ASU Health Breaks Ground on New Medical School Campus in Phoenix

April 17, 2026

Arizona's Newest Medical School Takes Shape in Downtown Phoenix

Medical education is quickly evolving to improve Arizona's healthcare system, better meet patients' needs, and prepare students for today's challenges.

ASU Health's recent ground-breaking is proof of this expansion. Earlier this month, Arizona State University's hub for health and medical education broke ground on its new headquarters in the Phoenix BioScience Core. The 175,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to open in time for the fall 2028 semester, when it will welcome approximately 36 medical students.

The Arizona Medical Association was present for the ceremony, joining university leaders, elected officials, and innovators who are invested in furthering local medical education.

A Medical School Built Around Engineering and Technology

At the center of the new campus is the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering, a program designed to graduate physicians with both a medical degree and a master's in medical engineering — in four years. The curriculum integrates engineering, technology, the humanities, and tools such as artificial intelligence and data science. HonorHealth will serve as the school's primary clinical affiliate. The facility itself will include virtual reality classrooms, health care simulation and skills labs, and a medical-technology innovation suite.

Addressing Arizona's Workforce Gap Head-On

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs noted at the groundbreaking that the state will need 76,000 new health care workers by 2030. ASU Health hopes to help close that gap, with a stated goal of tripling the number of nurses educated by ASU and attracting more physicians to Arizona through upskilling opportunities. ASU President Michael Crow framed the program's success in outcome-driven terms: not by degrees conferred, but by whether the state's overall health improves and whether health care access costs decline.

GME Must Keep Pace With Medical Education

As medical education in Arizona expands, the Arizona Medical Association's advocacy for graduate medical education funding grows with it. Medical schools across are state are educating the next era of compassionate, forward-looking physicians. But, without the graduate medical education funding our state needs to meet workforce demands, these talented trainees have very limited opportunities to live and work in Arizona.



That's why ArMA advocates for increased GME funding at the Arizona State Capitol and beyond. Just last year, we successfully secured $4 million in federally-matched funding to expand local residency programs and train the next generation of Arizona physicians.


While this investment is meaningful, it is far from enough. We are committed to ensuring that every Arizona medical student has the opportunity to become an Arizona physician.

A Strong ArMA Presence & United Community

ArMA was proud to participate in the ceremony, represented by President Dr. Jason Jameson, CEO Doug Laher, and Vice-President of Government Relations Amanda Sheinson. ArMA's own Dr. Priya Radhakrishnan, a HonorHealth executive team member and one of the physicians helping bring ASU Health's vision to life, also played a large role in the event.


ArMA applauds the program's forward-looking approach — equipping future physicians to blend engineering, technology, and the humanities in service of comprehensive, compassionate patient care. As the landscape of healthcare continues to evolve at break-neck speeds, this kind of out-of-the-box innovation will be critical for preserving quality patient care.

Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital Launches Largest Expansion in Its History

By Admin User • August 7, 2026
Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital Launches Largest Expansion in Its History Investment Expands Inpatient and Procedural Capacity to Meet Rising Demand for Cardiovascular Care The Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital in Phoenix announced last week that it is undertaking the largest expansion in its history. The new construction will add inpatient and procedural capacity to serve more Arizonans in need of heart and vascular care. Meeting Arizona's Growing Demand for Heart Care Abrazo explained that the expansion is necessary to support Arizona's continued population growth, which is driving increased demand for cardiovascular services. The added capacity will allow the hospital to not only treat more patients requiring cardiac, vascular, and critical care, but also continue its participation in clinical research and innovation.  Part of a Multi-Year Investment Strategy In its press release, Abrazo describes the expansion as the latest phase of ongoing, multi-year investments intended to advance care and meet the evolving healthcare needs of communities across the state. The hospital did not report an anticipated completion date for the project. Source: Abrazo Health

Arizona Erases $1 Billion in Medical Debt for Nearly 671,000 Residents

By Admin User • August 7, 2026
Hobbs Highlights Milestone in Ongoing Partnership With Undue Medical Debt Gov. Katie Hobbs announced this week that more than $1 billion in medical debt has been erased for nearly 671,000 Arizonans, marking a significant milestone in the state's ongoing partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt. How the Program Works The initiative, first launched in 2024, purchases qualifying medical debt from hospitals and collection agencies for a fraction of its value before eliminating the debt entirely for eligible patients. Who Qualifies According to the governor's office, recipients do not need to apply for the program. It is available to Arizona residents who: Receive low- and moderate-income Have medical debt that represents a substantial share of their annual income A Flashpoint in the 2026 Election Season Healthcare affordability has been at the forefront of Arizona's political conversation as the 2026 election season intensifies. Supporters argue that relieving burdensome medical debt can improve: Families' financial stability Creditworthiness Willingness to seek needed healthcare Critics of similar programs have generally questioned whether debt forgiveness addresses the underlying drivers of rising healthcare costs or simply treats the financial consequences after care has been delivered. As debates continue over healthcare affordability and access, Arizona's medical debt relief initiative is expected to remain a prominent example in broader discussions about how states can help patients facing significant medical expenses.