ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves. Winter
We advanced our work as Arizona State University’s engine for prevention and precision health through impactful research, innovative teaching and deepening community partnerships.”
As we begin a new year, I am reflecting with pride on what the College of Health Solutions accomplished in 2025 and with excitement about what is ahead.
Last year marked an important chapter for our college. We advanced our work as Arizona State University’s engine for prevention and precision health through impactful research, innovative teaching and deepening community partnerships. Enrollment and research continued to thrive with fall 2025 enrollment up more than 13% and externally funded research up almost 30% year over year. Our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters are strengthening our shared commitment to improving healthspan—not just how long we live, but how well we live.
Looking ahead, 2026 will be a year of building. After extensive conversations with faculty, staff, university leadership and community partners, we have taken the first steps toward creating three proposed new schools within the college. Requests to include these schools in ASU’s Academic Strategic Plan are now under review by the Arizona Board of Regents, with a more detailed proposal moving through university governance this spring. At the same time, we are laying the operational groundwork needed to support this next phase of growth.
Across ASU Health, we are also celebrating the launch of the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering, which has earned accreditation and begun recruiting its inaugural class for fall 2026.
I invite you to read on to learn more about the people, partnerships and ideas shaping our work. Thank you for your continued support and collaboration.
Michael Yudell Dean and Professor
Sports organizations are expanding the roles that support athletes behind the scenes. As the industry grows, so do the opportunities for students ready to turn their degrees into a career.
College of Health Solutions alum Lucas Baken is one example of how students can begin navigating that landscape. After graduating with his master’s degree in strength and conditioning in December 2024, he joined the ASU women’s basketball team in June 2025 as a sports performance coaching assistant.
Having made the transition from course to career, Baken says his education helped set him up for the perspective shift required to work daily in athlete care, performance planning and decision-making.
“As (a student) athlete, and rightfully so, you’re so emotionally invested in your sport. As a coach, you have to take a step back and really look at things for what they are. You’re trying to make the best choice for the student athlete, and the role of a coach is sometimes to tell them what they don’t wanna hear,” explained Baken.
Baken’s early career reflects broader trends happening across professional sports organizations, where roles focused on health and performance are becoming more specialized and increasingly essential.
One area where that evolution is especially visible is women’s basketball. In 2024, the Women’s National Basketball Association recorded 54 million viewers across six providers.
To assist eager students like Baken in navigating this rapidly evolving industry, the College of Health Solutions and members of the Phoenix Mercury’s sports performance group partnered on a panel for students, where they offered insight and additional advice to students interested in a career in sports performance.
Hannah Wengertsman has spent the last six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, first as the head athletic trainer and then as the director of health and performance – a position she took on two years ago.
When she first started with the Mercury, her department consisted of only her and one other staff member. Together, they took on the responsibilities of an athletic trainer, physical therapist, strength coach, and equipment manager.
“The eyes on the league are changing, the way the league is operating is changing, and with that growth just comes the need for more staff. There’s just more to be done,” said Wengertsman.
Today, they have six full-time staff members and numerous part-time staff.
That expansion has created opportunities for people like Garrett Kendall, who joined the Phoenix Mercury as a physical therapist in 2025. Before stepping into professional sports, Kendall spent five years managing a private facility that treated professional and Olympic athletes.
Like many working in the field, Kendall’s career path was shaped by hands-on experience, mentorship and a willingness to pursue opportunities as they arose.
“If you have a role you wanna be in, go find that person on LinkedIn and figure out what their journey is. Find where they’ve gone, what kind of internships (and) jobs they do, touch base with them, get feedback, and find good mentors that are gonna give you honest feedback on where to improve,” said Kendall.
For Baken, internships were key to his success.
“Whatever space that you want to work in, I would say go directly into an internship and work for free or if you’re fortunate, maybe you have a stipend or something like that and then like I did at Arizona State, if you can continue your education and learn these skills and learn this knowledge and then be able to apply it day by day. I think that’s far and away the best way to get into this space.”
While the work can be rewarding, it also presents challenges that students pursuing a career in sports should be prepared for. Long hours and demanding schedules are common, and time with athletes is often limited.
“Coaches (have) to be there for the athletes, and then they stay after for other things as well, so it is a huge time commitment for sure. But I think that if you love this kind of stuff, you don’t really see it as a job as much as a time commitment,” Baken said.
In professional sports, you’re often working around the players’ busy schedules.
“It’s easy to live under the impression that in pro sports, you get to spend however much time you want with these athletes, but the reality is you may only get 20 minutes with them a day, if you’re lucky. How do you prioritize what’s most important in those 20 minutes?” said Wengertsman.
Advances in sports technology have added both opportunity and complexity to that limited time. Across all levels of sports, practitioners are adapting to new tools, including artificial intelligence and wearable technology.
Navigating which resources to use – and when – can be overwhelming, according to Wengertsman.
“That’s something that people coming out of school will have a big advantage on because it’s more mainstream now. It’s (about) finding the right ones that make sense for us that are gonna affect what we do, help us improve and help us win, and it’s getting the buy-in from the athletes just like us,” said Kendall.
“At the end of the day, we want our players to feel comfortable with us and what we’re doing and educate (them) around why we’re doing it so that we can help keep them healthy and on the court and performing at a high level.”
The eyes on the league are changing, the way the league is operating is changing, and with that growth just comes the need for more staff. There’s just more to be done.”
Hannah Wengertsman
AI will have a say in approving or denying some AZ Medicare claims
AZCentral
Swapna Reddy
Assistant dean and clinical professor
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/ arizona/2025/12/02/arizonamedicare-program-wiser-using-ai-reviewmedical-claims/86186176007
Babble Boot Camp creates communication interventions for young children
The State Press
Beate Peter Associate professor
https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/12/ speech-language-genetics-research
Widespread vaccinations are essential for a healthy U.S.
Psychology Today
Joshua Anbar
Clinical assistant professor
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ understanding-hypnosis/202511/widespreadvaccinations-are-essential-for-a-healthy-us
Dietary supplements you might actually need (or not) and why
Wise & Well via Medium
Carol Johnston
Senior associate dean and professor
https://medium.com/wise-well/who-really-needsdietary-supplements-and-why-9fadd428eeb1
2025 in review
gift
836
families supported at Breakfast with Santa event hosted by Child Crisis Arizona.
utensils 70
dinners served to unhoused community members over age 55 for Thanksgiving at the Justa Center.
box 3,903
Naloxone kits packed for the City of Phoenix Office of Public Health.
box
3 miles
Cleaned up three-mile biking trail on South Mountain with two veteran service organizations: The Mission Continues and Team Red, White & Blue.
College of Health Solutions Associate Professor Floris Wardenaar has built a career around tackling nutritional challenges, taking interest in the field’s intersections with biology, behavior and performance. His subfield of interest? Supporting health and performance during exercise – particularly under challenging conditions, such as heat stress.
“What initially fascinated me was how relatively small changes in nutrition or hydration can have meaningful effects on health, recovery and daily functioning, especially in active individuals,” said Wardenaar.
Wardenaar studies heat and hydration in both laboratory and field settings, working with firefighters, athletes and active adults to discover new solutions to pressing health concerns.
His current research, the PHOENIX study, uses funding from FrieslandCampina to look at gut health and gastrointestinal symptoms in active individuals with GI issues. The project, which is currently recruiting participants, utilizes the heat chamber at the Health Futures Center to evaluate the effects of a multiingredient nutritional supplement. The supplement aims to address GI symptoms, gut-related well-being and tolerance to exercise, focusing on reducing discomfort without compromising performance.
Q What is the importance of studying gut health?
A Gut health plays a central role in overall health, immune function and day-to-day well-being, but it is especially important for physically active people. Many athletes and recreational exercisers experience GI symptoms that can negatively affect training consistency, enjoyment of exercise and performance.
By studying gut health, we can better understand why GI issues occur, how nutrition and exercise interact with the gut and which strategies are both effective and safe. This research helps move the field beyond trial-and-error approaches toward personalized, science-based nutritional solutions that support both health and physical activity.
Q What is the heat chamber at the Health Futures Center? How do you use it in your research?
A The heat chamber at the Health Futures Center is a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled research facility that allows us to precisely manipulate temperature, humidity and environmental stress. We let participants
exercise in the heat, we know that the combination of heat and exercise disrupts the gut, as such we use it as a “pressure cooker” to investigate the impact of our nutrition intervention on gut health.
Q What is your proudest accomplishment?
A One of my proudest accomplishments is building a productive research program at Arizona State University that combines high-quality science with real-world impact. This includes securing substantial external funding, mentoring students at all levels and translating research findings into practical tools and guidelines used by athletes, practitioners and organizations worldwide.
I am also proud of contributing to the broader profession through leadership roles, such as serving as President of Professionals in Nutrition for Exercise and Sports, and helping shape conversations around supplement safety, hydration, and evidence-based performance nutrition.
Q How can interested participants get involved with your research?
A We are looking for physically active people who experience GI issues before, during or after exercise, and those who worry about dairy or lactose intolerance. The screener serves as a tool to identify people’s eligibility for our study. After filling it out, a research team member will inform them within two working days if they are eligible to participate. Depending on eligibility, the study involves three to six visits, and participants can receive between $250 to $350 upon finishing the study.
Gut health plays a central
role in overall health, immune function and dayto-day well-being, but it is especially important for physically active people.”
Interested in joining the study? Scan the QR code today.
Kissa Powell started at the College of Health Solutions, she was determined to create opportunities and advocate for her fellow staff members. Three years later, her role has expanded to offer the same level of support to both staff and faculty, working to establish initiatives that leave employees feeling supported and empowered to succeed. But at the end of the day, the most fulfilling part of Powell’s job is supporting the College of Health Solutions’ culture of growth, appreciation and recognition. In her role, Powell established Days of Service to bring employees into the community and encourage involvement with local organizations such as women’s centers, urban gardens and food banks. Both in the office and out in the community, Powell strives to make an impact.
At the end of the day, all of that service and connection needs to generate results. For me, that has meant implementing approachable recognition programs and bringing groups that don’t always associate together in ways that highlight their common purpose.”
Veteran-owned businesses, veteran-serving organizations and community groups came together on Oct. 21 to celebrate the leadership and community impact of individuals who have served in the military.
The College of Health Solutions welcomed folks from across the ASU community to take part in Homecoming activities and mingle with students, alums and employees alike on Nov. 15.
Siddhi Kulkarni moved from India to pursue her master’s degree. Now, she dedicates her life to compassionate, patient-centered health care.
College of Health Solutions Outstanding Graduate Student Siddhi Uday Kulkarni found her calling during her undergraduate studies while researching bioinformatics and genetic data.
“I realized that data has the power to tell the stories biology alone cannot,” explained Kulkarni.
Kulkarni began her studies at ASU equipped with a number of credentials, including a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology and a master’s degree in bioinformatics. Her experience grew through her internship with the Indian Council of Medical Research, where she saw the potential of combining data science and health care.
Building on this foundation, Kulkarni moved from India to begin her journey at Arizona State University, drawn to ASU’s dedication to innovation, inclusion and excellence. Now, she has completed a second master’s degree in biomedical informatics and data science in just one and a half years.
At the heart of Kulkarni’s research is empathy. Under the tutelage of Health Solutions Clinical Associate Professor Anita Murcko, Kulkarni learned the importance of compassion and the many ways that informatics empowers patient-centered care.
“Through my courses, I discovered that behind every dataset lies a patient, a story and a real human life. I began to see data not just as information but as a bridge between science and compassion — a way to design smarter, fairer and more human-centered health care systems. I learned that true innovation happens when data-driven insights meet real-world empathy,” said Kulkarni.
Here, Kulkarni shares most about her experience in the program and her plans for the future.
Q Why did you choose ASU?
A ASU’s biomedical informatics and data science program offered something truly exceptional. It brings together clinical informatics, bioinformatics, machine learning and health data science under one roof, creating a program that’s as integrated, practical and visionary as the future of health care itself.
What especially drew me in was the collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, which allows students to work hands-on with real-world electronic health records, bridging the gap between data science and health informatics. That connection between cuttingedge research and real-world outcomes genuinely inspired me.
I was also inspired by ASU’s phenomenal culture of connection, a place where students are encouraged to lead, create and innovate; to build their own ideas using AI, data, informatics, health technologies and to transform those ideas into meaningful advancements that can drive real change in society. At ASU, innovation isn’t just taught, it’s practiced, shared and lived every day.
Q Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A Under the mentorship of Dr. Valentin Dinu, I have grown immensely as a researcher, thinker and leader. Working with him—both as a student and as a teaching assistant for biomedical informatics — has strengthened my understanding of his exceptional mentorship, guidance and depth of knowledge. His teaching extends far beyond the classroom; he encourages students to understand the reason behind every dataset and the purpose behind each project.
Through my applied project under his mentorship, I learned one of the most valuable lessons of my academic journey — that data holds meaning only when it creates real impact. He inspired me to think critically, explore ideas fearlessly and approach challenges as opportunities to innovate.
Q What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A Don’t just chase success—chase growth and development.
Grades and achievements matter, but what truly defines you is the curiosity you bring to every challenge and the courage to keep learning, even when things get hard. Every course you take, every late night you spend studying or working on projects, is shaping you in ways you might not yet realize.
Remember, your time in school isn’t just about earning a degree, it’s about discovering your purpose, your voice and your potential to make an impact. Learn with passion, lead with integrity, and never stop believing that you can make a difference. In the end, it’s not about where you end up, it’s about who you become along the way.
Q What are your plans after graduation?
A I am currently exploring opportunities that will allow me to combine my background in bioinformatics and machine learning with my passion for translational health care research. I see myself working as a biomedical data scientist or clinical informatics researcher, analyzing real-world data—from genomics to electronic health records—and translating that knowledge into actionable insights that can genuinely impact lives.
Q If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A I would dedicate it to creating a Global Health Data and Research Center focused on tackling critical health challenges through data-driven innovation. The center would combine biotechnology, biomedical informatics and data science to analyze complex biological and clinical data, turning it into actionable insights that improve treatment strategies, prevent disease outbreaks and guide global health policies.
I began to see data not just as information but as a bridge between science and compassion — a way to design smarter, fairer and more humancentered health care systems.”
Meaghan Riordan is using her speech and hearing science background to advocate for adults with disabilities through policy and practice.
A desire to make connections and help others led Meaghan Riordan to earn a bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing science and a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) certificate from the College of Health Solutions. The 2015 graduate, who minored in Spanish Literature, has worked as a speech-language pathologist assistant and, for the last three years, has held the title of Quality Assurance Administrator at The Centers for Habilitation.
In this role, she has been able to use the skills gained during her time in college to advocate for adults living with disabilities through policy writing, behavior plan development, providing training, and ensuring compliance with state requirements.
Riordan also helps to occasionally write grants and recently won funding to bring communication devices into the Day program and provide training on how to implement them. She says working with this population – which is historically underserved and under-resourced – and seeking ways to provide a good quality of life is “an honor and a privilege.”
Q What inspired you to pursue your field of study?
A My mom has been a special education teacher for more than 20 years. As a child, I would hear stories of the students that she helped, and then I was able to volunteer in high school at her school in a selfcontained autism classroom. I loved it because of the connections that I made with the students. A good friend of mine was a year older than me and was getting her degree at ASU in speech and hearing sciences. I knew that I wanted to go into a field to help others, and after talking with her and being on the ASU campus, I decided that was what I wanted to do.
Q What is the most fulfilling part of your career?
A Being able to serve this population at The Centers for Habilitation by helping people with developmental disabilities is the most amazing feeling. It’s also a privilege to use my education and the skills gained in this role to be able to effect change and write policy that can truly impact people’s lives.
Q What is the best advice, professionally or otherwise, you have ever received and continue to carry with you?
A There are two things that I carry with me. The first is about how to approach work. I was told to come at it with curiosity as opposed to judgment, and that’s been very helpful when assisting people when they are struggling to learn new skills. The second is more to do with people who work in industries where you care for others, and that is to make sure to take care of yourself outside of work. You cannot pour from an empty cup, so having good boundaries is not just a good idea but necessary.
Q What advice would you give to current students pursuing a bachelor’s in Speech and Hearing Science, either about school or in preparation for graduation and getting a job?
A Use your time at the College of Health Solutions and ASU wisely. Work hard and get experience. I think classes and coursework are wonderful, but there’s something to be said about taking what you’ve learned and applying it because that’s a whole different ball game and skill set. With that being said, take advantage of the opportunities that a big college and university have to offer, like being involved in research. Finally, don’t listen to others’ opinions; know that you can learn the skills that you need to be successful.
How much protein do non-athletes actually need, and does eating a lot more offer any advantage?
The need for dietary protein will elicit lively discussions among nutrition experts, and the range of dietary recommendations is quite broad. It’s important to remember that simply adding more protein to your diet doesn’t mean that you’ll lose weight. In fact, adding protein powders or bars to your diet may add extra calories that you don’t need. Extra calories are converted to fat, which actually leads to more body fat over time. So if you want to add more protein to your diet, the protein should be replacing other foods – ideally, less nutritious food items like sweets, bakery products and fast foods.
Certain animal proteins are high in saturated fats, which are linked to chronic disease risk and should be eaten sparingly. Healthy, protein-rich foods include egg whites, low-fat dairy, lean meats (such as skinless, white-meat chicken or turkey, fish and seafood), soy, nuts, seeds, beans, and lentils. The minimum daily protein intake for the average non-athlete adult should be 0.8 grams per kilogram body weight (to convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.2). For an adult weighing 150 pounds, this looks like 55 grams of protein daily: (150 ÷ 2.2) x 0.8 = 55.
However, how much protein you should eat in a day can change depending on your circumstances. For those who are 50 and older or vegan, the recommendation rises to 1.0 to 1.2 grams per kilogram due to reduced protein digestibility. For athletes, the recommendation can range from 1.1 to 1.5 grams per kilogram to support a higher muscle mass and performance.
For weight loss, high-protein/reduced-calorie diets do offer an advantage when compared to high-carbohydrate/reduced-calorie diets, as indicated by improved maintenance of muscle mass and the attenuation of hunger. Moreover, high-protein/adequate-calorie diets can prevent weight regain after weight loss compared to high-carbohydrate/adequate-calorie diets.
High-protein/adequate-calorie diets typically contain 20 to 30% of calories from protein, about 95 to 125 grams of protein per day. Most research suggests that high-protein/adequate-calorie diets over the long term are safe; however, carbohydrate intakes should remain above 100 grams per day to keep metabolic indicators in healthy ranges.
