Suicide Rates Increasing in Arizona
The Arizona Department of Health Services just released a report on suicides and self-inflicted injuries in Arizona over the last decade, based on information in death certificate and hospital discharge databases. Understanding suicide rates over time gives our communities and partners information about populations to target for intervention. Reducing suicide is one […]
Arizona’s Top Baby Names of 2018
Here it is, Arizona’s top baby names for 2018! For a third year in a row, Emma tops the list for most popular baby girl name and Liam takes the number one spot for boys. The top five girl names in 2018 are Emma, Olivia, Mia, Isabella and Sophia. The top five boy names are Liam, Noah, Sebastian, Oliver and Benjamin.
The Arizona WIC Program is Open
The Arizona WIC program provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and connections to community services for income-eligible women who are pregnant and postpartum, infants, and children up to five years old.
Arizona WIC is a federally- funded supplemental nutrition and education program that serves almost 135,000 women, infants, and children each month […]
Arizona Mission of Mercy Event
Oral health is more than just a nice smile. Having good oral health improves a person’s ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew and eat. Tooth decay and gum disease have been linked with other serious health problems like heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as premature births. Given […]
Updated Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
For the first time in 10 years, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has updated national physical activity guidelines with evidence-based recommendations for everyone ages three and up to get the physical activity they need to stay healthy. I am excited about these updated guidelines as they support […]
2018 State Heath Assessment
Did you know the average life expectancy can vary by as much as 14 years depending on where you live in Arizona? Did you know that Arizona has seen an 85% drop in teen pregnancy in the past decade? And did you know Arizona has lower rates of cancer and heart disease […]
About the Director
Cara M. Christ, M.D., M.S. became Director for the Arizona Department of Health Services in May 2015. Dr. Christ has served the agency for more than nine years. Among her many accomplishments at ADHS, Dr. Christ collaborated with health partners and stakeholders to develop strategic plans for infectious disease prevention and control including the Governor’s Council on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response. She was involved in leading statewide efforts during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and worked with partners to find solutions to improve childhood vaccination programs. In 2012, Dr. Christ managed the development and implementation of 20 Articles of Arizona Administrative Code for Health Care Institutions allowing integration of physical and behavioral health services statewide. Dr. Christ obtained her master's degree in microbiology with an emphasis in molecular virology and public health. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Follow the Director on Twitter @DrCaraChrist.
