Building the future of health

Insights

Building the future of health

Improving health outcomes in Phoenix and beyond The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences plays a significant role in ASU Health, the university’s effort to address and improve health outcomes throughout Arizona. This initiative reimagines how healthcare is designed, delivered and measured by producing a new generation of physicians, nurses, specialists and scientists.

Students, faculty and researchers from across The College are working on cutting-edge projects to effectively serve local communities and understand where critical gaps in healthcare coverage exist.

Improving doctor-patient relationships

Led by faculty from the Department of English, a new project is using a rhetorical listening framework to analyze recorded doctor-patient interactions collected by software company Medical Memory. Analyzing misaligned communications in these interactions will help yield insights that enhance medical training and improve patient outcomes.

Promoting resilient families

The Reach Institute in the Department of Psychology partners with communities to conduct impactful research and develop, evaluate and scale evidence-based programs that strengthen children, youth, families and schools. Through community-informed research and innovative solutions, the institute promotes resilience, increases school engagement and creates lasting improvements in health and well-being by supporting families through life transitions.

Advancing Indigenous wellness

Sun Devil 100 honoree and psychology alumnus Dr. Radi Rahiminejad talks with staff at BackFit Health + Spine.

A team that includes faculty from American Indian Studies created the Indigenous Health Research Dashboard, a tool that helps researchers examine connections among major health conditions, social determinants of health and Indigenous health outcomes. The dashboard includes peer-reviewed studies published since 2020 on conditions and diseases affecting Indigenous communities, providing a centralized resource for research and knowledge sharing.

Improving health outcomes through communication In 2025, Arizona ranked No. 34 in the nation for healthcare performance indicators overall, specifically ranking No. 42 in access and affordability and No. 49 in prevention and treatment. To help combat these concerns, the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication recently launched a master’s degree concentration in health communication. The online degree emphasizes core health communication skills — including health literacy, plain‑language messaging, and data‑informed strategy — to improve clarity and impact.

Students develop practical skills for patient communication, education design, digital strategy, research translation, leadership and team collaboration — equipping them to excel in diverse, fast‑growing careers in the health and wellness space.

Connecting the human experience with health Established in 2014 by the Humanities Institute, the Health Humanities initiative promotes research and interdisciplinary collaborations that address health as a cultural idea, value and practice. Its mission helps guide and support public discussions about health access and inclusion by examining how narratives, ethics, history and representation shape care.

Co-founded by Cora Fox, an associate professor of English who is now associate dean of health humanities in the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering, the initiative sponsors events that strengthen research capacity and public engagement within the healthcare industry.

Preparing the next generation of biotechnology entrepreneurs Welcoming its first cohort in fall 2026, the McKenna Life Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship Program was established by ASU alumni Mark and Sheri McKenna to train future leaders in the biotechnology industry. The partnership between The College, W. P. Carey School of Business and Barrett, The Honors College provides students with innovative courses and programs, world-class research and a robust network of experts from both schools.

Students will graduate with two undergraduate degrees and a certificate in the same amount of time as other traditional four-year undergraduate single-degree programs. The McKenna Program also ensures students have the ability to apply their education to hands-on learning experiences with leaders in the biotechnology industry across the U.S.

How you can engage with our efforts Whether you are able to attend an event, donate to a cause close to your heart or share your own story, your support can help The College advance medical innovations, fuel world-class research and promote healthier communities.

Support opportunities for interdisciplinary humanities conversations within the healthcare space at asufoundation.org/ HumanitiesInstitute

Further the work of the Reach Institute and ensure all Arizona families have access to evidence-based parenting programs at asufoundation.org/Reach

Help students pursue a career in advancing the fields of biotechnology and medicine at mckenna.asu.edu

Invest in research and academic opportunities for students in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at asufoundation.org/communications

@ASUTheCollege

When I was a student at ASU, I saw firsthand how powerful it is to think beyond one discipline. This program exists to help students combine their passions in life sciences and business — and to accelerate the kind of breakthrough ideas that can improve lives around the world.”

— Mark McKenna

’02 BS in marketing Founder, chairman and CEO, Mirador Therapeutics