ASU grad finds purpose in serving her community through emergency medical services
Isabella Lirtzman speaks on a panel about recruitment strategy at the Alpha Epsilon Phi National Convention in Maryland this summer. Photo courtesy of Isabella Lirtzman
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2025 graduates.
Growing up in Scottsdale, Arizona, Isabella Lirtzman always knew she wanted to stay close to home for college. Her decision to attend Arizona State University led her to discover a deep sense of community, the value of mentorship and a passion for service that will shape her future in medicine.
The Barrett, The Honors College student is graduating in December with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences (biomedical sciences) from The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, along with a minor in French. She is also a recipient of the ASU Alumni Association’s Medallion Scholarship, awarded to students who demonstrate a strong commitment to leadership, scholarship and service.
“(The Medallion Scholarship Program) has been a super meaningful part of my ASU experience,” Lirtzman said. “Being involved in a community of like-minded students is really nice — people who care about the same things I care about, like leadership, service and personal growth. It’s given me so many wonderful opportunities to grow and develop in areas I’m passionate about.”
One of those opportunities was being paired with a mentor in the medical field — a current physician — an experience that has been invaluable.
“The support has been really nice,” she said. “College is a time where so many things in life are changing, so being able to have that support has been really wonderful.”
Outside the classroom, Lirtzman found another meaningful community through her sorority, Alpha Epsilon Phi, where she serves as chapter president.
“This experience has taught me so many transferable skills and life lessons outside of the classroom. It’s really helped me grow as a leader,” Lirtzman said. “Serving as president has made me so much more confident and has been so good for me in so many ways.”
After graduation, Lirtzman will be working with Banner Health as an emergency department technician while preparing for medical school. With a French minor and strong family ties to Canada, she hopes to apply to her dream medical school in Quebec, with the goal of becoming fluent in both English and French to better serve diverse communities.
Additionally, at the heart of her career aspirations is a commitment to serving Arizona’s population directly, especially in high-impact environments like emergency departments.
“I love the fast-paced nature of the emergency department, and I love the diversity of patients
that you see. It is also so important to me to give back to the community and help our local Arizona population,” she said.
Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
Answer: Medicine has been a lifelong dream for me, so there wasn’t really an “aha” moment. It’s something I always knew I’d pursue. For a long time I explored other career paths, thinking that maybe I should try something different to see what I’d like, but at the end of the day, there was always something pulling me back to a career in medicine. So, coming to college, I decided to really lean into that and soak up everything that ASU has to offer.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that has impacted you?
A: ASU has really taught me a lot of lessons about resilience and curiosity. Whether it’s in class, lab, organic chemistry or in my involvement outside of class, I learned that growth really happens when you step outside of your comfort zone. You have to be OK with failing sometimes, but it’s in those moments where you learn the most.
Q: Why did you choose ASU?
A: There are so many opportunities ASU has that other schools don’t. ASU has such a strong reputation for supporting undergraduate research and leadership. I wanted to be at a university where, yes, I could do my coursework and get my prerequisites done, but also to combine that with opportunities to make an impact outside of the classroom. ASU offers all of that. Being surrounded by so many creative and driven people really pushes me to be the best I can.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A: I’m really passionate about maternal and child health care. I’d want to dedicate that money to improving access to those kinds of health care services in underserved communities, both locally and globally. Too many women and children still face really preventable health challenges because of obstacles like cost and geography. I’d like to use that money to build community clinics and educational programs.
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