Alexa Viniotis, D.O.
HonorHealth Research Institute Post Doctoral Research Fellow Oncology
Question: How long have you been with HonorHealth?
Answer: I have been with HonorHealth for a little over 3 years. I completed my internal medicine residency with HonorHealth in June of 2025 and transitioned into my new role at the HonorHealth Research Institute in July of 2025.
Q: At what point in your early life did you decide you wanted to go into a career in research?
A: In the fifth grade, I was diagnosed with a blood condition called severe chronic autoimmune idiopathic neutropenia. From a young age, my personal experiences as a patient sparked my desire to pursue a career in medicine and research, specifically involving the treatment of rare blood disorders and cancers. I give myself granulocyte colony-stimulating factor injections every other day to boost my neutrophil counts, which reduces my risk of infection. I empathize with those living with chronic conditions and understand the unique challenges they face.by aiding in the development of new therapeutics that improve their quality of life.
Q: What is a work-related accomplishment you are proud of?
A: During residency, I was awarded first place for the clinical research category at the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine Arizona Chapter Conference in November of 2024. I presented on a retrospective analysis of capecitabine maintenance therapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which was later published as a manuscript in the Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology in April of 2025 under the guidance of Dr. Borazanci.
Q: Why is it so important to encourage younger and diverse groups to pursue a career in research?
A: Medical research is constantly evolving with the study of disease. It is important to encourage future generations to explore careers in research in order to further advance patient care and keep up with everchanging technology.
