Please take the time to renew your Maricopa County Medical Society membership. You may do so by calling the MCMS membership office at 602-252-2015 and select option zero ("0"). Thank you!

How has light impacted medicine, science and our daily lives? Come find out at the UA College of Medicine - Phoenix celebration of the International Year of Light! Guests will meet entrepreneur and professor Aydogan Ozcan, PhD, of UCLA and renowned harpist Carrol McLaughlin, PhD, of the University of Arizona. Enjoy an invigorating keynote lecture from Dr. Ozcan, a former TedX speaker, followed by a short Laser Light Concert featuring harpist Dr. McLaughlin.

The UN General Assembly 68th Session proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015). The first official event was the Opening Ceremony held at UNESCO HQ in Paris over 19-20 of January 2015. This was the beginning of a year-long series of activities all over the world. Through its affiliation with the Duke University Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics, the University of Arizona's Center for Applied Nanobioscience and Medicine also participated in the 2015 World Photonics Forum celebrating some of the earlier IYL activities focusing on the impact of light-based technologies in medicine.

Two state lawmakers are pushing to make it more difficult for some people to get medical marijuana.

And both measures may be illegal.

Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, wants to make it a crime for a woman who is pregnant to possess the drug. That would overrule any finding by her doctor that the use of marijuana is appropriate. A more far-reaching proposal by Rep. Jay Lawrence, R-Scottsdale, would strip the right to recommend the use of marijuana from naturopaths and homeopaths. That would leave only allopathic and osteopathic physicians. What makes both proposals legally questionable is that the medical marijuana law was enacted not by the Legislature but by voters.

The Arizona Constitution spells out that voter-approved measures can be altered only with a super-majority vote. It's possible that Townsend and Lawrence could get that margin. But any change needs to "further the purpose" of the original measure. And an attorney whose practice includes issues of medical marijuana says neither one meets that test.

The 2010 law allows doctors to recommend marijuana to patients with certain medical conditions. Those range from glaucoma and AIDS to severe and chronic pain. Those who get a recommendation are eligible for a state-issued card allowing them to obtain up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks.

Nearly 88,000 Arizonans currently have such cards.

Lawrence said his belief is that doctors other than MDs and DOs are essentially in the business of writing recommendations for medical marijuana, "and writing them for 'I don't feel well today.'"

"It's a money-making scheme," he said. "MDs and DOs will be more responsible."

Midwestern University Offers Hands-on Programs for High School Students in 2016

High school students interested in pursuing healthcare careers can look forward to a full slate of special programs offered by Midwestern University in 2016 in partnership with the BHHS Legacy Foundation.

Beginning on February 3rd with the Arizona Regional Brain Bee, Midwestern University will then host its annual Health Sciences Career Day on March 1st. The capstone event, the 8-day Health Careers Institute for High School Students, takes place from July 7th to the 16th.

For more information and registration, click here >>