March 2025
National Doctor’s Day has been celebrated each year on March 30 since 1933 to honor the dedication, skill and unwavering commitment of physicians in providing high-quality care.
We are so grateful for the 4,000+ physicians at HonorHealth, who provide exceptional care and support the well-being of our community.
If you’d like to join us in celebrating Doctor’s Day, here is a great opportunity to show appreciation for your HonorHealth physician. Ovation is our grateful patient program, where you can make a donation and provide words of tribute to a doctor who’s made a difference for your or your family. We will read your tribute in front of their team and present them with an Ovation pin and certificate. Visit Ovation to learn more and nominate your favorite doctor.
From our hearts to yours, we wish you good health!
Uncomfortable? Yes. But learning the signs of colon cancer could save your life.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, a time to set aside any embarrassment around the discussion of your lower GI tract — the colon and rectum — and learn the facts that could save your life.
Did you know that colon cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death? As with all cancers, early detection leads to better outcomes. But some people feel too embarrassed to talk with their doctor about changes in their stool or rectal bleeding.
“People don’t like to talk about rectal or colon cancer, but you have to be an advocate for yourself,” advises Jessica, who was diagnosed with stage 3B rectal cancer at age 39. Jessica didn’t fit the profile, so it was a struggle for her to get diagnosed.
“Early screening for colon cancer is a critical tool in the fight against the disease, especially for those at high risk,” says Deepa Shah, MD, a gastroenterologist at HonorHealth (pictured below).
Early screening significantly increases the chances of detecting the disease at an earlier, more treatable stage when it can be completely cured. It allows for:
- Improved survival rates and better outcomes due to earlier intervention
- Removal of polyps found, which prevents them from turning into cancer
- Better quality of life, as patients are treated before the cancer causes irreversible damage
Who should be screened for colon cancer?
Screening is currently recommended for individuals who:
- Are 45 to 75 years old
- Have a family history of colon cancer
- Already have inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Have symptoms such as abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding and weight loss
A variety of screening methods are available, so you and your doctor can pick the one that’s right for you. According to Dr. Shah, “The best screening test is the one that gets done.”
HonorHealth has an experienced team of board-certified gastroenterologists, medical oncologists, colorectal surgeons and researchers who specialize in colon cancer. They have extensive expertise in providing personalized therapies and treatment options, including surgery, minimally invasive procedures, chemotherapy/immunotherapy, radiation and clinical trials.
Our generous community supports HonorHealth Cancer Care with donations to expand care options, educate the community and support patients who lack resources to get appropriate care. Learn more about HonorHealth Cancer Care.
Patients in need find healing, compassion and support at HonorHealth
Medical expenses can be overwhelming, and for many families, unexpected healthcare costs can lead to financial distress. The HonorHealth Foundation Patient Assistance Fund helps bridge the gap through grants, ensuring that no one has to choose between their health and their financial stability.
Additionally, patient assistance programs improve health outcomes by making it easier for patients to follow through with necessary treatments. Without assistance, many patients might delay or forgo care due to cost concerns, which can lead to worsening conditions and higher healthcare costs in the long run. By providing support, HonorHealth helps prevent complications and reduce the need for emergency care.
It's about more than just money
Following are two patient stories which demonstrate the difference you can make by supporting the HonorHealth Foundation Patient Assistance Fund.
Linda's story
Navigating their Aunt Linda’s dementia journey was a challenge for one family. When it was clear she could not continue to live alone, they didn’t know what they were going to do.
“For a long time, my aunt believed she had more time to live independently and did not prepare for the possibility of needing full-time care,” her family explains. “When the reality of her condition became apparent, we were overwhelmed with the responsibility of finding a suitable facility that could provide the specialized care she desperately needed.” But the cost of adequate care was a significant challenge.
HonorHealth’s patient assistance programs play a crucial role in ensuring that countless patients, many who are underinsured, uninsured and live at-or-below the federal poverty level, receive the medical care they need, regardless of their financial situation. The funds are managed by HonorHealth social workers and made available to help patients access treatments, medications and essential healthcare services that they might otherwise be unable to afford.
Patient assistance funds are dependent upon the generosity of our community. Last year, more than $600,000 was donated, with many of those gifts made by HonorHealth employees who care deeply about their patients and want to ensure all receive the care they need while in the hospital and following discharge.
After review, Aunt Linda's family was awarded assistance to move her to a recommended skilled assisted living facility.
“The stress of managing her care, while also taking care of my family's needs and settling her affairs, has been immense. However, the kindness and compassion you’ve shown through your donation have provided us with the support we needed to make these arrangements with confidence and peace of mind,” says her family. "Thanks to the donations and this fund, we were able to ensure that she is now in a place where she is safe, well-cared for and surrounded by professionals who understand her needs.”
Todd's story
One fateful moment can change your life… forever.
Todd had good benefits through his job as a security guard but when he suffered a stroke at age 58, his mother was alarmed to learn of an insurance loophole -- his benefits did not cover physical rehabilitation. Todd survived the stroke, but without rehab, his quality of life was in jeopardy.
His HonorHealth social worker and care coordination team recognized the stress both Todd and his mother were experiencing. And they went to work to find a solution.
With a Patient Assistance grant, Todd was able to get therapy to learn how to walk again, first with a walker, then with a cane. Home therapy taught him how to shower safely. Physical and occupational therapy is helping him regain his ability to walk and care for himself independently.
“This help was just a miracle, right when he needed help most,” his mother says, with warmth and gratitude in her voice.
Todd is getting stronger each day. His goal is to be ready to travel when his sons graduate later this year.
HonorHealth Research Institute announces creation of new international Center for Translational Science
HonorHealth Research Institute recently announced the formation of its Center for Translational Science.
What is translational science? It is the field that takes the results of basic research and creates a way for those findings to improve the human condition. For HonorHealth, the Center for Translational Science will generate scientific innovations and “translate” these discoveries into better ways to diagnose and treat diseases, bringing new hope and answers to patients and their families.
“The creation of HonorHealth Research Institute nearly 20 years ago was our way of putting HonorHealth on the frontier of providing our patients with world-class care,” said Todd LaPorte, CEO of HonorHealth (pictured above), an integrated health system of nine acute-care hospitals and more than a hundred community clinics and medical practices. “With this new Center for Translational Science, we intend to further expand novel science and our abilities to work with academic institutions, universities, the private sector, government agencies and other hospital groups towards the substantial betterment of humanity.”
Using new techniques and disciplines rooted in the molecular (DNA) basis of disease, the new Center for Translational Science will build on the Research Institute’s expertise in developing first-in-human clinical trials, immune-system therapies, cellular therapies, targeted therapies and others to develop treatments that attack diseases, while minimizing negative side effects that might compromise a patient’s health.
Sunil Sharma, MD, MBA (pictured left), known as one of the nation’s leading experts in creating anti-cancer drugs, was named director of the center.
“This is a major commitment to transform HonorHealth Research Institute into a world-class leader in translational cancer research and to build external interfaces with significant partners and collaborators,” Dr. Sharma said. “In order to do this, we are investing in the recruitment of a full basic and translational science team that will lead to this outcome. While this commitment is substantial, it is essential to develop a world-class, cross-cutting translational research program.”
Learn more about HonorHealth Research Institute.
Thompson Peak named to "World's Best Hospitals"
We're incredibly proud to share that HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center has been recognized by Newsweek as one of the World's Best Hospitals for 2025!
More than 200,000 hospitals worldwide were ranked but Thompson Peak Medical Center is one of only seven hospitals in Arizona to make this prestigious list.
Across HonorHealth, we strive for excellence in everything we do. This global ranking underscores our commitment to providing exceptional patient-centered care and the collaborative culture of expertise we've built together.
Learn more about the World's Best Hospitals 2025.
There’s still time to earn a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on your 2024 state taxes!
Donations to HonorHealth Desert Mission are eligible for the Arizona Qualified Charitable Organization Tax Credit!
Make your donation by April 15 and you can receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on your 2024 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!
The kindness of our paw-some HonorHealth community has blown us away!
In February, we raised more than $26,000 for the brave K-9 officers of the HonorHealth K-9 Security Program. Incredible!
From nutritious meals and safety gear to keep them ready for action to toys for much-needed playtime, support of our Puppy Love program made this Valentine’s season truly special for these pups. Thank you!
Missed the chance to give? It’s not too late to make your tax-deductible donation in support of the HonorHealth K-9 Security Program!
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!
Philanthropic gifts fuel our mission for finding cures,
saving lives and transforming healthcare.
Will you join us?
