Dr. Fernando Martinez to lecture on allergy and asthma Tues., June 30

Sneeze, sneeze. Cough, cough.  If you don’t have allergies or asthma, someone in your house probably does.  Ever wonder what causes these symptoms?

Fernando D. Martinez, MD, interim director of the BIO5 Institute at The University of Arizona in Tucson, can tell you. An internationally noted asthma researcher, Dr. Martinez will deliver a presentation titled, Genes and Environment at the Onset of Asthma and Allergies from noon - 1:30 p.m. on Tues., June 30 in the Kiewit Auditorium at the Arizona Cancer Center, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. in Tucson. The lecture is the latest installment of the Buffmire Lecture, sponsored by the Flinn Foundation.

Sneeze, sneeze. Cough, cough.  If you don’t have allergies or asthma, someone in your house probably does.  Ever wonder what causes these symptoms?

Fernando D. Martinez, MD, interim director of the BIO5 Institute at The University of Arizona in Tucson, can tell you. An internationally noted asthma researcher, Dr. Martinez will deliver a presentation titled, Genes and Environment at the Onset of Asthma and Allergies from noon - 1:30 p.m. on Tues., June 30 in the Kiewit Auditorium at the Arizona Cancer Center, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. in Tucson. The lecture is the latest installment of the Buffmire Lecture, sponsored by the Flinn Foundation.

Metered parking may be available along Martin and Mabel Streets, or attendees can find parking at the Highland Garage near Helen and Cherry streets. http://parking.arizona.edu/parkingmap/

Dr. Martinez is a Regents Professor, Swift-McNear Professor of Pediatrics and director of the Arizona Respiratory Center at The University of Arizona in Tucson.  His major research surrounds the natural history of childhood asthma, and the role of genetic, physiologic, immunologic and environmental factors as determinants of the risk for asthma in early life.

A graduate of the University of Chile in Santiago and from the University of Rome in Italy, Dr. Martinez served at the University of Rome, specializing in pediatric pulmonology before joining the faculty in Tucson in 1987. He has written more than 170 journal articles, book chapters and editorials and has lectured in more than 50 countries in Europe, Asia, North, Central and South America, Africa and Australia.

The Donald K. Buffmire Visiting Lectureship in Medicine, initiated in 1997, continues the Flinn Foundation’s commitment to bringing to Arizona leading practitioners and thinkers in the medical field.  The lectureship aims to offer to physicians, students and community members opportunities to hear from distinguished leaders in the field of medicine and medical education.  In 2008, the annual lecture was expanded to a biannual basis and includes presentations in both Phoenix and Tucson.

The lectureship is named for the late Donald K. Buffmire, MD, in recognition of his distinguished career as a medical practitioner in Arizona and his leadership role with the Flinn Foundation in supporting the College of Medicine.  Dr. Buffmire, who died last year, served as a board director from 1965-99, including 15 years as president and chairman.

The Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation is a privately endowed organization that awards grants to nonprofit organizations in Arizona, primarily to improve the competitiveness of the state's biomedical research enterprise.

The UA College of Medicine is the only allopathic medical college in Arizona.  Beginning in 1967 with a class of 32 students on its Tucson campus, the college today encompasses full, four-year medical-education programs in Tucson and in Phoenix.

Questions:
Rebecca Anderson, reparada@email.arizona.edu or 520.626.6177