Arizona State University plans to expand medical education in the state with a new school of medicine that takes an untraditional approach to health care.
The new ASU School of Medicine and …
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Arizona State University plans to expand medical education in the state with a new school of medicine that takes an untraditional approach to health care.
The new ASU School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering will integrate clinical medicine, biomedical science and engineering, joining universities nationwide that have opened a different kind of medical school, according to a release announcing the school.
Fred DuVal, chair-elect of the Arizona Board of Regents, said in the release that the move is an important step in the evolution of ASU and is part of a charge to the state’s entire university system to grow the state’s health care workforce.
“This is part of the most aggressive and comprehensive health care plan in Arizona’s history,” DuVal said.
“It will include major growth and new investments by all three of our state universities, significant partnerships with the private sector, and the support of our government partners.”
ASU President Michael Crow added, “We are focusing our full energy and innovation on improving Arizona’s health outcomes."
Unlike traditional medical schools, ASU’s new medical school will take a different approach. Clinical partnerships will support both research and academic programs, delivering solutions that improve patient and health care outcomes, the release stated.
“An interdisciplinary approach will bring together health sciences from across the university to prepare students to address complex health care problems,” Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost, said.
Arizona ranks near or in the bottom quartile of many health system performance indicators, including No. 32 overall, No. 44 in access and affordability and No. 41 in prevention and treatment, according to the release.
The state needs to add an estimated 14,000 more nurses — enough to nearly fill the Phoenix Suns basketball arena — just to reach the national average.
Public health funding is 50% below the national average, and Arizona has fewer hospital beds per 1,000 people than the national average, the release stated.
“We have an opportunity for change,” Crow said. “And over the past 20 years, ASU has shown that we know how to create transformative change, at scale.”
The new ASU health effort will involve more than just the new medical school.
ASU will continue to work with health care partners across Maricopa County and across the country to bring top talent, technology and research to the effort to improve health outcomes in Arizona, officials said in the release.
And, they said, ASU’s relationship with Mayo Clinic, known as the Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University Alliance for Health Care, will continue to expand through the ASU Health Futures Center next to Mayo Clinic's north Phoenix campus and the continued development of the Discovery Oasis innovation zone next to the Mayo Clinic Phoenix Hospital.
