Newsroom

Northwest Healthcare has developed an exciting new initiative designed to empower our community to live longer, healthier lives. Enjoy the Ride: Navigating a Longer, Healthier Life is a FREE 12-day, longevity-focused email series launching on Sept. 15. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans’ average lifespan is longer than ever – 74.8 years for men and 80 for women. But Americans’ healthspan – how long a person is healthy and free of disease – is decreasing. Baby Bo... ... Read More

Amber, at 42 years old, 306 pounds and 5’7” tall, is one of many people who could no longer access prescription weight-loss medication after it became unavailable for people without diabetes. “After I gained and lost 90 pounds three separate times, I asked for surgery,” she says. “It was awful, trying to work at that weight. My mom had surgery with Dr. Burpee about 25 years ago, and she’s 76 and doing great. She can out-walk anybody.” Amber didn’t want to keep bouncing dramatically from one weight to an... ... Read More

Community encouraged to take advantage of early detection opportunity TUCSON, AZ – Aug. 18, 2025 – Northwest Healthcare is inviting the community to attend a free Hernia Screening Day from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wed., Sept. 10, at the Northwest Medical Center cafeteria. The hospital is located at 6200 N. La Cholla Blvd. This educational event is an opportunity for adults to get a confidential evaluation from an experienced medical professional. These quick, non-invasive screenings often identify potential ... ... Read More

Complex processes contribute to health and well-being TUCSON, AZ (Aug. 18, 2025) – We know getting a good night’s sleep is important for the body, but what about the brain? According to many studies, your overall brain health and well-being depend on the complex internal work going on while you’re at rest. Sleep frees your brain to experience important changes and processes, including cleaning out things it doesn’t need, consolidating memories, sending signals for the creation of hormones, and strengthe... ... Read More

Caitlin, who recently delivered a baby girl at Northwest Women’s Center in May, says the “amazing nurses, doctors, and staff” helped make her experience safe, comfortable, and joyful throughout her labor, delivery, and postpartum hours. “I loved Dr. Brooks, who brought so much confidence into the room, and who got the baby out quickly,” Caitlin says. “I loved her energy and positivity through the delivery and third stage. Thanks also to Tammy, who took the absolute greatest care in placing my IV (knowin... ... Read More

Heather – like many people – had been overweight all her life; gaining and losing hundreds of pounds through the years. “I lost 90 pounds before I got married in 2023, but I regained 50,” she says. “I didn’t want to go back to where I was.” At 301 pounds and 5’5” tall, Heather visited Stephen Burpee, M.D. , after a friend of hers – a former patient – recommended him and the team at Northwest Bariatric and Foregut Surgery . “He was amazing, with a great personality – no-nonsense and up-front,” she says. ... ... Read More

TUCSON, AZ (Aug. 6, 2025) – According to a recent poll from the American Cancer Society, nearly two-thirds of men aged 55-69 have not been screened for prostate cancer. As a result, the rate of advanced stage prostate cancer is on the rise for the first time in decades. Urologist Jules Manger, M.D. , who sees patients at Northwest Urology at Houghton, says men at average risk of prostate cancer should talk with their doctors about screening around the age of 50. “Understanding your risk factors is one o... ... Read More

TUCSON, AZ – We still have lots of summer left here in Pima County – a wonderful time to enjoy swimming, diving, sailing, and waterskiing. However, it’s important to never become complacent about safety in, on, or near water. In Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children between the ages of one and four. “There are a lot of places that kids will encounter water,” says Northwest Healthcare pediatrician Jonny Neilson, M.D. , “and in Tucson, it’s typically so ... ... Read More

“I never expected to be in the normal range,” Melissa says on a clear summer day 18 months after her weight loss surgery with Stephen Burpee, M.D. And Melissa doesn’t only mean a normal weight range, she means a normal health range – with the cholesterol numbers, energy levels, and a C-PAP machine gathering dust to prove it. Back when Melissa weighed 341 pounds at 5’5” tall, one of her co-workers underwent successful weight loss surgery. This was the catalyst Melissa needed to begin researching for hers... ... Read More

We are Proud to Mentor and Coach the Next Generation of Doctors in Southern Arizona TUCSON, AZ (July 1, 2025) – Today, Northwest Healthcare’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) Program officially welcomed 35 new resident physicians to Northwest Medical Center and Oro Valley Hospital. These new residents – who are joining the 25 upper-level residents already in the program – are divided into three cohorts – family medicine, internal medicine, and the transitional year program. Our GME program was created a... ... Read More