Banner – University Medicine Supports First-Year UA Medical Students with New Stethoscopes
For the second year in a row, Banner – University Medicine will provide each new medical student at the UA College of Medicine – Tucson a stethoscope. The gift of 120 stethoscopes is valued at $20,500.
New medical students at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson typically have to buy their first stethoscope. But for incoming students in the Class of 2023, the purchase won’t be necessary.
Banner – University Medicine, the medical school’s clinical partner, has purchased a new stethoscope for each student in the class. The generous gift amounts to $20,500.
“We are pleased that these students have chosen to continue their academic journeys and pursue careers in medicine,” said Peter Fine, president and CEO of Banner Health. “This investment from Banner is just a small token of our appreciation for their dedication and commitment to creating healthier communities in Arizona and throughout the United States.”
An enduring symbol of medicine, stethoscopes are an essential part of medical education and one of the very first tools medical students learn to use. With the assistance of physician-mentors, students learn to conduct physical exams and use a stethoscope early in the medical school curriculum.
“Receiving and learning to use a stethoscope is a rite of passage for doctors,” said Irving Kron, MD, interim dean of the College of Medicine – Tucson. “I am so pleased that Banner has chosen to assist our students in this meaningful way. I still remember my first stethoscope and I am sure our students won’t forget theirs either.”
The Class of 2023 is made up of 59 women and 60 men, ranging in age from 21 to 46. Seventy-seven percent of the class members are Arizona residents, including 31 Tucsonans. Nearly 50 percent of the class members hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from the UA.
EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: The new stethoscopes will be presented to incoming students at the 2019 White Coat Ceremony on Friday, July 26, at 5 p.m. in Centennial Hall (1020 E. University Blvd).
About the UA College of Medicine – Tucson
The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson is shaping the future of medicine through state-of-the-art medical education programs, groundbreaking research and advancements in patient care in Arizona and beyond. Founded in 1967, the college boasts more than 50 years of innovation, ranking among the top medical schools in the nation for research and primary care. Through the university's partnership with Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health-care systems in the country, the college is leading the way in academic medicine. For more information, please visit medicine.arizona.edu.