Meet Timothy Durr, DO Candidate

August 2, 2021
Portrait of Leah Sanford in glasses, smiling against a gray background with a purple frame and award badge.

Meet Timothy Durr


The ArMA Member Spotlight this month is Timothy Durr. Timothy is a doctor of osteopathic medicine candidate at A.T. Still University. He completed his undergraduate training at Arizona State University and received a bachelor's in Health Sciences. Timothy currently serves on ArMA's Board of Directors as the medical student director.

Who or what inspires you?


The one thing that never fails to motivate or inspire me to be a better person is seeing sincerity, genuine interest, and passion in others. There is nothing more satisfying than hearing a lecture, reading a book, or having a conversation with someone who lives and breathes that topic. Any time I see this, it reminds me to be present and sincere with the people I interact with. In the particularly busy world of a medical student or physician, it is something I can never be reminded of too many times.


What has been the most memorable patient or event in your medical school career?


I am always tremendously astonished by the extreme level of disconnect between patients and the medical system. The idea that we have so many doctors who spend their lives learning how to care for others and still have such limited access for so many in our communities baffles me. I certainly don’t know what the answer is, but seeing this time and time again serves as an additional reminder to something I’ve touched on before: being sincere in my interactions with patients and making the most out of both their time with me and my time for them.


What do you like doing in your spare time?


Music is one of the most influential things in my life. I love everything about it: listening to it, making it, learning about digital audio workstations, composition, mixing, and mastering. It is something I find incredibly therapeutic and relaxing, but also very stimulating.


If you weren't in medical school, what would you be up to right now?


I think about this question a lot. I love computers and software, but I also love working with people and learning about human interactions/why we do what we do. I would most likely be doing something that combines these things. Designing user interfaces for software/websites is something I think would be very intriguing.


What's the most interesting thing you've read or seen this week?


With new CDC guidelines just being released, I have taken part in a lot of conversations about COVID-19 precautions this week. What I find interesting about them is the degree of variation in opinion about how to advocate for public health measures. Our world being so data driven seems to have put us at a standstill during these unprecedented times. It is starting to feel like no decision is preferred over a well-informed and reasonable one based on readily available information.


What would you like people to remember about you?


My goal in life is to be a positive influence on the people around me. Like most, I have my good and bad days. I just hope that by the end of them, I’ve lived most in a way that people remember as uplifting.


What prompted you to become involved in organized medicine?


It is no surprise that the world in which we live, practice medicine, and care for patients is largely governed by the bills our elected officials sign into law. This is a scary thing to think about when considering the lack of healthcare/patient care experience most politicians have. I feel that the two most important things doctors can do for the community is stand together to advocate for good healthcare legislation and increase community outreach. Organized medicine is the perfect venue for both of these initiatives.

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 .