BizTUCSON Fall 2017 Issue
From the Publisher BizTUCSON Fall 2017 Issue –
Dr. Robert C. Robbins is a world-class leader in higher education, business, medicine and scientific research. In June, Dr. Robbins officially became the 22nd president of the University of Arizona, bringing a passion for education for this $2.5 billion enterprise, that also is our region’s largest employer.
Journalist Jay Gonzales introduces us to this modern-day Renaissance man. For the past five years, Robbins served as president and CEO of Texas Medical Center, which is the largest medical complex in the world. While at the Texas Medical Center, Robbins’ wide-ranging volunteer service included: serving on the Dallas Federal Reserve board (Houston branch), serving on an independent blue ribbon committee to evaluate the Veterans Affairs health system, and the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston honored him as ‘International Citizen of the Year’ in 2016. Under his tenure, Dr. Robbins significantly enhanced the Texas Medical Center’s commitment to collaboration.
Prior to his time in Houston, Dr. Robbins served as professor and chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine and was the founding director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute.
An internationally recognized cardiac surgeon, Robbins has focused his clinical efforts on acquired cardiac diseases with a special expertise in the surgical treatment of congestive heart failure and cardiothoracic transplantation. His research work includes the investigation of stem cells for cardiac regeneration, cardiac transplant allograft vasculopathy, bioengineered blood vessels, and automated vascular anastomotic devices.
This year, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson marks a significant milestone, celebrating 50 years of innovation, research and technology. Our team has produced an in-depth special report, chronicling the rich history of the college, the exciting life-changing discoveries and the vision for the future. There’s a fascinating Q&A with Dr. Charles B. Cairns, dean of the college. Cairns is a nationally recognized leader, researcher and educator in emergency medicine and critical care. Cairns provides a nice glimpse of the future. The College of Medicine – Tucson continues a great trajectory of growth as this year there were a record number of medical school applicants.
The timeline is a great snapshot of the history of the college, highlighting the world’s first artificial wrist, the first successful total artificial heart used as a bridge to transplant led by Dr. Jack Copeland, the opening of Sarver Heart Center, Dr. Andrew Weil creating the nation’s first integrative medicine program, Dr. Gordon Ewy and Dr. Karl Kern developing chest-compression-only CPR, the beginning of a 30-year
affiliation with Banner Health, the opening of the VIPER institute to work with anti-venoms and receiving a $43 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Our next special report focuses on the front lines of economic development with our region’s economic development engine – Sun Corridor Inc. The organization continues its trajectory of success with 18 successful projects and 5,964 projected new jobs. That equates to $1.5 billion projected capital investment and $12.2 billion economic and fiscal impact over five years.
At press time a new high technology company from China, TuSimple, selected Tucson for development and testing of fully autonomous trucks. TuSimple’s economic impact is $60 million and 100 new jobs over the next five years.
And one more special report highlights the accomplishments of the YWCA of Southern Arizona over the past 100 years and its strategies for the next century to empower women and eliminate racism.
Steven E. Rosenberg
Publisher & Owner
BizTucson
