A landmark partnership between one of the largest public research universities in the United States and the soon-to-be largest Jesuit, Catholic health professions educator in the nation will answer a dire need for health care professionals in Arizona and in the southwest United States.
The agreement between Creighton University, a Jesuit, Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, and Arizona State University, a public metropolitan research university consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the nation’s most innovative university, will boost health education opportunities available to ASU students while establishing a student pipeline to Creighton’s $100 million Phoenix campus currently under construction at Park Central in midtown Phoenix.
“The partnership announced today with Arizona State University is a landmark event,” said the Rev. Daniel Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, president of Creighton University. “With this agreement, our Jesuit, Catholic University steps into a compelling new world. We have forged partnerships with other entities, in Denver, in Anchorage, the Dominican Republic, and more. But this unique agreement positions both of our universities for an unprecedented and exciting future, full of promise and significance.
“We are resolved that through our new Phoenix campus, Creighton University will become a major provider of health care professionals to this great city and state.”
“ASU is committed to advancing the highest quality education and use-inspired research, and to collaborating with forward-thinking partners like Creighton University to enhance accessibility and success for 21st century learners,” said ASU President Michael M. Crow, PhD.
“Through our significant partnership, we are excited to create new knowledge opportunities for students and to broaden our capacity to generate positive and meaningful health outcomes for Arizona.”
Under the terms of the agreement, ASU students will receive priority consideration for enrollment in three Creighton health sciences doctoral programs, while ASU will welcome Creighton students to on-campus research projects and supplement instruction at Creighton’s health sciences campus in Phoenix.
The agreement provides space for ASU students entering Creighton’s School of Pharmacy and Health Professions doctoral programs in pharmacy (up to 20 seats), occupational therapy (up to 30 seats) and physical therapy (up to 40 seats).
In return, students enrolled at Creighton University Health Sciences – Phoenix Campus may engage in research activities at ASU facilities under the mentorship of ASU faculty, while ASU faculty will provide basic science instruction for first-year medical students enrolled at Creighton’s Phoenix campus.
Creighton and ASU students are currently collaborating on multiple research projects in the health sciences, ranging in focus from diabetes to hypoglycemia, oncology, drug delivery, asthma and COPD, and more.
Creighton’s Phoenix campus is expected to open in 2021. When complete, it will be home to a four-year medical school and will accommodate nearly 900 students, including future physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, pharmacists and physician assistants.
The partnership with ASU builds on the growing relationship between Creighton University and the city of Phoenix, where Creighton medical students have engaged in clinical rotations since 2005. In 2018, Creighton joined with Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Valleywise Health, and District Medical Group, Inc. to form the Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance – one of Arizona’s largest providers of Graduate Medical Education.
