Spring Issue 2020

From The Publisher –

Talk about timing… After months of brainstorming, planning meetings, interviews, writing, photo shoots, graphic design and proofing, we were ready to publish the Spring edition of BizTucson with a cover package focusing on our remarkable “City of Wellness.” 

Then two words changed the world – coronavirus and pandemic. This is definitely the most ironic turn of events in my publishing career.

As we went to press, the U.S. government had declared a national emergency concerning the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Schools, businesses, places of worship, arts and sports events, fundraisers and business functions were postponed or cancelled. Some store shelves were bare and people began to “shelter in place” and “self-quarantine” in their homes.

This is an unprecedented life-threatening crisis facing our nation and our planet. This global pandemic is a rapidly evolving story putting every human being at risk. National, state and local governments are urging citizens to take every precaution to avoid exposure.

Yet here at home, we are fortunate to have very few cases in Tucson and Pima County. We are prepared. So there is no need to “Stop The Presses!” as the old-time newsroom command goes. In fact, our region’s health and wellness assets are more vitally important than ever. 

In this issue Donna Kreutz writes, “In the early 1970s, health visionary Dr. Andrew Weil introduced mainstream medicine to an integrative healthcare approach. In 1979, Mel and Enid Zuckerman founded Canyon Ranch to re-introduce healthy habits to those who overindulged – bringing the life-changing spa experience to men as well as women. Dr. Thomas Grogan relentlessly pursued a diagnostic tool that revolutionized cancer care and in 1985 founded Ventana Medical Systems (now Roche Tissue Diagnostics), which then attracted other bioscience companies. 

Weil changed medicine. The Zuckermans changed the spa industry. Little wonder that the University of Arizona became a beacon of bioscience and medicine – or that Tucson became known as the City of Wellness. This report spotlights some  of our health-conscious assets. 

Over the past four decades, the region’s $2.5 billion tourism industry has benefitted from the creation of internationally renowned spas Canyon Ranch and Miraval. Our region’s other world-class resorts also boast on-site spa services. Here in the Sonoran Desert we have the full spectrum of natural assets that draw visitors and add quality of life for our residents.  

In this edition, we feature Dr. Thomas Grogan’s memoir “Chasing the Invisible,” the inside story of his miraculous discoveries and how he changed the face of cancer diagnostics. Since the founding of Ventana Medical Systems, this region has become a bioscience haven, now home to more than 30 companies. Grogan made his initial discoveries when he was a professor and pathologist at the University of Arizona. Roche recently announced a timely breakthrough – a diagnostic test for the novel coronavirus that can be processed in just 3.5 hours.

In a Special Report on the 25th Anniversary of the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, Monica Surfaro Spigelman quotes Dr. Weil: “The term ‘integrative medicine’ is now totally accepted in academic discourse – and poised to influence changes in healthcare. The majority of the nation’s medical schools now have Integrative Health initiatives either in clinical care, research or education.”  

Our next Special Report is the 50th Anniversary of Patio Pools & Spas, a homegrown success story. Gene and Nicole Ragel share their family’s passion for design and building excellence, their newly forged partnership with Poolwerx and their vision for the future of their business.

We hope you relish this issue (wrapped in plastic for your protection) – and that you will help our community pull together and focus on the positive during uncertain times. Tucson has shown that it can weather adversity and we will continue to do so – again and again.

We offer our sincere wishes for the well-being of our entire community and fervently hope we all support one another through these trying times.

In the spirit of wellness…

Steven E. Rosenberg

Publisher & Owner

BizTucson