Stories that connect art and discovery

Patricia Sannit received her MFA from the California College of the Arts. Her practice crosses disciplines and centers on themes of the unseen and unknowable. She has received awards including the Scult Award, Arizona Art Commission awards, and a Flash Grant. Her residencies include the Woodman Foundation, MacDowell Foundation, and Jentel Foundation. Her work is held in both public and private collections.

Paul Bendheim, MD, is a Phoenix native and Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix. He founded BrainSavers, Inc. and the Brain+Body Total Fitness Program. A board-certified neurologist, his work focuses on brain health, Alzheimer disease, and prevention through lifestyle and education.

Paul R. Standley is a Professor of Physiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix. With more than four decades of experience as a biomedical researcher, educator, mentor, and administrator, his interests span the intersections of science, art, philosophy, and the natural world.

Raffella Soldi, Ph.D. is a Research Assistant Professor in the Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery Division. Before joining TGen, Dr. Soldi was the Director of Biology at Beta Cat Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company which Sunil Sharma, MD, FACP, MBA co-founded. She was a Senior Research Associate at Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah. Dr. Soldi received her BS in Biology at the University of Turin, Italy, and received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Cellular Biotechnology from the University of Turin, Italy. Dr. Soldi brings 25 years of broad-based research experience in molecular biology, cellular biology, and biochemistry, 7 years of pharmacology research experience focused on genomics, functional genomics, translational research, biomarker discovery, and pharmacodynamics. Her research focuses on translational and preclinical studies on human cancer with ultimate goals to develop molecularly-targeted therapeutic strategies to treat human malignancies.

Rayna Gonzales is a vascular physiologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences with a joint appointment in the Translational Neuroscience Department at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix (UA COM-P). She completed her post-doctoral training at the University of California Irvine in the field of cerebrovascular pharmacology after which I was recruited and hired as a founding faculty member at UA COM-P in 2007. She and her research team study the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in regulating brain blood vessel wall function and health following stroke. Her studies aim to address critical parameters such as identify potential sex differences and further define stroke induced pathophysiology at the level of the cerebrovasculature.

Raza Mushtaq, MD, is a neuroradiologist in the Department of Neuroradiology at Barrow Neurological Institute. He is board certified in diagnostic radiology by the American Board of Radiology.Dr. Mushtaq’s expertise lies in the interpretation of neuroimaging to diagnose injuries, diseases, and disorders of the brain, spine, head, and neck. He is a member of the American College of Radiology, the American Society of Emergency Radiology, the American Society of Neuroradiology, and the Western Neuroradiological Society.Dr. Mushtaq earned his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his diagnostic radiology residency at Banner—University Medical Center in Tucson and a neuroradiology fellowship at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.