ASU establishes College of Health Solutions as new health education model

Arizona State University established the College of Health Solutions in May 2012 as part of its strategic initiative to build a new model for health education.

The new college includes the School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, the Department of Biomedical Informatics,  the School of the Science of Health Care Delivery, and the Doctor of Behavioral Health Program. The college also will collaborate with affiliated ASU health units, including the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, and numerous research centers and programs, such as the Center for Health Information and Research, the Health Care Delivery and Policy Program, and the Healthcare Transformation Institute.

The multi-disciplinary college is led by Dean Keith D. Lindor, MD, who also serves as executive vice provost, and who joined ASU in January after serving seven years as dean of the Mayo Clinic Medical School in Rochester, Minn.

The mission of the College of Health Solutions is to better promote good health, prevent and control disease, and to improve health outcomes for patients and their families. To accomplish this mission, it serves as a knowledge exchange and catalyst for collaboration among health-related units across ASU, as well as providing support for health-related academic programs, transdisciplinary research initiatives, and strategic partnerships.

Right time for change

“It is time for a new model of integrated and interprofessional health education and delivery given the current costs and patient outcomes of the US health care system,” Lindor said. “America spends too much for health care that has sub-optimal outcomes. We need to move to a new model for health in this nation.”

Arizona is an ideal state and ASU a great university at which to build that model. The state has a highly diverse population which is underserved, lacks access to health care, and is at higher risk for chronic illnesses such as obesity and diabetes. ASU also does not have a medical school or center with vested interests in the status quo of health education.

The School of the Science of Health Care Delivery is being formed and will offer a specialized master’s degree in the Science of Health Care Delivery for ASU graduate students in fall semester 2013. When the announced Mayo Medical School – Arizona Campus in Scottsdale opens, the degree will be offered to Mayo Medical School students concurrently with their medical degree. The Mayo Medical School is believed to be the first medical school to offer such a program.