| The Valley Fever Center for Excellence (VFCE) was established in 1995 and is located at the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System's facility (Tucson VA Medical Center) and is jointly sponsored by the University of Arizona and the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System. The Valley Fever Center for Excellence (VFCE) is a Center of Excellence in the College of Medicine with eight other centers (Arizona Arthritis Center, Arizona Cancer Center, Arizona Center on Aging, Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Arizona Prevention Center, Arizona Respiratory Center, Steele Memorial Children’s Research Center and The UofA Sarver Heart Center). The VFCE is the only center of its type and is a regional, national and international resource. It provides a multi-faceted awareness program to the public, medical practitioners and health care workers. The VFCE operates an informational HOTLINE [(520) 629-4777] for information about the disease, its diagnosis and treatment. The VFCE maintains a website (English and Spanish) and answers questions by electronic mail [ vfever@email.arizona.edu ]. Approximately 2,750 client contacts are now handled annually. The VFCE staff presents programs on Valley Fever and risk management to medical practitioners, in-service and CME accredited courses, poster presentations, health-fair exhibits and general presentations to corporate and community groups. An informational brochure is distributed on an ongoing basis to individuals, libraries, retirement communities, RV parks, clinics, hospitals, tourist and visitor bureaus, schools, civic organizations, insurance companies and businesses. Periodic publications include a quarterly newsletter and an annual report. The VFCE has also developed a Valley Fever Syllabus for Medical Practitioners (available in English and Spanish) which has been transferred into electronic media as part of an internet, self-study CME course for health care professionals. The VFCE provides information to the public, physician consultations with VFCE physicians and promotes research into all aspects of the disease. Valley Fever Evaluation and Treatment Clinics are operated each week at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System and at St. Luke’s Clinic, University Medical Center. The VFCE facilitates, stimulates and fosters research by providing a public profile for Valley Fever and by sponsoring collaboration among clinicians and research investigators. Primary areas of research are in the fields of immunology, fungal growth, and fungus adaptation within soil or during infection as well as on the development of a vaccine. Excellence in scholarly research activities is supported through the Center’s Scientific Membership Committee and Faculty, providing a vital link between the VFCE and scientific, medical, and educational research communities throughout the nation. The Valley Fever Center for Excellence (VFCE) relies solely upon tax-free donations and grants to the foundation for its continued support. Contributions to the VFCE enable it to continue its mission to find ways of reducing risk and improving medical treatment. It is through your generous donations that we are able to continue serving the public through research, education and the treatment of this disease. To support the work of the Center, please mail your check made payable to: The University of ArizonaTAX ID # 86-6004791 Our mailing address is: Telephone HOTLINE can be reached at (520) 629-4777. We can also be reached toll-free from anywhere in Arizona through the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System at (800) 470-8262. This number is for the Veteran's hospital (8:30am - 3:30pm), ask the switchboard operator for the Valley Fever Center for Excellence, extension 4777. Or send us e-mail at: John N. Galgiani, MD, Director |
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