The University of Arizona College of Medicine offers
a three-year ophthalmology residency program combining clinical
training, academic activities, and research opportunities. Two first
year positions are available at the PGY-II level.
The Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science attending clinical
staff consists of eight full-time and four part-time members. There
are eight full-time research faculty, a large associate staff of
volunteer faculty, two full-time optometrists, and a supporting
staff of technical personnel.
The University of Arizona Department of Ophthalmology and Vision
Science is a major southwestern referral center. Residents participate
in state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic interventions with
patients.
Note from the Residency Director
The University of Arizona Ophthalmology Residency Program
is located in Tucson, Arizona. Tucson is a medium
-sized, sun-belt city where the lifestyle is relaxed, the
dress casual, and the cost of living affordable. Leisure activities
center around the outdoors and the surrounding desert. The
University of Arizona is a huge resource and brings many cultural
events to the city.
The University of Arizona Ophthalmology Residency Program
is a small, but extremely active resident-focused program.
We currently have two residents a year, for a total of six
residents throughout the three-year period.
Admission into our program is extremely competitive, as we
typically receive over 200 applications for the two positions
available each year. Potential residents applying to this
program should have strong academic qualifications, interpersonal
skills, and research experience. A premium is placed on interpersonal
skills and the ability to interact closely with colleagues
and peers. We take a great deal of pride in the fact that
this program provides an extremely pleasant environment in
which to live and work.
The strength of this residency program lies in its strong
clinical and surgical volume. Most residents perform approximately
120 cataract surgeries by the time they finish their training.
In addition, extensive clinical and surgical experience is
available in the subspecialty areas of glaucoma, strabismus,
retina, external disease, and oculoplastic surgery. A state-of-the-art
wet lab with full Leica operating microscope and Alcon Accurus
Vitrector/Phacoemulsifier is available 24 hours a day.
The basic science curriculum is a required part of the didactic
program. The second year residents attend the Wills Eye Course;
the Department pays for the course, travel, and housing. Additionally,
formal weekly lectures and clinical rounds are the core of
the didactic program. Residents are encouraged to complete
a research project during the residency training, and the
results may be presented at Residents’ Day. Residents
are rewarded for their research efforts, and travel is provided
to national meetings at which their work is accepted.
In conclusion, this program is demanding but very rewarding.
Residents are given the tools they need to enter either general
ophthalmology practice or pursue further subspecialty training.
Our residents are very satisfied with their experience here
in Tucson and are prepared to practice ophthalmology and become
Board certified after graduation. |
Affiliated Hospitals
During the first year of residency training, the majority
of the time is spent at the outpatient ophthalmological facilities
located near the campus of the University
of Arizona. |
University Physicians Healthcare Clinics at Alvernon
|
Arizona Health Sciences Center
|
Consultations, emergency visits, and outpatient surgery
are performed at the Arizona
Health Sciences Center. This facility, located near the
campus of the University of Arizona, is adjacent to the University
of Arizona College of Medicine, and affords all the benefits
of a university teaching hospital. In the hospital, eye rooms
are in the inpatient area as well as in the emergency room. |
An ambulatory surgery center is
located across the street from the Department. There
is also an optical shop on the premises. |
 UPH
Surgery Center
|
The Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Healthcare
System maintains a fully staffed outpatient and inpatient
surgical facility, and is staffed by third year residents
and University attendings. |
Southern Arizona Veterans
Administration Health Care System
|
University Physicians Healthcare Hospital at
Kino Campus |
The University
Physicians Healthcare Hospital at Kino Campus has inpatient,
outpatient, and surgical facilities. This facility is staffed
by attendings and occasionally first and second year residents.
Emergency room coverage is provided by resident call. The
Department has applied for a residency program to begin July
2008. |
Academic Program
The foundation of the residency didactic program is weekly rounds,
and lectures every Wednesday and Friday morning. Residents present
clinical cases weekly at rounds on Friday mornings. The Department
of Ophthalmology and Vision Science also sponsors Grand Rounds and
evening lectures programs with visiting speakers, and both are venues
for interaction with the community physicians. Semi-annual oral
exams are given to measure resident progress. Written tests on specific
topics are also administered approximately twice a year. Residents
also take the OKAP exam annually. Residents are given formal reviews
of their progress every six months.
The Department has a 50-person conference room with multimedia
capability. There is a computer area with Internet access, and an
on-site library with recent ophthalmic publications and references.
Clinical Training
During the three-year residency, residents assume increasing
responsibility for patient care. Residents interact directly
with medical students and assist in medical student education.
A staff member is always on call for consultation. |
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The first year residents are primarily based at the Department
of Ophthalmology outpatient facilities. During the first year,
the residents become proficient in the eye examination, and
learn to formulate treatment plans under the supervision of
an attending ophthalmologist. The first year residents see
mainly general ophthalmology patients in the outpatient clinic.
They get exposure to the areas of cornea, glaucoma, retina,
pediatric ophthalmology, neuro-ophthalmology, and contact
lenses. First year residents act primarily as assistants in
the operating room, with increasing responsibility as the
year progresses. |
Second year residents assume increasing levels of responsibility.
An outside rotation at a community retina practice occurs
during the second year. Specialty rotations at the Department
of Ophthalmology occur in the area of neuro-ophthalmology,
pediatric ophthalmology, cornea, retina, ophthalmic plastic
surgery, and glaucoma. |
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The third year residents are based at the Southern Arizona
Veterans Administration Healthcare System, where the residents
are perceived as the "doctor" to all patients. Attending
staff are present and act in a supervisory capacity, but patient
care is initiated and carried out by the third year residents
under direct faculty supervision. |
Research
The faculty of the University of Arizona Department of Ophthalmology
and Vision Science firmly believe that research experience is essential
for developing an appreciation of medical literature and scientific
methods. The Department subsidizes residents to present their research
at national meetings.
University of Arizona clinical faculty have
varied research interests in the areas of cornea, cataract
surgery, refractive surgery, myopia, glaucoma, infectious
diseases, optics, amblyopia, dry eyes, and neuro-ophthalmology.
Our research faculty have special interests in the area of
optics, cell biology, glaucoma, and visual development. The
Department has a very active clinical studies program with
special emphasis in Hispanic and Native American eye conditions.
The Department has ongoing collaborations with the University
of Arizona College of Optical Sciences, Biomedical
Engineering, Pharmacology,
and Aerospace and Mechanical
Engineering. |
College of Optical Sciences
|
Call
During the first and second year, call is approximately one night
per week and one weekend per month taken from home, covering the
three affiliated hospitals. During the third year, call is approximately
two weeks and two weekends per month for surgical backup, again
taken at home.
Benefits/Stipend
There are 22 days of vacation a year, all scheduled through
the Chief Resident and Residency Program Director. Residents accrue
one day per month of sick leave. Educational leave to make presentations
at national meetings is available, and, upon Department approval,
a travel allotment ranging from $500 to $850 is provided.
There are six holidays and four floating holidays per year. Other
benefits include medical and dental insurance, professional liability
insurance, maternity/paternity leave, and two lab coats.
Stipends for the current year are as follows: PGY-II $45,051; PGY-III
$47,562; PGY-IV $49,807. At the University, residents hold faculty
appointments and are entitled to tuition benefits and use of University
facilities at discount rates.
Prerequisites
It is a requirement of the program that residents must have satisfactorily
completed a PGY-1 program approved by the ACGME. The University
of Arizona requires that foreign medical graduates have a valid
ECFMG certificate, as well as pass the USMLE. The University sponsors
J-1 visas.
Accreditation
The University of Arizona Department of Ophthalmology is a fully
accredited residency program. The program was reviewed in
2006 and re-accredited through the year 20011.
Application Procedure
We accept applications exclusively through the Central Application
Service (CAS) of the Ophthalmology
Matching Program. We exclusively use the Central Application
Service. The address of the Central Application Service is
Ophthalmology Matching Program, PO Box 7584, San Francisco, California
94120, phone (415) 447-0350. Information about the Ophthalmology
Matching Program can be obtained on their website at http://www.sfmatch.org/residency/ophthalmology/index.htm.
Their application can be downloaded at http://www.sfmatch.org/residency/ophthalmology/central_application/cas_application.htm.
The application deadline for our residency program beginning in
July 2009 is to have the CAS application complete by mid-October.
Resident Selection
Interviews are granted to selected applicants after initial review
of completed applications by the faculty. A personal, on-site interview
is required. The Ophthalmology Matching Program is used to match
all incoming residents. Interviews are typically held on Friday
and Saturday of the second weekend in December. Each applicant
interviews with the full-time clinical faculty, several of the research
faculty, and meets all of the current residents.
Internship Opportunities in Tucson
The Tucson Hospitals Medical Education
Program (THMEP) offers a transitional year. For more information,
contact THMEP at 5301 E. Grant Road, Tucson, Arizona 85712, phone
(520) 324-5095, or visit their website (http://www.thmep.com/).
Faculty |
Research
Interests |
Lansing
Brown, MD
Clinical Lecturer
General Ophthalmology |
Dr. Brown concentrates on general
ophthalmic problems. |
Harry
D. Carrozza, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
General Ophthalmology |
Dr. Carrozza
has interests in ethics in medicine and ophthalmology. |
Harold E. Cross, MD, PhD
Professor |
Dr. Cross heads the Medical
Student Teaching Program. |
Velma
Dobson, PhD
Professor
Ophthalmology and Vision Science,
and Psychology
Visual Development
Electrophysiology |
Dr. Dobson's
research interests are in the area of visual acuity, visual
field, and refractive error development in infants and young
children. Current research projects include studies
of visual field extent in infants, astigmatism in Native American
children, visual development in infants with retinopathy of
prematurity, and vision screening in preschool children. |
John Greivenkamp, Jr., PhD
Professor, Optical Sciences,
and Ophthalmology and Vision Science
Ophthalmic Optics |
Dr. Greivenkamp specializes in
corneal surface modeling and ophthalmic testing (metrology). |
Erin
M. Harvey, PhD
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology and Vision Science,
and Public Health
Visual Development |
The research
interests of Erin Harvey are vision screening, critical periods
for the treatment of amblyopia in children, measurements of
visual deficits in children with amblyopia and astigmatism,
and visual perception. |
Alan
D. Marmorstein, PhD
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology and Vision Science,
and Optical Sciences
Neurodegenerative Diseases
of the Eye |
Dr. Marmorstein's research interests
include the etiology and mechanisms of age-related macular
degeneration. |
Lihua
Y. Marmorstein, PhD
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology and Vision Science,
and Physiology
Neurodegenerative Diseases
of the Eye |
Dr. Marmorstein's
research focuses on the study of inherited maculopathies reminiscent
of AMD to pinpoint the defective cellular pathways in macular
degeneration. |
Brian
S. McKay, PhD
Assistant Professor
Ophthalmology and Vision Science,
and Cell Biology and Anatomy
Neurodegenerative Diseases
of the Eye |
Dr. McKay conducts research in
RPE transplantation methods for AMD therapy, and protein expression
in glaucoma. |
| Joseph
M. Miller, MD, MPH
Professor
Ophthalmology and Vision Science,
Optical Sciences, and Public Health
Visual Development
Department Head |
Dr. Miller's
research interests include normal visual development, the
treatment of strabismus and amblyopia, the effect of refractive
error on visual development, and the development and evaluation
of ophthalmic instruments. |
John
C. Nichols, MD
Assistant Professor
General Ophthalmology and Cornea |
Dr. Nichols has research interests
in ocular surface disorders. |
Richard
R. Ober, MD
Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Residency Program Director |
Dr. Ober's research
interests include diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular
degeneration, retinal detachment, and vitreoretinal trauma. |
Lynn
Polonski, MD
Assistant Professor
of Clinical Ophthalmology
Comprehensive Ophthalmology |
Dr. Polonski is a comprehensive
ophthalmologist who has an interest in both functional and
cosmetic oculoplastics. |
Jim
T. Schwiegerling, PhD
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology and Vision Science,
and Optical Sciences
Optics |
Dr. Schwiegerling's
research interests are in the area of optical properties of
the eye, including raytracing analysis, corneal topography,
and wavefront sensing. Applications include intraoperative
and post-operative measurement of corneal shape and customized
ablation for refractive surgery. |
Rand
W. Siekert, OD
Optometrist
General Eye Exams, Contact Lens Care, including keratoconus,
aphakia, and post corneal transplants |
Dr. Siekert's interest include
refractive surgery, as well as complicated contact lens fitting. |
W.
Daniel Stamer, PhD
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology and Vision Science,
and Pharmacology
Associate Head, Vision Science
Neurodegenerative Diseases
of the Eye |
The focus of
Dr. Stamer's research is to determine the molecular and cellular
mechanisms that underlie normal and abnormal maintenance of
aqueous humor outflow in the human eye. |
J.
Daniel Twelker, OD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Ophthalmology and Vision Science,
and Public Health
Visual Development |
Dr. Twelker's research interests
include refractive error in Native American children and pediatric
refractive problems. |
Roxana
Ursea, MD
Assistant Professor
Ophthalmology and Vision Science
Cornea, Refractive Surgery,
and Uveitis |
Dr. Ursea’s clinical interests include
anterior segment disorders, laser vision correction, and challenging
uveitis cases. Her research interests include exploring new
modalities of imaging of the eye, new applications of high
frequency ultrasound, and the role of cytokines in anterior
segment disorders. |
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Residents
Third Year Residents
Erold Jean-Francois, MD
College: BS, Brigham Young University (1997-1999)
Medical School: Howard University, Washington DC (2000-2004)
Transitional Year: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine
and Science (2004-2005)
Residency: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science,
Los Angeles (2005-2007)
Sean Liston, MD
College: BS, University of Arizona (1993-1999)
Medical School: University of Arizona (2001-2004)
Transitional Year: Tucson Hospitals Medical Education
Program, Tucson, AZ (2004-2005)
Anak Shrestha, MD
College: BSc, Wheeling Jesuit University (1990-1994)
MPH, University of Arizona College of Public Health (1997-2000)
Medical School: George Washington University (2001-2004)
Transitional Year: George Washington University Hospital
(2004-2005)
Second Year Residents
Laura Howard
College: BS, University of California, Davis (1996-2000)
Medical School: Tulane University (2001-2005)
Transitional Year: University of California, Irvine (2005-2006)
Partho Kalyani
College: BS, Youngstown State University, Ohio(1999-2001)
Medical School: Northeastern Ohio Universities College
of Medicine (2001-2005)
Transitional Year: Riverside Methodist Hospital, Ohio (2005-2006)
First Year Residents
Sreenivasa Basavanthappa, MD
College: MBBS, Bangalore Medical College (1990-1996)
Medical School: All India Institute of Medical Sciences
(1998-2001)
Transitional Year: University of Arizona (2006-2007)
Brian A. Hunter, MD
College: BS, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
(1990-1995)
Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School
(2000-2004)
Transitional Year: Medical College of Wisconsin (2005-2006)
Residents Beginning July 2008
Benjamin Bakall, MD, PhD
College: PhD, Uppsala University, Sweden (1998-2003)
Medical School: MD, Uppsala University, Sweden (1993-1998,
2003-2005)
Transitional Year: University of Arizona (2007-2008)
Dawn De Castro
College: BA, University of California-Berkeley (1998-2001)
Medical School: University of California-San Francisco
School of Medicine (2003-2007)
The University of Arizona
Founded in 1885, The University
of Arizona is ranked by the National Science Foundation as one
of the top 25 academic universities in the nation. It is Arizona’s
Land Grant university.
A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities,
the UA annually receives more than $160 million in outside grants.
Nearly one-third of this amount is generated by the College of Medicine.
The University is known for its achievements in archeology, arid
land studies, astronomy, biotechnology, classics, dendrochronology,
material science, music, neuroscience, optical science, philosophy,
planetary science, sociology, and speech and hearing sciences.
The UA’s 1,300 faculty members serve nearly 35,000 students in
134 undergraduate, 141 masters, and 99 doctoral programs. The University’s
11 colleges and 8 schools are located on a grassy 334-acre campus
in the heart of Tucson, several blocks south of the Arizona Health
Sciences Center.
In addition to the vast research and educational facilities, the
University also offers students and the community a variety of entertainment,
cultural, educational, and artistic opportunities through Centennial
Hall, Arizona Center for Creative Photography, the Grace H. Flandrau
Planetarium, the Arizona State Museum, the Boyce Thompson Southwestern
Arboretum, the Mineral Museum, and The University of Arizona Museum
of Art.
To promote physical fitness among students, faculty, and staff,
the University recently built a multimillion dollar Recreation Center
that offers a 7,000 sq.ft. exercise room with state-of-the-art
weight equipment, squash courts, 3,000 sq.ft. of aerobics,
Olympic-sized outdoor pool, 14 racquetball courts, and an indoor
track.
The UA is also the home of the Wildcat basketball, football, and
baseball teams. UA athletics rank among the nation’s top 10 total
sports programs. The UA organizes intercollegiate teams in 8 men’s
and 9 women’s sports.
College of Medicine
In 1962, the Arizona Board of Regents granted authorization to
The University of Arizona to develop a College
of Medicine. Ground was broken in May 1996 for the Basic Sciences
Building, which was completed in September 1967 and occupied that
same month by the 32 students of the first class. In May 1971,
the MD degree was granted to the members of the first graduating
class; to-date more than 1,600 students have been graduated. The
College of Medicine presently has an enrollment of more than 350
full-time medical students. In addition, the College of Medicine
has 38 programs with 287 residents, 74 fellows, and 76 interns.
The Arizona Health Sciences
Center complex consists of several interconnected buildings,
on a 30-acre site just north of the main campus. These consist of
the Basic Sciences Building, the Clinical Sciences Building, Outpatient
Clinics, University Medical Center, the Arizona Cancer Center, Life
Sciences North, the College of Nursing, and the College of Pharmacy.
A new Children's Research Center and library have recently been
completed. The Arizona Health Sciences Center Library holds 165,000
volumes and 3,500 journals and is open 24 hours daily, except on
Christmas and New Year's Day. The new medical library is one of
the best medical libraries in the country. A new Heart Center is
in the planning stages.
History of the Department
The Department is one of the youngest in the College of Medicine.
The Department of Ophthalmology was founded on July 1, 1982.
Prior to that time, it was a section within the Department of Surgery.
The first ophthalmologist to join the full-time faculty in 1973
was Harold E. Cross, MD, PhD, who served as Section Chief.
The residency program opened December 1973 with one resident, Dr. Lee
Smalley, and Dr. Alan Crebo was added as the second first year
resident in July 1974. Thereafter, two residents were recruited
each year.
In 1979, Jonathan Herschler, MD replaced Dr. Cross as Section Chief,
and in February 1982 following the Regents' approval of the Department,
Dr. Herschler was made the first Administrative Head of the Department
of Ophthalmology. In 1984, Albert Potts, MD became Acting
Head of the Department, and in 1985, Barton L. Hodes, MD was appointed
as Department Head. In 1989, Robert W. Snyder, MD, PhD was
appointed Acting Head. Following a national search, Dr. Snyder
was appointed Head of the Department of Ophthalmology in July 1991.
In 1991, Joseph M. Miller, MD, MPH was appointed Director of the
Residency Program. His highest priority was to establish a
solid educational opportunity for the residents. In 2003,
Robert I. Park, MD was appointed as Director of the Residency Program.
Since 1991 and with the addition of new faculty members, there has
been a greater emphasis on excellence in clinical care within the
Department. In 2002, Dr. Noecker was named as Associate Chair
for Clinical Activities, with Dr. Snyder refocusing his efforts
on research and development and the creation of a University of
Arizona Center of Excellence. After 15 years as Head, Dr. Snyder
stepped down in 2004, and Dr. Joseph Miller was appointed Head.
Lynn Polonski, MD was named Associate Chair for Clinical Activities
and W. Daniel Stamer, PhD, as Vice Head for Research. In 2005, the
Department was renamed the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision
Science. When Dr. Park resigned in 2007, Richard Ober, MD, was appointed
as Director of the Residency Program.
Alumni
Alumni |
Post-Residency Position |
Location |
2007 |
|
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Jason E. Lee, MD |
Retina Fellowship |
University of Texas Southwest/Dallas |
Chad M. Nedrud, MD |
Cornea Fellowship |
University of California/San Diego |
2006 |
|
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Laura S. Kearsley, MD |
Cornea Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
University of California/San Diego
HI |
Khizer R. Khaderi, MD, MPH |
Private Practice Group |
Monrovia, CA |
2005 |
|
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Lisa C. Lane, MD |
Private Practice Group |
Tucson, AZ |
Parham V. Morgan, MD |
Glaucoma Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
University of Wisconsin
CA |
2004 |
|
|
Neil J. Atodaria, MD |
Glaucoma Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
University of Utah
Phoenix, AZ |
Emily L. Patterson, MD |
Glaucoma Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
Devers Eye Institute
Portland, OR |
2003 |
|
|
Brian B. Le, MD |
Private Practice Group |
Encinitas, CA |
Jason M. Levine, MD |
Glaucoma Fellowship
Private Practice Group
|
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ |
2002 |
|
|
Lisa A. Herrygers, MD |
Glaucoma Fellowship
Private Practice Group
|
University of Arizona
Bozeman, MT |
Lorne D. Kapner, MD |
Private Practice Group |
San Diego, CA |
|
|
|
2001 |
|
|
Bart A. Jones, MD |
Private Practice Group |
Belleville, IL |
Thomas F. Kelly, MD |
Private Practice Group |
Las Vegas, NV |
|
|
|
2000 |
|
|
Sean J. McCafferty, MD |
Private Practice Group |
Tucson, AZ |
|
|
|
1999 |
|
|
Gregory L. Cohen, MD |
Private Practice Group |
Reno, NV |
Chad E. Denison, MD |
Private Practice Group |
Hutchinson, KS |
|
|
|
1998 |
|
|
Casimiro Gonzalez, MD |
Private Practice Group |
Bakersfield, CA |
Lisa A. Mansueto, MD |
Plastics and Reconstructive Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
Tufts University
Phoenix, AZ |
|
|
|
1997 |
|
|
Thomas B. Osgood, MD |
Private Practice Group |
Wenatchee, WA |
Todd M. Watanabe, MD |
Pediatric Ophthalmology
and Strabismus Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
University of Minnesota
Cincinnati, OH |
|
|
|
1996 |
|
|
Lori L. Kirshner, MD |
Private Practice Group |
Palm Desert, CA |
Scott A. Limstrom, MD |
Retina Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
University of Nebraska
Anchorage, AK |
|
|
|
1995 |
|
|
Thomas K. Reid, MD |
Private Practice |
Bishop, CA |
|
|
|
1994 |
|
|
Todd W. Alternbernd, MD |
Glaucoma Fellowship
University of Arizona |
Gainesville, FL
University of Arizona
|
Robert J. Noecker, MD |
Glaucoma Fellowship
University of Pittsburgh |
Tufts University
Pittsburgh, PA |
|
|
|
1993 |
|
|
Trang D. Le, MD |
Glaucoma Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
University of Texas/Southwestern
Irving, TX |
David C. Metrikin, MD |
Retina-Vitreous Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
Southwestern Medical Center
El Paso, TX |
|
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1992 |
|
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Robert G. Fante, MD |
Plastic and Reconstructive Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
W.K. Kellogg Eye Center
Denver, CO |
Michael L. Stanko, MD |
Glaucoma Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
California Pacific Medical Center
Reno, NV |
|
|
|
1991 |
|
|
David R. Benson, MD |
Private Practice Group |
Tacoma, WA |
Michael B. Brenner, MD |
Fellowship
Private Practice |
Jules Stein Eye Institute
Thousand Oaks, CA |
|
|
|
1990 |
|
|
Judith B. Lavrich, MD |
Pediatric Ophthalmology
and Strabismus Fellowship
Private Practice Group |
Wills Eye Hospital
Langhorne, PA |
Mark D. Sherman, MD |
Uveitis Fellowship
Private Practice |
University of California/San
Francisco
San Francisco, CA |
Tucson and Arizona
Tucson is
a unique community that combines Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and pioneer
influences with the cultural offers of a modern cosmopolitan center
and breathtaking scenic beauty.
Located in a desert valley surrounded by mountain ranges, Tucson
is part of the Sonoran Desert. Days here are warm; nights are mild
year-round. With an average of 314 days of sunshine each year,
Tucson is an ideal setting for bicycling, tennis, golf, swimming,
and running. For those who prefer winter sports, the southern-most
ski area in the United States lies just an hour’s drive away in
the majestic Catalina Mountains, which rise 9,300 feet. The mountains
around Tucson attract climbers, hikers, cyclists, equestrians, picnickers,
skiers, and both amateur and professional plant and animal observers.
Many visitors are surprised at the lushness of the Sonoran Desert,
which is home to hundreds of varieties of endemic cacti, trees,
and animals. In spring, the desert may be carpeted with wildflowers,
and the summer rainy season brings dramatic lightning displays.
The metropolitan area, with a population of over 800,000, boasts
symphony, opera and light opera companies, ballet, theater, zoo,
museums of art, natural history and Arizona history, the world-famous
Sonora Desert Museum,
and other attractions. In the Tucson area are San
Xavier Del Bac Mission, Kartchner
Caverns, Biosphere, and Tubac,
the oldest European settlement in Arizona. In addition, there are
the year-round musical, theatrical, educational, and scientific
presentations of The University of Arizona.
Nearby are two major astronomical exploration centers: Kitt
Peak, which houses one of the world’s largest solar telescopes,
and Mt.
Hopkins, where the Smithsonian Institution has established the
first of a new generation of multiple-mirror stellar telescopes.
State and national parks, forests, wilderness areas, Sabino
Canyon, and the Saguaro National
Monuments are within easy reach of Tucson.
Tucson has excellent educational facilities. In addition to The
University of Arizona, Pima Community
College serves 25,000 students. Seven public school districts
serve the Tucson area, as well as many private and parochial schools.
A few famous Arizona sites include the Grand
Canyon; the red rocks of Sedona;
Oak
Creek Canyon; Tombstone,
the western town "too tough to die"; and the Organ
Pipe Cactus National Monument.
For further information contact:
Pat Broyles
Program Coordinator
(520) 322-3800 ext. 202
FAX: (520) 321-3665
email: pbroyles@eyes.arizona.edu
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Tucson
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