August 2025
HonorHealth holds itself to a higher standard by caring for the whole person, not just their symptoms. Through the support of our generous community, HonorHealth Foundation works tirelessly to help solve healthcare’s toughest challenges.
Learn more at HonorHealthFoundation.org
Dual-purpose heart implant gives clinical trial participant new energy
Two years ago, Jackie couldn’t even take a shower without losing her breath. She often felt exhausted.
But a diagnosis of breast cancer led to a routine heart examination before she could have surgery. It was then that she was also diagnosed with congenital heart failure.
Before either of her diagnoses, Jackie thought her health problems stemmed from being slightly overweight.
“I just assumed that I needed to lose weight. I wasn’t aware that there was really a problem,” she said. “Any type of physical exercise, and I would be out of breath. Just basic things that you take for granted, I would be just kind of panting when I was done.”
Jackie’s health problems were not easy to decipher. First, she has a rare genetic condition — dextrocardia situs inversus — in which her internal organs are on opposite sides of her body.
She also suffered from low blood pressure and low blood flow. After her heart condition was diagnosed, she was given one medication, then another. Each worked for a while, but in addition to their side effects, they tended to lower her blood pressure even more than usual.
Eventually, Jackie was referred to the HonorHealth Research Institute, where she was deemed a fit for a clinical trial of a device known as the Integra-D. This implanted device has two functions: one is a proprietary therapy that stimulates the heart’s ventricles for an hour, three times a day, building up the heart’s strength; and the other is a built-in defibrillator designed to shock the heart back into rhythm should it ever stop beating properly. Jackie received the implant in November 2024.
Jackie’s breast cancer is now in remission and thanks to her dual-purpose implant, her heart is better, too.
“I feel significantly better. I can shower. I walk at least 30 minutes a day. I’m very happy that I did the implant,” said Jackie, who also was very pleased with the care she received. “You have a great staff. They were amazing. Very responsive.”
HonorHealth and Arizona State University reimagine medical education, together
In a significant move with far-reaching implications for Arizona, HonorHealth and Arizona State University forged a groundbreaking alliance that marks a new era in medical education and healthcare innovation. HonorHealth is the new primary clinical affiliate for the recently formed ASU School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering — marking the beginning of a transformative relationship: a new medical school grounded in cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI), real-world clinical immersion and a bold commitment to community health in practice and physician retention.
Amid physician shortages in Arizona, burnout and a post-pandemic reckoning of healthcare gaps, both the hospital system and the university realized an opportunity to leverage their similar missions of innovation and accessible community health.
Planned to open in fall 2026, the ASU School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering is unique in its design. Medical students will not only focus on medicine but also on healthcare technology today and the future. Students will graduate with both a doctoral degree in medicine and a master’s degree in medical engineering. The design is one of transformative education that supports the demands of future healthcare needs and redefines a new vision for what it means to be a physician, while ensuring the humanism and empathy that is needed for the practice of medicine.
“Through this collaboration, we aim to cultivate the next generation of physicians who are committed to improving the health of our community and who provide compassionate care that will transform lives of Arizonans for generations,” said Todd LaPorte, HonorHealth CEO, in his announcement of the landmark agreement.
Priya Radhakrishnan, MD, FACP, vice president and chief academic officer for HonorHealth, will also serve as the vice dean of clinical affairs and graduate medical education for the new school of medicine.
“Students won’t just study medicine — they’ll help shape it,” she explains. “Our physician engineers, through their training, will tackle real clinical problems using engineering-based solutions. It’s about creativity, curiosity, compassion and working together for the best outcomes.”
Innovation at the Core
The curriculum is being built from the ground up to prepare doctors for a fast-changing world. It includes:
- Longitudinal clinical clerkships where students partner with clinicians from their first year, observing real patient care tied directly to what they’re learning in class.
- Engineering-focused training that will explore applications such as wearable devices for chronic disease management, robotics in surgery, AI-assisted diagnostics and sensor technologies.
- Patient avatars and extended reality (XR) used in both student learning and patient education.
“The physician shortage isn’t coming — it’s here,” Dr. Radhakrishnan states. “We want to train a dynamic workforce that will dig roots here and continue to elevate the caliber of healthcare while also creating a physician workforce prepared for the future of healthcare.”
By launching medical education programs grounded in technology, innovation and real-world practice, HonorHealth and ASU aim to retain top talent in Arizona, train physicians to think like innovators and deliver better health outcomes for all. Training in engineering will allow graduating physicians to adeptly meet the future of medicine — through the synergy of medicine plus innovation and the use of technology for better patient outcomes.
For example, there has been a significant rise in the number of surgeries performed laparoscopically or through robotic assistance. In the field of Urology alone, the adoption rate for robotic assisted surgeries has reached almost 80 percent. General surgery and women’s health are also rapidly incorporating these technologies for minimally invasive surgical techniques that minimize patient down time and accelerate healing times. And the next generation of doctors will need this focus on the medical technology of the future.
A Community-Based Vision
The pre-clinical classes will begin at ASU, while clinical training will take place across HonorHealth hospitals and outpatient settings, especially in primary care. This hands-on, longitudinal approach ensures students understand patients in context and build lasting relationships with their preceptors.
And the benefits won’t stop with physicians. The initiative will also impact nursing and public health technology fields, thanks to the broader umbrella of ASU Health, which includes partnerships across public health, research and tech innovation.
“We’re already collaborating with ASU’s nursing school,” says Dr. Radhakrishnan. “And we’re identifying ways to connect research, tech and clinical care across disciplines — from medicine to nursing to community care."
All of this collaboration and focus on the future of medicine for physicians and nurses are what elevates healthcare in our community. And, it means HonorHealth Foundation will be a key partner in the efforts to address funding critical innovation and programming.
Powered by Philanthropy and Partnership
This challenge represents a new opportunity for HonorHealth Foundation and its supporters.
The focus areas include:
- Faculty support and time for curriculum design and research
- Advanced simulation and XR technology
- A new education building and augmented learning spaces
- Endowed Chairs in areas like psychiatry, cardiology, oncology, neurosciences and more
“These endowed chairs will align the educational mission with clinical excellence,” says Dr. Radhakrishnan. “They’ll help unify efforts across departments while advancing research and innovation.”
The school will launch with 36 students per class, growing over time — but it’s not about size. It’s about doing it right. “We want every student to feel supported and inspired to lead,” Dr. Radhakrishnan emphasizes. “HonorHealth has been an educational institution for 50 years — growing physicians and nurses through training. We currently have 19 graduate programs we offer on our own at HonorHealth,” explains Dr. Radhakrishnan. “True to form, we are actively involved in the curriculum design with ASU. As the most collaborative healthcare system in the Valley, I’m excited about this new partnership with one of America’s most innovative universities.”
Why this, why now?
The answer, according to Dr. Radhakrishnan, is simple: “Because healthcare is changing fast — and we need to change with it. Our community deserves doctors who not only treat illness but improve the system itself.”
From AI diagnostics to precision genomics, the tools of tomorrow are already here. “When I was a kid, I loved Star Trek,” she laughs. “Spock had a tricorder that scanned a body and gave a diagnosis. That seemed like science fiction. But now? With artificial intelligence, we’re getting close.”
Equally important is the school’s commitment to health equity, ensuring that no matter how advanced care becomes, it remains accessible to all. “We’re designing for the future — but with everyone in mind,” she says.
A Collective Effort
The excitement for the project is palpable across teams — from clinicians to faculty to fundraising leaders. Collaboration with executive leadership at HonorHealth and HonorHealth Research Institute is helping identify key areas for innovation and research. Meanwhile, CEO Todd LaPorte and HonorHealth’s EVP, Chief Physician Executive and Network Strategy Officer, Dr. John Neil — and others — are shaping the strategic foundation to make this dream a reality.
And there’s a lot more to come over the next 14 to 18 months.
“Our alignment with ASU will further enhance HonorHealth’s position as the most innovative, highest quality integrated healthcare delivery network in the state of Arizona. This will supercharge our efforts to attract and retain world class clinical and research talent to serve our community and will also serve as a tremendous source of qualified and committed talent across all of the other roles that are needed to operate a world class health system,” says Dr. Neil. “Working with ASU to develop a medical school from the ground up is an amazing opportunity to set the new standard for medical education and will ultimately be a gift to our community that gives back for generations to come.”
With the support of our generous community, HonorHealth, HonorHealth Foundation and ASU are helping to design a healthier future for all Arizonans.
Learn more about ways you can support this visionary effort and participate in this exciting collaboration.
This story originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of Reflections of Honor.
K-9 Officer Bama raises patient’s spirits
K-9 Officer Bama recently visited one of our beloved Foundation donors, who was a patient at HonorHealth Thompson Peak Medical Center. Bama spent 45 minutes on one visit to raise his spirits and learned about his life’s work, military career and family. Our K-9 Officers protect and serve but also spend time as healers and mood lifters.
Meet K-9 Officer Bama:
📅Birthdate: December 23, 2022
🏥Assigned Hospital: HonorHealth Thompson Peak
👮Handler Name: Henry Barraza (K52)
❤️Personality: Very loving and hard working
🧸Favorite toy: Firehose (her pacifier)
🐕Breed: Belgian Malinois
⚡Known by hospital staff for: Bama 2.0 (high energy)
Not all dogs become K-9 Officers, but all dogs protect, serve and hold special space in our hearts. On this National Dog Day, we send our heartfelt gratitude for the special ways they contribute to our lives and our community.
Donate to Toy Fund Drive for pediatric patients
Toys help our pediatric patients feel safe, supported and strong in a hospital setting that can otherwise be overwhelming. But today, our toy boxes are nearly empty, and we need your help to fill them.
Make your tax-deductible donation to the HonorHealth Toy Fund so that our young patients can receive toys to help them heal.
- $15 can provide coloring books or toy cars
- $25 can provide musical toys or dolls
- $50 can provide stuffed animals or craft kits
- $100 can provide LEGO sets or games
Donations of all sizes make a difference for the kids in our care. And if you give $50 or more before August 31, a stuffed animal will be delivered to the HonorHealth hospital of your choice in your name.
Thank you for helping to make our pediatric patients smile!
August is National Make-A-Will Month
Did you know that more than half of U.S. adults do not have a will?
For many, creating a will is something they’ve been meaning to do — but just haven’t gotten around to. That’s why August is recognized as National Make-A-Will Month: a timely reminder to take this important step for the people and causes you care about.
Creating or updating your will as part of your estate plan is one of the most effective ways to protect your loved ones and reflect your values. It’s also a powerful opportunity to leave a lasting legacy to a cause that’s meaningful to you.
If you or your loved ones haven’t yet made a will — or need to update an existing one — HonorHealth Foundation has gathered simple tools and resources to help you get started.
Download your free step-by-step Estate Planning Guide and get the information you need to start creating your will or trust today!
Want more information or have questions? Contact the HonorHealth Foundation Planned Giving team via email at LegacyGiving@honorhealth.com, or call (480) 587-5000.
NICU Tea & Luncheon
Friday, September 19, 2025
Ready. Set. Grow! Tickets going fast
HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center welcomes the tiniest and most vulnerable patients into our arms through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). These special babies need innovative and precision care — made possible through your generosity.
Wrap your arms around our tiniest patients by supporting the NICU High Tea and Luncheon. Your ticket purchase helps these babies get Ready. Set. Grow!
This year's event will be held September 19, 2025, from 11 AM – 1:30 PM at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort.
Macy’s Presents Give Her Strength for the Fight Fashion Show
benefiting HonorHealth Cancer Care
HonorHealth Foundation and Macy’s are working to give all women the strength to fight on their journey back to health with a special fashion show where proceeds return to HonorHealth Cancer Care!
You can help them fight, too. Buy a ticket to our “cancer catwalk,” in partnership with Scottsdale Fashion Square, and you’ll be donating to HonorHealth Cancer Care to support all patients navigating the breast cancer journey.
This fun and fashionable soiree will be held Friday, October 3, 2025, from 8:30 - 9:30 AM, at Macy’s at Scottsdale Fashion Square.
Learn more and get your fashion show tickets today!
4th Annual Desert Mission Morning of Gold breakfast
Registration is open for the Morning of Gold breakfast on Friday, November 7, 2025, from 7:30 – 9:30 AM, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.
This annual breakfast continues a strong tradition of supporting Desert Mission’s Lincoln Learning Center, Adult Day Healthcare Center and the Desert Mission Food Bank.
Check out the fabulous sponsorship opportunities and register today!
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