GGP faculty papers zero in on residency application shifts, Medicare plans and cervical cancer screenings

The Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, or GGP, in the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Medicine, cited three recently published papers written by its faculty with key findings on three separate topics:

• “State-Level Disparities in Residency Applications after Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization,” by GGP assistant professor Anna Morenz, MD, MPH, and University of North Carolina’s Anisha Ganguly, MD, MPH, and University of Washington’s Anirban Basu, PhD, MS | JAMA Network Open, March 2, 2026
• “Reflections on Medicare Open Enrollment: Be wary of Medicare Dis-advantage plans,” by Mindy Fain, MD (GGP division chief and Center on Aging director), and Georgetown’s Karl Eric De Jonge, MD | American Journal of Medicine, Jan. 24, 2026
• “Updates in cervical cancer screening: a practical guide for the internist,” by GGP associate professor Joy Bulger Beck, MD, MS, and assistant professor Anna Morenz, MD, MPH | American Journal of Medicine, Jan. 9, 2026

The first study prompted an interview on the topic by KJZZ-Radio NPR Phoenix, which appeared in March and can be found among faculty Media Mentions on the DOM Internal Resources website.

In the KJZZ interview, Dr. Morenz notes the JAMA-published study found medical residency applications dropped in abortion-restricted states since the 2022 Dobbs ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. With the November 2024 passage of Proposition 139, which enshrined reproductive freedom in the state constitution, and court rulings since that blocked a prior 15-week ban passed in 2022 by the legislature, Arizona is no longer a restricted state.

In reference to her paper, Dr. Fain noted, “Unfortunately, for-profit MA (Medicare Advantage) plans do not fulfill the promise of their ‘Advantage’ name. Rather than prioritizing our patients’ wellness, they aim to optimize profits and end up costing taxpayers more while delivering less care. We can do better.”  

Several articles have offered similar criticisms of Medicare Advantage Plans in recent months, including from the National Council on Aging, Kaiser Family Foundation, Boomer Benefits, GoodRx, Nature and Medicare itself. See this CMMS link to compare types of Medicare Advantage Plans.

Dr. Fain’s commentary was reposted in February by DeepDyve, R Discovery and EM Consulte.

The third paper, with Dr. Bulger Beck as lead author, was republished in March and April by ScienceDirect and EM Consulte. Its initial publication coincided with Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

Another paper by Dr. Morenz that appeared online in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology in December (and in its March print issue) earned her another Media Mention in DocWire News in January. That study evaluated Area Deprivation Index (ADI) data and kidney transplant wait-listing times, determining individualized interventions would help improve transplant access in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

She also is lead author on a study that appears in Health Affairs Scholar’s April issue that compares “healthcare utilization after hospital discharge in Medicaid managed care versus fee-for-service.”

Dr. Morenz’s research focus on health disparities in access to primary care is further explored in a College of Medicine – Tucson story that posted April 24 to the college’s news webpage.

EXTRA: Serena Scott, MD, MBA, picked for leadership program

In other GGP division news, associate professor Serena Scott, MD, MBA, the Department of Medicine’s vice chair for faculty development and wellness, was chosen for the Leader RoundTable program for the 2026-27 cohort.

It’s a year-long program through the Wellbeing Collaborative of Arizona Healthcare Workforce designed for emerging leaders committed to healthcare workforce well-being. The program is led by Stephen Swensen, MD, creator of the Swensen model of wellness that Banner Health’s Cultivating Happiness in Medicine (CHIM) program is based upon. This year’s program kicked off April 8 and will wrap up on April 8, 2027.

Dr. Scott also was a member of the 2018 LEAD Certificate Program for the Association of Chiefs & Leaders of General Internal Medicine (ACLGIM-LEAD) as well as the inaugural 2025 cohort of the Advanced Healthcare Leadership Academy, a collaborative venture by the College of Medicine – Tucson and Eller College of Management and its Eller Executive Education Program.

ALSO SEE:
“Passions for women’s preventive health and tackling the primary care shortage fuel a physician’s research program” | Posted April 24, 2026
“Mindy J. Fain, MD, named director of the University of Arizona Center on Aging” | Posted March 9, 2026
“DOM clinicians make up third of Tucson Banner Health Heroes in 2025” | Posted Feb. 12, 2026
“DOM faculty celebration lauds achievements of newly promoted” | Posted Oct. 14, 2025
“New DOM awards honor 20 faculty members in 2025” | Posted June 5, 2025
“Six divisions split 17 promotions for DOM faculty members in 2025” | Posted May 27, 2025
“College of Medicine – Tucson leadership fellowship graduates include four from DOM” | Posted May 8, 2025
“SOAR in DOM Forum promotes greater exchange in growing DOM research community” | Posted April 29, 2025