Say Hello to Dr. Penhollow!

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

We are excited for you to meet Tammy Penhollow, DO, the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) Member Spotlight for the month of October. Dr. Penhollow is an experienced pain management and regenerative medicine specialist at Precision Regenerative Medicine in Scottsdale, Arizona.



In her interview for ArMA's Member Spotlight, Dr. Penhollow shares fascinating details about her journey with medicine; remembering the many turns her career path has taken, Dr. Penhollow highlights the importance of resiliency and expecting the unexpected in the practice of medicine. Outside of medicine, Dr. Penhollow has a passion for adventure and hiking so strong that it will make you want to dust off your boots and hit the nearest trail.


You can read about Dr. Penhollow’s journey with medicine in the interview below! 👇

What inspires you?


Being in nature and in foreign countries immersed in the culture is what feeds and inspires me. I consider traveling a necessity in my journey through life, as it allows such different points of view from history to the present, and I thrive on learning through my eyes, ears, and taste buds. Getting out in a foreign country and fitting in where the locals go “off the beaten path” of touristy spots is the best.


What has been the most memorable event in your career?


Being active-duty US Navy for 12 years, starting right out of my internship and through residency and beyond, the world was literally my learning platform. I had many opportunities as a general medical officer (primary care), from deployment in a post-war zone to a three-year instructor billet teaching Independent Duty Corpsmen (Navy version of an unlicensed PA) in physical and medical diagnosis and treatment. I was immensely fortunate as an anesthesiologist to have four years of back-to-back assignments overseas at naval hospitals in Okinawa, Japan, and in Rota, Spain, where I had both Asia and Europe as my homes away from home. 


What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?


What spare time? 😊 I love to travel, desert garden, and am a home chef. Hiking in Sedona for a long weekend is another special treat that “fills the tank” with gratitude and the awe of nature.


What place would you most like to visit?


Such a tough question as I am an ardent traveler and love to experience life through other cultures. I typically have at least a top 10 places on the “near future” list, which changes as time progresses and new life experiences occur. Right now, the islands of Sardinia and Sicily are on the shortlist.


What is one message you would give to your 18-year-old self?


There is not one right path. In fact, the one you’ll be taken on may be the most circuitous with entirely unexpected and seemingly paradoxical twists, but it is the one you are meant to be on... so do not fight it. Expect the unexpected and know you’re in the right place for you at that time in your life.


What is the one accomplishment you’re most proud of?


Having the courage to listen to my heart, “quit” traditional pain management, and pivot into a new lifestyle and regenerative medicine in a micro-practice. It’s not as easy as being an employed physician with benefits, but entrepreneurship is one of the most challenging yet rewarding paths I’ve chosen. I’m truly living my purpose and helping practice members change their lives to become the best versions of themselves. 


Why is ArMA important to you and your colleagues?


ArMA represents a large, impactful voice for the concerns of the collective physician community. Though one person can (and often does) have a profound contribution to the world at large, when we collaborate with our colleagues, our voices and experiences are much greater than the sum of our parts. Especially when nearly every specialty is facing significant challenges from issues like scope of practice, creep, and diminishing reimbursements, we gain strength in numbers by having an ArMA voice and audience with our elected officials, cooperative partnerships with preferred resources, and specific peer groups such as the Private Practice Physicians Section (PPPS).

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 .