ASU names founding dean of medical school

December 26, 2025

By Support Hammersmith

Arizona State University has named Sarah Hollingsworth “Holly” Lisanby as founding dean of the ASU School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering, which is scheduled to open in fall 2026 in downtown Phoenix with HonorHealth serving as the primary clinical affiliate.

Lisanby, a psychiatrist, is professor emeritus at Duke University and director of the Division of Translational Research at the National Institute of Mental Health. When Lisanby starts her position May 1 she will be leading the flagship of ASU Health, which will be key to advancing the goals of the Roadmap.