Deborah Helitzer named dean of ASU College of Health Solutions

Arizona State University Provost Mark Searle has announced the appointment of a new dean of ASU’s College of Health Solutions: Deborah L. Helitzer, who is leaving her position as the founding dean of the College of Population Health at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. She will start at ASU on Aug. 1.

In her new position at ASU, Helitzer will lead efforts to strengthen the identity and expand the educational and research capacity of the College of Health Solutions (CHS). This includes the college’s focus on the science of health care delivery, nutrition and health promotion, biomedical diagnostics, biomedical informatics, speech and hearing science, behavioral health, medical studies and public health.

“My goal is that, within my tenure, CHS will become the go-to educational institution for health solutions in the U.S.,” Helitzer said. “This new role enables me to build on the knowledge and experience that I have gained in multiple leadership positions.”  

Helitzer brings 25 years of award-winning research and teaching expertise to ASU, including leading investigator roles on $65 million of nationally recognized community-based research projects involving diverse populations experiencing health disparities. She is particularly known for her research on malaria and conducted her doctoral research in Malawi.

She received her doctorate from Johns Hopkins University and its School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1990. In 1995, she joined the University of New Mexico. During her tenure there, Helitzer’s leadership positions included vice chair of research for the department of Family and Community Medicine, assistant/associate dean for research education and associate vice chancellor for research education. In 2015, she became the founding dean of UNM’s College of Population Health.

Helitzer will replace College of Health Solutions Dean Keith Lindor, who has been with ASU since 2012. 

Written by Rebecca Ferriter