Meet Dr. Corinna Saldanha

January 3, 2022
Portrait of Leah Sanford in glasses, smiling against a gray background with a purple frame and award badge.

Meet Corinna Saldanha, DO


The ArMA Member Spotlight this month is Dr. Corinna Saldanha. She specializes in anesthesiology and has over 18 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. Saldanha has been an ArMA member since 2019. She is a fierce advocate of organized medicine, and ArMA is thankful for her membership.


Learn more about Dr. Saldanha below!

What inspires you?


My career in medicine was inspired by the physicians who saved my mother decades ago. Before beginning college, and while personally trying to figure out what direction my career journey would take me, my mother suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage. She received phenomenal care from all the physicians (surgeons, anesthesiologists, and intensivists) and nurses; because of them, I realized the life-altering impact they provided my family. Those physicians gave my mother back 30 years of life and allowed her to beat the odds by returning to her life’s work. Those critical months observing their dedication inspired me to one day become a physician who can show up at work and help change lives with the important work we do each day. Although some days it is hard to remember how much impact we have as physicians, I try to remind myself of how a small group of physicians changed my life through the care they delivered to my mother. I try daily to offer that to the patients and families I meet and care for.

What do you like doing in your spare time?


I most love spending my free time with my two children (ages 12 and 9) and my husband. As a family, we enjoy going to movies, swimming in the pool, exploring new restaurants, and playing video games together. I have developed a huge interest in Arizona gardening while being at home more during the pandemic. Over the past two years, I have learned to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers in the Arizona climate; I love that it is putting my degree in biology to some good use outside of medicine. I play the piano as a hobby and find that music is a wonderful outlet for creative expression and relaxation.


What is your favorite meal?


Anything that I don’t have to cook myself (haha).

What place would you most like to visit?


Most of my traveling has been limited to destinations in North America. I would love to explore places like Costa Rica, Italy, Iceland, France, and the Polynesian islands. I am hoping for the pandemic to end soon so that traveling freely is not a concern and I can explore more of these exciting destinations.

What do you like best about living in Arizona?


After completing my training on the East Coast, I hoped to return to the West. I moved to Arizona three years ago, and I love living here. The thing that I love most about living in Arizona is the sense of community that is valued by the people here. I love how diverse the people in Arizona are, yet most hold the common values of family and helping their fellow neighbor. I am often impressed by the kindness of strangers that I meet in Arizona, and I am so happy we decided to become part of this community.

What prompted you to become involved in organized medicine?


It is so important for every physician to be part of organized medicine. We are at a critical point in healthcare, and the pandemic only highlighted many of the challenges we have as physicians. I believe strongly that if we want improvements in healthcare and for our patients, physicians need to be involved in that change, but our voices are louder and stronger when we are united in that endeavor. The first step in finding the changes for healthcare that we desire is to band together. It has been a very rewarding experience, and I have had the pleasure of meeting some passionate and dedicated physicians in Arizona.

ADHS Issues Standing Orders for Flu, COVID-19 Vaccine Access

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
Statewide orders keep pharmacists and physicians authorized to vaccinate Arizonans amid uncertainty over the next ACIP meeting. Statewide Orders Cover the 2026-27 Flu & COVID Season The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued statewide standing orders supporting access to the 2026-27 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arizonans seeking a flu or COVID-19 vaccine should contact their physician or pharmacy to confirm availability. Why the Orders Were Issued Arizona pharmacists may administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for international travel, or vaccines authorized under a prescription, including a physician-issued public health standing order. With the timing of the next ACIP meeting uncertain, ADHS worked with the Arizona Board of Pharmacy to issue statewide standing orders for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which function as a prescription allowing pharmacists and physicians across Arizona to administer them to anyone who wants one. ADHS Medical Advisor Weighs In "Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to protect our communities. The Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines help us limit the spread of disease, reduce pressure on our healthcare system and reduce costs," said Dr. Richard Carmona, ADHS public health medical advisor and the 17th U.S. Surgeon General. "We have issued these standing orders to ensure safe and timely access to the vaccines in alignment with scientific and evidence-based guidance." What Arizonans Should Know The standing orders do not require every pharmacy to offer vaccinations, and they do not guarantee insurance coverage for administration. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, so Arizonans should check with their insurance provider before scheduling an appointment. 

Arizona Asks Supreme Court to Halt Prison Health Care Takeover

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
State attorneys seek an emergency stay after lower courts reject bids to delay receivership of the prison health care system. State Makes a Last-Ditch Appeal Attorneys for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to delay a court-ordered receivership of the state's prison health care system. The request comes after both a federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause the takeover. In the recent application, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, a representative of the department, argued that the state deserves more time to make its case before surrendering control of its operations, including oversight of its employees and health care budget. Roots of the Case The dispute began in 2012 when inmates sued the department, alleging the prison system's inadequate medical, mental health, and dental care amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The case went through years of litigation and a failed settlement agreement. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver ruled that the health care system was "grossly inadequate." The court ordered the prison healthcare system to comply with more than 150 "quality indicators," but according to court-appointed monitors, the department failed to comply with 131 of the measures. In light of this finding, Silver named Annette Chambers-Smith, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to take over as receiver effective Oct. 19. Arguments on Both Sides Clement argues receivership should be the last resort and that Silver moved to it too quickly. He asserts that the department has made measurable progress, including growing its health care staffing by more than 50%, expanding substance-use treatment access, and adopting a new care model. Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, which represents the roughly 25,000 people incarcerated in Arizona prisons, called the department's request a "Hail Mary" and said Silver had given the department years of opportunities to comply before ordering receivership. What Happens Next The Supreme Court has not yet set a deadline for the plaintiffs to respond to the stay request. Separately, the 9th Circuit is now reviewing the merits of the receivership order itself. The department filed its opening brief on Sept. 15, and the plaintiffs' response is due Oct. 15. Information in this article was sourced from the Arizona Mirror .