Arizona State University President Michael Crow outlined his vision for the future of ASU Health during the third annual State of the Phoenix Bioscience Core event in downtown Phoenix. Crow addressed leaders from Arizona government, health care organizations, and academic institutions, emphasizing that collaboration is essential for progress.
Crow highlighted key partnerships with HonorHealth, Mayo Clinic, and the Phoenix Bioscience Core as examples of how ASU Health is working with other organizations. He noted that current medical schools and centers are important but not enough to address challenges such as a shortage of nurses and limited public health funding in Arizona, as well as broader issues in global health care.
“We cannot solve the problem that we have by producing more people,” Crow said. “We have to produce different people. We have to produce different technologies.”
ASU Health aims to train new types of health professionals who combine expertise in medicine, engineering, technology, and humanities. The goal is to improve health outcomes across all communities in Arizona and beyond.
“Assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities is plural. Not just the rich communities, all the communities,” Crow said.
The ASU Health initiative includes four colleges: Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation; College of Health Solutions; John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering; and School of Technology for Public Health. The latter two are new additions to ASU’s academic offerings.
ASU’s partnership with Mayo Clinic extends into the Health Observatory project, which uses data to better understand community health trends in Arizona and respond effectively to health crises. The Medical Master’s Institute will provide further education opportunities for current medical professionals.
“We’re going to do our research and discovery for public value. Our measurement of success is to help the public. Is Arizona a better place because we did all this research? Is America more defended because we did all of this research?” Crow said.
At the event, Dr. Holly Lisanby—founding dean of ASU’s School of Medicine and Medical Engineering—spoke about her goals for developing a curriculum where students can earn both an MD and a Master of Science in medical engineering within four years.
“Technologies, from medical devices to generative artificial intelligence, are transforming every sector of our lives, health care included,” Lisanby said. “So it’s critical that health care providers have the tools to be able to understand the strengths and limitations of these technologies and, even more than that, lead the next-generation development of how these technologies will improve health here in Arizona and beyond.”
Looking ahead, ASU plans several major developments for its health programs: construction on a new headquarters at Phoenix Bioscience Core will begin in June 2026; the first cohort at the school of medicine and engineering will start classes in August 2026.
“We’re able to bring together every asset that we have to build ASU Health’s headquarters here at the PBC (Phoenix Bioscience Core). This is the best place, really the only place for it to be,” Crow said.
Arizona State University has also been recognized nationally for its innovation efforts. According to recent rankings by U.S. News & World Report, ASU was named number one in innovation for eight consecutive years. The university was also ranked among top undergraduate business, nursing, and engineering programs nationwide.
In related collaborations focused on technological advancements in public safety infrastructure,the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department has partnered with Argos Vision, an ASU tech startup developing smart traffic cameras designed to improve safety through advanced data analysis.
