January 2025
HonorHealth Foundation is proud to celebrate more than four decades of partnering with donors to help them achieve their vision of advancing healthcare, fostering community well-being and making a lasting impact for those who come to HonorHealth for their care needs.
Trade your New Year's resolutions for New Year's Blue Zone Practices
Jumping into the new year often means making resolutions that improve your health. But most people abandon those resolutions by the middle of January.
Rather than making resolutions, commit to practices… small changes you can live with to see big results that last.
Here are some ideas:
- Walk with a buddy or group for exercise and social connection.
- Eat mindfully, enjoying every bite and stop when you're 80 percent full; this is a practice which can be learned by eating more slowly, allowing your body to respond to cues which tell us we are no longer hungry.
- Floor-sitting is a surprising act that can help you live longer and stronger. The ability to get off the floor is also a significant predictor of overall health and longevity in people over the age of 50.
- Bonus tip: Trade your coffee for a warm cup of tea. Green tea is especially good because it provides immune support for fighting winter viruses.
Learn more about how HonorHealth is driving better health for our team and our community as a sponsor of Blue Zones Scottsdale.
Renowned cardiothoracic surgeon expanding opportunities at HonorHealth
Zain Khalpey, MD, PhD, FACS, is poised to bring real-world AI tools to the bedside
Dr. Khalpey has been described as a “brilliant mind and vanguard of scientific innovation.” He has served the Arizona community since 2012 and has now embraced his role as HonorHealth’s Network Director of Artificial Intelligence.
With an international reputation for bringing clinically applied artificial intelligence to the patient bedside, Dr. Khalpey is particularly focused on how new technology can help doctors treat — and even predict — sudden cardiac death.
"Joining HonorHealth allows me to focus on putting patients first," says Dr. Khalpey. "I try to develop an emotional connection with each patient and their family — operating on a heart is more than just science. It requires a personal touch."
His focus extends to robotic coronary artery bypass, mitral valve repair, robotic atrial fibrillation ablation, total artificial hearts and using short- and long-term devices in shock and heart failure patients as well. (Dr. Khalpey and his robotic surgery team pictured above.)
Dr. Khalpey has been a champion for efforts to implement AI for advanced applications in cardiology and oncology. His passion is focusing on life-saving predictive analytics to prevent sudden cardiac crises. He is leading work at HonorHealth to build imaginative tools deployed directly at the patient bedside.
“Our AI uniquely pinpoints high-risk individuals, providing prompt alerts to medical professionals,” Dr. Khalpey explains. “This innovation holds the potential to save countless lives, but our mission reaches beyond mere survival; we aspire to prevent unthinkable medical scenarios.”
His drive to understand each patient's uniqueness has earned him immense trust. By connecting science with compassion, his patented innovations are reshaping how we predict, prevent and treat cardiovascular disease.
Larry is breathing easier after COPD treatment
Like a lot of teenagers, Larry J. started smoking when he was in high school to look cool. He also played guitar and sang.
But over the years, Larry, now 69, developed breathing difficulties. Every winter he would contract bronchitis. He proudly quit smoking when he was 45, and even remembers the exact date he quit: May 1, 2000.
But he continued to struggle with his breathing, which eventually led to a diagnosis 12 years ago of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a progressive lung disease characterized by shortness of breath, coughing, excessive sputum production and exacerbations.
Still, Larry remained active and continued to work as a Porsche auto mechanic in Scottsdale, where he has been employed since 1982. But four years ago, he contracted COVID-19, which led to persistent and progressive airflow obstructions, and a diagnosis of emphysema.
“You just cough and cough and cough,” explains Larry. “You can’t catch your breath.” He would feel severely fatigued and sick requiring antibiotics and steroids to clear it up. “After getting COPD, I was still very active, and I hiked a lot,” shares Larry. “Then, I got COVID-19 in July 2020. From that point on, my COPD got progressively and exponentially worse, year after year until I got into this study.”
Under the care of Richard Sue, MD, a lung specialist in the Multispecialty Research Division of the HonorHealth Research Institute, Larry is now part of a clinical trial, called RejuvenAir. Through this trial, both of his lungs have undergone a bronchoscopy — a procedure to unblock his airways.
Where he previously had at least four episodes a year in which he could not stop coughing, Larry has not had a single such event since undergoing his clinical trial procedure in early 2024.
“Since the procedure, I have had none, and now, I’m feeling good,” says Larry, who is back to singing, dancing and hiking again.
He recommends the clinical trial to anyone who might need it. “If they get a chance to get involved in the program, they probably should do it,” adds Larry. “I pretty much consider it a miracle.”
Learn more about how clinical trials at HonorHealth Research Institute provide new hope for patients with rare or hard to treat conditions.
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Get a dollar-for-dollar credit on your Arizona state taxes!
Donations to HonorHealth Desert Mission are eligible for the Arizona Qualified Charitable Organization Tax Credit!
Give $470 (if you file your taxes individually) or $938 (if you file your taxes jointly), and you can receive your gift back as a dollar-for-dollar credit on your Arizona state taxes.
Your gift will support programs including the Desert Mission Food Bank, Adult Day Healthcare and the Lincoln Learning Center.
Support HonorHealth Desert Mission today!
Breakfast with the President
Wednesday, February 26
HonorHealth Corporate Office
You are invited to join Jared Langkilde, president and CEO of HonorHealth Foundation, for a complimentary breakfast to learn more about HonorHealth and how our community healthcare system is delivering on the promise to improve health and well-being, fuel medical breakthroughs, drive innovative research and much more!
The Honor Ball
Saturday, March 1, 2025
JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa
Join us for one of the Valley’s most anticipated galas. This year we’re inspired by Studio 54 and the Disco era! Proceeds benefit HonorHealth women’s health programs.
Reserve your Honor Ball seats today!
Tour de Scottsdale
Saturday, April 12, 2025
WestWorld of Scottsdale
The 2nd annual HonorHealth Tour de Scottsdale is coming to town on April 12, 2025! This fun fundraising activity offers challenging and scenic courses that will undoubtedly push the limits of cyclists with routes of 32 miles or 62 miles.
Ride and raise money for HonorHealth Foundation — discounted registration for youth and military/first responders! Find out more and join Team HonorHealth Foundation!
Learn more or register for the Tour de Scottsdale today!
HonorHealth Foundation Pro-Am
Friday, April 25, 2025
Grayhawk Golf Club
Help make great care possible for patients and families in our community by joining us Friday, April 25, 2025, for a fabulous round of golf at Grayhawk Golf Club at the HonorHealth Foundation Pro-Am!
Your Pro-Am registration or sponsorship benefits the HonorHealth Foundation Greatest Needs Fund, which gives HonorHealth the ability to respond quickly to do the most good for patients and staff.
Event registration includes a morning or afternoon shotgun start, a player gift package, plus food and drinks served on-course throughout the day.
Reserve your spot in the HonorHealth Pro-Am today!
Philanthropic gifts fuel our mission for finding cures,
saving lives and transforming healthcare.
Will you join us?
