

Hepatitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the liver, an important organ that helps your body absorb nutrients, filter toxins, and fight infections. When the liver is inflamed, it may not function properly.

10/26/2025

Living with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) can make everyday movement difficult.

When you have this rare heart condition, blood protein deposits form amyloid fibrils that cause the heart to stiffen, so it doesn’t relax and fill as easily between beats. This can lead to shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and swollen legs.

With your doctor’s approval and supervision, however, exercise can be not only safe for many people with ATTR-CM but also beneficial. The key is to work out safely and within your limits while heeding advice from your healthcare team. (via Everyday Health)

Learn safe exercise strategies for living with ATTR-CM. Discover benefits and risks, as well as how to start exercising with medical guidance.

10/25/2025

Individuals living with psoriasis can experience patches of thick, scaly and raised rashes on different areas of the skin. Finding a balance of skincare and self-care practices is the best way to reduce symptoms and manage flare-ups.

If you are one of the eight million people in the US affected by psoriasis, then keep reading to learn about the importance of self-care and skincare.

10/25/2025

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has been used to treat trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But researchers are now finding that EMDR may also help people manage chronic pain. Chronic pain can touch every part of a person's life, but it doesn’t have to control it. EMDR therapy helps retrain the brain and nervous system, lowering the emotional weight of pain and allowing more space to heal.

Chronic pain can affect more than just your body. It can affect your mental health too. Learn how EMDR therapy may help ease your pain and help you heal.

10/25/2025

Banner Health has re-opened a renovated and expanded emergency department at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, supported by charitable gifts from Thunderbirds Charities and Salt River Project to the Banner Health Foundation.

The renovation of one of the busiest emergency rooms in the state includes 9,800 square feet of remodeled interior space, with 4,100 square feet of additional space and a reconfigured patient driveway for improved access. The emergency department re-opened on Wednesday.

“What we have done is enhance the ‘front end’ process, creating two separate waiting rooms for adults and pediatric patients,” said Laura Robertson, chief executive officer of Banner Desert Medical Center. “This will improve the experience, the timeliness for providing care, and allow for more patient privacy.”

In addition to separate adult and pediatric waiting areas, the remodel includes two pediatric triage rooms, 15 pediatric treatment rooms, four “quick look” rooms and six “results waiting” spaces. The adult side now includes 15 fast track exam rooms, four triage rooms, five “quick look” rooms, and 20 “results waiting” spaces.

“This project reflects the spirit of our community — coming together to support families in times of need,” said Juana Hernandez, SRP senior community engagement strategist. “SRP is proud to partner with the Banner Foundation on this new space, designed to offer comfort, safety, and compassionate care during life’s most challenging moments. Banner has long been a trusted and essential resource for our community, providing support to families when it matters most.”

The project was made possible through philanthropic support from Thunderbirds Charities, which contributed $450,000, part of a continuing partnership with Banner Health Foundation dating back to 2006, and SRP, whose support of Banner Health began in 1982. Representatives from both organizations took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 17 in advance of the opening and are recognized on internal signage.

“Most of us are fathers, so the idea of a pediatric emergency unit serving these vulnerable families, it definitely tugs at our heart strings,” said Matt Mooney, Big Chief of The Thunderbirds. “We are honored to participate, and we look forward to hosting the best golf tournament in the world, the WM Phoenix Open, so we can continue to support projects like this.”

The Thunderbirds, who run the annual Phoenix Open, use proceeds from the tournament to support numerous nonprofit organizations throughout the Phoenix area.

Along with the supporting organizations, local mom Kiersten Haney was on hand during the opening ceremony with her daughter Juliet, who recently was treated in the emergency department and subsequently at Banner Children’s at Desert.

“From the moment we walked in, I knew we were in good hands. The whole team that took care of Juliet was so well coordinated,” Haney said. “As a registered nurse myself, I know the amount of effort that was going on behind the scenes. And I am so grateful to all who were involved.”

The expansion addresses critical community needs in the rapidly growing East Valley, where the population has grown from 900,000 residents in 2006 to more than 1.5 million today. The Banner Desert emergency department serves approximately 120,000 patients annually – roughly 321 patients per day, or one every five minutes – with about 30% consisting of pediatric patients up to 18 years old.

Banner Desert serves as a Level I trauma center, treating adult and pediatric patients.

“Our care needs to start the moment they walk through these doors,” Robertson said. “So what you are seeing is a significant investment from Banner, SRP and the Thunderbirds, it’s an investment in the overall experience for those patients.”

10/25/2025

Over 7 million American over 65 years old are living with Alzheimer's disease— a condition affecting the function and memory of its host.

Researchers at Banner Medical are working to lower that number, researching treatment and prevention methods to change the outcome for patients and their families. (via KGUN 9)

Alzheimer's disease affects 7.2 million Americans over 65 years old. Researchers at Banner Alzheimer's Institute are looking to lower that number.

10/24/2025

In honor of Banner Health and University of Arizona Health Sciences' 10-year partnership to advance academic medicine across the region, a new economic study shows the partnership delivers an estimated $59 billion in total economic impact for Arizona. Of that, Banner – University Medicine contributes more than $55.7 billion.

Together, this collaboration sustains 35,500 jobs each year, drives innovation in research and education and expands access to leading-edge care across the state.

Banner Health President and CEO Amy Perry and Board Chair Anne Mariucci joined U of A President Suresh Garimella and Arizona Board of Regents Chair Doug Goodyear in a panel discussion to reflect on the impact of this shared mission and what Arizonans can expect in the years ahead.

10/24/2025

When searching for a new health care provider, it's important to think about factors such as gender, age, care philosophy, and training. Considering some key elements can help to identify the best partner to support one's health and lifestyle.

Choosing a new doctor for yourself or your family might feel daunting. But you can make the process easier by thinking about what’s important to you.

10/24/2025

Congratulations to Casper, Wyoming, recently named one of the 10 safest cities in America!

We’re proud to be part of this thriving community through Banner Wyoming Medical Center, where our dedicated team provides expert, compassionate care to our neighbors across the region.

Here’s to Casper—where safety, community and quality health care go hand in hand.

Safest Cities in America in 2025