May was Hepatitis Awareness Month and our staff worked with several partners to promote awareness about hepatitis and hold testing events during the week of National Hepatitis Testing Day. The work paid off with our partners hosting 13 sites in Arizona, only one state in the country hosted more.
More than 200 people were tested for hepatitis C in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties! An educational and testing day event in Phoenix had more than 90 people in attendance where 37 people were tested for hepatitis C and 18 people received the hepatitis A/B vaccine. In Apache Junction, at least 95 people were tested for hepatitis C. In Tucson, more than 70 people were tested for hepatitis C. This is the first time that Arizona has had this many hepatitis testing events in one week. We will work to continue testing at-risk populations and educating the public about hepatitis A, B, and C.
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.
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