Genetics researcher Ellis
joins UA Cancer Center
An internationally recognized genetics researcher has joined the University of Arizona Cancer Center as program leader of its cancer biology program.
Nathan A. Ellis most recently was an associate professor of pediatrics and member of the Institute of Human Genetics at the University of Illinois- Chicago. He was previously affiliated with the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the New York Blood Center.
Ellis’ primary research effort is to identify and characterize genetic risk factors in colorectal cancer. He currently has major research funding from the Center for Cancer Health Disparities in the National Cancer Institute where the work has expanded to construct a Cancer Genome Atlas for African American Colorectal Cancer.
Ellis holds a U.S. patent for methods of diagnosis and treatment of Bloom Syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by short stature and predisposition to the development of cancer.
He is a graduate of St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, and received a doctorate in genetics from the University of Washington. He completed postdoctoral training in human molecular genetics at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now called Cancer Research UK) in London.
Kermabon is named GM
at Omni Tucson resort
Omni Tucson National Resort has a new general manager, Tom Kermabon, who recently moved to Tucson from Washington, D.C., and the four-star Omni Shoreham Hotel.
Kermabon spent 16 years with Starwood Hotels in America, Japan and China, three years with Kimpton Hotels and has been with Omni Hotels & Resorts for four years.
Kermabon, a native of San Francisco, started his career at 17 as a dishwasher and worked his way up, Omni said in a news release.
Kasoff is ass’t professor
of neurosurgery at UA
Willard S. Kasoff, M.D., has been named assistant professor in the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Arizona Department of Surgery and director of the neuromodulation program at The UA Medical Center – University Campus.
Kasoff joins a multidisciplinary team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, pain specialists and psychiatrists at UAMC to provide coordinated care for patients with epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, trigeminal neuralgia, chronic spinal and limb pain, spasticity, obsessive-compulsive disorder and severe depression.
Kasoff’s expertise includes adult and pediatric deep-brain stimulation, open and minimally invasive surgical treatments for epilepsy and craniofacial pain, spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, placement of intraspinal medication systems and deep-brain or vagal nerve stimulation for severe psychiatric disease. His additional clinical interests include adult and pediatric hydrocephalus, including normal-pressure hydrocephalus.
Kasoff received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
He received his neurosurgical training at Yale University, where he also completed a fellowship in epilepsy surgery and a master’s degree in public health. He received additional fellowship training in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Altobelli and Wall join
Roediger Hoff PLC
Local tax and accounting firm Roediger Hoff PLC has two new employees: Chiara J. Altobelli, staff accountant; and Amy M. Wall, income tax preparer.
Altobelli completed her undergraduate degree in accounting at the University of Arizona in 2010. She has worked in the public domain and the corporate sector, and is experienced in financial reporting, payroll, sales tax, and income tax return preparation.
Wall, a member of the National Association of Tax Professionals and the Southern Arizona Chapter of Enrolled Agents, is certified to represent taxpayers before the IRS.
Before obtaining her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix, she earned a bachelor of science degree in both chemistry and economics from Harvey Mudd College of Science and Engineering in Claremont, California. She prepares tax returns for individuals and small businesses and also has expertise in divorce taxation.
