WellDOM Chess Club meetup offers valuable respite for ‘royal game’ fans

July 9, 2025
David Mogollon, Communications Manager, Department of Medicine

Part of a wellness initiative between the Department of Medicine and Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, the event drew 10 chess enthusiasts who played several round-robin matches at AWCIM’s Iris Cantor Building. See mini-photo gallery.

The first meetup of the Department of Medicine-sponsored Chess Club — part of the WellDOM Initiative started in March by Serena Scott, MD, MBA, DOM vice chair for faculty development and wellness, with the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine — came off with more than a few checks and mates, all in the name of a greater sense of camaraderie among colleagues.

[A photo of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine complex at 1502 E. Mabel St. in Tucson, with photos inset from the WellDOM Chess Club meeting hosted there July 7.]

A photo of the main building at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine complex at 1502 E. Mabel St. in Tucson, with photos inset from the WellDOM Chess Club meeting hosted there July 7.

Department of Medicine

The event was hosted the evening of July 7 in the Iris Cantor Building of the Andrew Weil Center on Mable Street with 10 people taking part in the matches, learning from each other about this ancient board game that spans at least 1,500 years with its first European exposure in Valencia, Spain, in A.D. 1450 and its roots in sixth century India. Chess is also known as “the game of kings” and “the royal game.”

Participants included a medical student, two internal medicine residents, four DOM faculty and a staff person, and a diagnostic radiology resident and his wife.

“In a world of codes and crises, the chessboard is our wellness retreat — quiet, focused, fun and deeply human. Checkmate may end a game, but teamwork begins the moment we sit across the board from each other,” said Anil K. Potharaju, MD, associate chief for the DOM's Division of Inpatient Medicine at Banner – University Medical Center South and one of three faculty who organized the Chess Club along with the Division of Nephrology’s Venkatesh Aryamuthu, MD, and Division of Cardiology’s Talal Moukabary, MD.

“It was uplifting to see medical students, residents and faculty gather from across the college to enjoy a shared love for the game of chess — from FIDE*-rated players to beginners like myself,” Dr. Moukabary said. “The evening was both relaxed and energizing, with chess serving as a spark for friendship and a bridge between learning and laughter.”

He said he was very appreciative of Drs. Ariyamuthu and Potharaju for their efforts, as well as those of Dr. Scott in bringing the WellDOM Chess Club into existence. He also thanked AWCIM Director Stephen Dahmer, MD, and AWCIM Building Curator Eddie Latham-Jones for generously hosting the event and the crucial logistics in making it happen.

Dr. Aryamuthu noted that, while scores were not kept, Class of 2026 COM-T medical student Rohan Mittal seemed to be the overall winner for the evening. Dr. Potharaju underscored that, really, everyone attending was a winner.

“I know I learned a thing or two, such as you can’t castle when you’re in check and the king cannot move through a possible check when castling,” said David Mogollon, DOM communications manager. “I have a newfound respect for the game. It was a lot of fun. And hats off to Rohan, who thoughtfully explained a few things to me about chess I did not know.”

[Image of flyer for WellDOM Initiative Chess Club Meeting, July 7, 2025, 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine]

Dr. Scott noted all participants rated the event five stars on a 1-5 scale, which spoke well for its value. Comments from a post-event survey included:
     •    “I definitely felt less stressed after the chess meetup.”
     •    “I felt more connected to my peers.”
     •    “The meetup provided a meaningful break from work.”
     •    “I believe activities like this can support wellness.”

Dr. Aryamuthu added that a second WellDOM Chess Club Meeting will be held in mid-August, so look on the DOM Events webpage and for flyers (see sample at left) to be posted for the date, time and location. He added that he’d eventually like to host an annual U.S. Chess Federation (USCF-rated) tournament in the future depending on interest.

Other attendees included Nathan Holt, DO (PGY-1 radiology resident) and his wife; Asael Nuñez, MD (PGY-2 IM resident); Enkhtsogt “Steve” Sainbayar, DO (PGY-3 IM resident), and Bijin Thajudeen, MD (Division of Nephrology faculty and DOM vice chair for community engagement and partnership).

*FIDE = Fédération Internationale des Échecs, or International Chess Federation (in French)

(Photos courtesy of David Mogollon, Venki Aryamuthu, MD, and Talal Moukabary, MD.)

MINI-PHOTO GALLERY
Click images to enlarge and for captions:

[Host for the WellDOM Chess Club meetup on July 7, the Iris Cantor Building sits behind the main building of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the intersection of Mabel Street and Vine Avenue just west of the UAHS Health Sciences Innovation Building.]
[Inaugural WellDOM Chess Club meeting participants lock in on moves they’d like to make: (table on left) Steve Sainbayar, DO (PGY-3 IM resident) and Nephrology’s Bijin Thajudeen, MD; (table on right) Asael Nuñez, MD (PGY-2 IM resident – in maroon top), Inpatient Medicine’s Anil Potharaju, MD, and Nathan Holt, DO (PGY-1 radiology resident – in black top), and his wife.]
[Mrs. Holt (table on right) makes a move.]
[Pondering a plan of attack or defense: Asael Nuñez, MD (PGY-2 IM resident – in maroon top), Inpatient Medicine’s Anil Potharaju, MD, and Nathan Holt, DO (PGY-1 radiology resident – in black top), and his wife.]
[J’adoube: Nephrology’s Bijin Thajudeen, MD, with hand on his queen, looks for the best place to place her, as Steve Sainbayar, DO (PGY-3 IM resident) strategizes a follow-up move.]
[Nathan Holt, DO (PGY-1 radiology resident – in black top), and his wife laugh about the turn of events in their chess match.]
[Nathan Holt, DO (in black top – PGY-1 radiology resident), and Inpatient Medicine’s Anil Potharaju, MD (to Dr. Holt’s left), both decide to move their pawns at same time. The question is to which square.]
[Class of 2026 COM-T medical student Rohan Mittal and Venki Aryamuthu, MD, play at a higher rate of speed and decision-making in their match.]
[DOM communications manager David Mogollon (on left in green shirt) looks for all the ramifications a move he might make may have on his opponent Rohan Mittal’s next move.]
[At each table, chess players chat with each other about moves they’re making learning from more experienced players in the process and finding out more about them, their backgrounds and what sparked their interest in “the king’s game.”]
[The Division of Cardiology’s Talal Moukabary, MD (right), and Class of 2026 COM-T medical student Rohan Mittal give hard thought to each other’s next play as their match progresses: “I really appreciate all the work done to make this happen. I hope we make it a monthly event,” Dr. Moukabary said.]
[From left, Cardiology’s Talal Moukabary, MD, Nephrology’s Venkatesh Aryamuthu, MD, and Inpatient Medicine’s Anil K. Potharaju, MD — organizers of the evening’s festivities — enjoy a last match of the night, July 7 at the AWCIM Iris Cantor Building: “I was really tired after a long day and still couldn't leave the venue until the doors closed – the people were awesome!” Dr. Potharaju said.]

Contacts

David Mogollon
mogollon@arizona.edu
520-626-1137