Note that Dr. Richard Carmona is the keynote speaker at UMC’s DuVal Auditorium at 1 p.m., with panel discussions later at Roy P. Drachman Hall, 1295 N. Martin Ave. Dr. Carmona was the 17th Surgeon General of the U.S. and is currently a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in AZ.

Response to Dr. Carmona’s address “A National Strategy for Health Care” will be done by Dr. J. Lyle Bootman, UA Dean of the College of Pharmacy.

Ongoing Health & Wellness Fair: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. also at Drachman Hall.

Registration deadline is next Wed. Feb. 29, go online to www.azhealthforum.org or call 520-477-1093. All events are free, and parking is free on the surface lots around UMC on Saturdays.

Learn the facts vs. the myths about how changes in health care programs, laws and policies can and will impact their lives and our economy.
Be better able to Evaluate alternative policy options being considered by Lawmakers.
Be Enabled to make better informed decisions about their own health care.
Be encouraged to Participate in the dialogue about improving health care in their own communities.

“How to be an Irrepressible Surgeon” was UMC’s Dr. Peter Rhee‘s topic of today’s speech at the Asian American Faculty, Staff & Alumni Association (AAFSAA) annual luncheon at the Tucson Marriott University Park Hotel.

He showed a slide show of his beginning in Seoul, Korea (up to age 5), then a move to Uganda near Kenya where his father worked as a surgeon, then to Europe, and ultimately the United States (high school in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, college at Georgia Institute of Technology, then Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences medical school).

Dr. Rhee has been at UMC for 3.5 years and his current research now focuses on suspended animation, resusitation, topical hemostatics (how to stop bleeding).

He is Professor of Surgery at University Medical Center (Molecular Cellular Biology), Director of the Division of Trauma Critical Care & Emergency Surgery there, and a retired US Navy Captain. He lives in Tucson with his wife and two children. More UMC bio info (click here).

This amazing trauma surgeon has worked at “M.A.S.H.-like” surgical units in Afghanistan and Iraq, and can actually sleep at night. Some of the photos he showed us of his experiences as a military surgeon overseas were extremely grisly and bloody, but realistic of the war battles.

And Dr. Rhee is probably most famous for being the emergency room doctor at UMC on January 8, 2011 when ten wounded gunshot individuals were brought there, including Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, and her two aides Ron Barber and Pam Simon. He was providing candid daily updates for over 2 weeks, and accompanied the Congresswoman & her family to Houston, Texas when she was moved there to a rehabilitation hospital on January 21.

The luncheon benefited AAFSAA scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islander students, many of whom were in the audience. AAFSAA President Dr. Ted Tong (College of Pharmacy) served as MC for the event and introduced Dr. Rhee. Mrs. Adrian Shelton, UA President Robert Shelton’s wife was at this luncheon, as well as members of Congresswoman Giffords’ staff. About 400 people were there today including faculty, staff, alumni, students and community supporters.

The Asian American Faculty, Staff and Alumni Association (AAFSAA) was established in 1989 at the University of Arizona to support and recognize the achievements and interests of Asian American faculty, staff, alumni, and students. It is the mission of AAFSAA to develop partnerships between UA organizations and community business, professional, and service organizations to promote the academic, intellectual, and cultural needs and interests of the UA community and its broader constituency and to foster greater understanding and appreciation of Asian or Pacific American traditions and heritages.

Dr. Rhee also was selected to be the Grand Marshall at the March 12 St.Patrick’s Day parade here in Tucson (click here for blog).

By the way the definition of “irrepressible” (I had to look it up and so said Dr Rhee) is:
“not able to be controlled or restrained”. Dr. Rhee’s amazingly strong character as a surgeon to handle the most horrible, traumatic war injuries/accidents/shootings etc. is a testament of that word. He showed us a slide today of a young man/patient with his face blown off by a gun, and also told us that one day in Iraq his medical unit received 6 badly wounded soldiers and 11 of their 12 legs had to be amputated.

Dr. Peter Rhee (Arizona Republic file photo)

The 2011 parade and Festival theme, “Everyday Heroes,” will center on local, national and world personalities that have made a positive difference in the lives of those they touch.

The parade will feature marchers including floats, military units, local dignitaries, media and entertainment personalities and civic, cultural and social groups. The Tucson parade has a 24-year history and provides a good time for the entire family.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Dr. Peter Rhee, UMC trauma surgeon.

We will also have representatives from TPD, TFD, several local hospitals, EMT’s, first responders, social workers, care workers, as well as scores of Tucson teachers represented. Come out and help the Irish community show support and recognize our wonderful hard working men and women of Tucson!

The Honorary Grand Marshal for this year’s parade is Father Eusebio Francisco Kino. This year marks the 300th anniversary of his passing. Father Kino was well known for his ability to create relationships between indigenous peoples and the religious institutions he represented. He fought hard for the rights of the various Sonoran tribes and their individual members. He opposed the slavery and compulsory hard labor in the silver mines. Kino also practiced other crafts and was an expert astronomer, mathematician and cartographer, who drew the first accurate maps of Pemeria Alta, the Gulf of California and Baja California. Truly an Everday Hero!

More info on Father Kino at www.padrekino.com. (Kino Heritage Society)

The Festival begins in Armory Park (220 South 5th Avenue) at 3:00 p.m. with live Irish music, dancers, entertainment, a children’s game area, and food and merchandise vendors. Irish organization, ethnic and cultural tables will be set up in the park as well. Festival Schedule TBA.

Portion of Festival Proceeds to benefit the Tucson Police Officers Association, Kids & Cops Christmas Program.

In memory of the more than one million Irish who died in the Potato Famine 150 years ago, marchers and spectators are asked to remember the hungry of Tucson. The Community Food Bank will accept canned food donations at the parade line-up
area, along the parade route and at Armory Park during the Festival.

The one hour Parade will begin at 5:30PM on 14th & Stone Avenue, wind through Downtown – Congress, Broadway and 6th Street- ending at Armory Park.

This years Parade and Festival coincides with Downtown Tucson’s 2nd Saturday Event. More info can be found at www.tucsonstpatricksday.com or www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com.

The Korean American community in Tucson is very proud of Dr. Rhee, who treated Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the other shooting victims who were brought to University Medical Center on January 8. Click here for his bio on the UMC website. He is a Professor at the University of Arizona Medical School, and did his residency at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center (General Surgery).

Wear green for this parade & festival, and again on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day.