TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE IMPACT OF POSSIBLE COLORADO RIVER CUTS ON ARIZONA'S GROWTH.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, KATE GALLEGO JOINS US, MAYOR KATE GALLEGO JOINS US WITH DETAILS ABOUT A NEW PROJECT ALONG THE RIO SALADO RIVERBED AND ASU'S NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL WELCOMES ITS FIRST CLASS OF STUDENTS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ITS PLAN TO ADDRESS SHORTAGES OF COLORADO RIVER WATER.

THAT PLAN INCLUDES WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERABLE CUTS TO ARIZONA'S WATER SUPPLY.

DETAILS OF THE PLAN ARE PENDING BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF COLORADO RIVER WATER CUTS RAISES THE QUESTION OF GROWTH IN ARIZONA, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

JOINING US, DANNY SEIDEN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ARIZONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON, TED.

TED: THE IMPACT, JUST IN GENERAL, WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT IT, WHAT COULD THE IMPACT BE?

>> TOUGH TO KNOW FOR CERTAIN.

IT'S A FRAMEWORK IS ALL WE'VE GOTTEN, THE FINAL FRAMEWORK AND WORKS OVER TEN YEARS.

ON ONE SIDE OF THE SCALE, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE AND DEVASTATING TO ARIZONA TO MANAGE.

ON THE OTHER, IT'S QUITE MANAGEABLE AND I GIVE LEADERSHIP FROM GOVERNOR HOBBS, FROM THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE, FROM OTHERS, THEY WORKED HARD TO NEGOTIATE A VERY UNIQUE AGREEMENT WITH THE LOWER-BASIN STATES, SO CALIFORNIA, NEVADA AND US TO REALLY TURNS INTO WHAT IS THE LARGEST CONSERVATION PROJECT IN THE RIVER'S HISTORY, AND THEY'RE PUTTING THAT ON THE TABLE, AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT GETS APPROVED AND GIVES US TWO YEARS, IT WILL GIVE US TWO YEARS OF MANAGEMENT UNDER THAT, AND WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD YEARS OF INVESTING, YEARS OF CONSERVING.

YEARS OF BUILDING UP THE RIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE.

GREAT LEADERSHIP FROM MAYOR GALLEGO AND OTHERS WHO HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB PREPPING THEIR CITIES FOR WHAT'S TO COME.

>> THE IDEA, THE OVERALL CONCEPT.

LOWER WATER LEVELS SHOULD MEAN SLOWER GROWTH, IS THAT A VALID ARGUMENT?

>> IT'S NOT A VALID ARGUMENT BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION WE'RE TAKING OUR WATER FROM THE SAME PLACE.

NO PUN INTENDED, DIFFERENT POOLS OF WATER COMPANIES USE FROM.

INTEL AS AN EXAMPLE, LARGELY OFF OF COLORADO RIVER AT THIS POINT.

THEY ARE WATER POSITIVE, THEY WORKED HARD TO GET THERE.

THEY'VE MADE THAT THEIR GOAL.

TSMC IS NOT IN THE SAME BOAT AS INTEL BUT WORKING TOWARDS IT.

THEY'RE RECYCLING TWO-THIRDS OF WATER USAGE AS THEY GO FORWARD AND THE RIGHTS WHEN THEY BOUGHT THE STATE LAND WAS ACCOUNTED FOR.

THE CITY OF PHOENIX HAS DONE A GOOD JOB BUDGETING AND PLANNING FOR THIS GOING FORWARD.

WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.

A QUICK METAPHOR.

WATER IN ARIZONA IS LIKE A HOUSEHOLD BUDGET.

THE COLORADO RIVER IS A PAYCHECK JUST AS VERDE AND SALT RIVER ARE, THAT PAYCHECK IS GOING DOWN.

WE HAVE SAVINGS IN THE GROUND WATER.

WE'VE BEEN INVESTING.

WE HAVE THE REBATE CHECKS YOU GET THROUGH RECLAIMS AND OTHER SOURCES.

UPPER BASIN HAVE NOT DONE ANY OF THAT.

TED: USE THE FAMILY INCOME, LOSING MONEY, THAT'S NOT THE TIME TO BUY A BIGGER HOUSE, NOT THE TIME FOR GROWTH, CRITICS SAY, DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> NO.

IT'S A MISUNDERSTANDING.

REASON WHY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE OTHER INVESTMENTS AND STREAM OFS WATER IS BECAUSE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, AND GROWTH IS PAYING FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE TSMCs BE THE INTELS, THE AMKORS, WE USE THE REVENUE TO FUND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWTH.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT, IT GETS SCARY, IT'S ON THE RESIDENTS AND OTHERS TO FUND IT.

TED: IS THERE A POINT THE DIAGRAMS HIT AND THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO, AND WE NEED MORE WATER FOR THAT KIND OF GROWTH.

>> WELL, AGAIN, I WILL SAY OUR LEADERSHIP HAS DONE A GOOD JOB LOOKING AHEAD.

WE HAVE FOUR PROJECTS CURRENTLY ADVANCED AT THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AUTHORITY, DEALS WITH DESALINATION, THESE ARE HAPPENING, THEY'RE BEING FUNDED, THE VIABILITY OF THE STUDIES ARE COMING OUT AND THIS IS A WAY FORWARD.

I DON'T THINK THOSE DIAGRAMS WILL COME TOGETHER.

ARIZONA HAS DONE A GOOD JOB PLANNING.

WE HAVE GOOD LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY, IN THE STATE, AND WE'RE SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE.

TED: SHOULD THERE BE SLOWER, NOT NO GROWTH BUT SLOWER GROWTH, MORE RESPONSIBLE GROWTH, MORE CAUTIOUS GROWTH?

>> I FEEL THAT -- I HATE TO SAY SLOWER GROWTH, MORE RESPONSIBLE GROWTH IS A RIGHT WAY TO PHRASE IT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS ON THE MANUFACTURING SIDE TO DATA CENTERS, THEY NEED TO COME IN AND MEET WITH LOCAL LEADERSHIP, THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, MAKE IT CLEAR HOW THEY'LL BE A GOOD PARTNER AND DISSPELL THE INFORMATION OUT THERE.

DATA CENTERS ARE CLOSED LOOP, AIRCOOLED SYSTEMS AND HELP -- AGAIN, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT COMES INTO FUND OUR STATE REVENUE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUES BUT NOT USING A LOT OF WATER.

TED: NOT USING A LOT OF WATER WITH A DATA CENTER IS ONE THING, NOT HAVING THE DATA CENTER MEANS WHATEVER WATER THEY'RE USING IS NOT USED BY A DATA CENTER, ARE WE APPROACHING THAT POINT?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE WE ARE.

I THINK ARIZONA HAS PLANNED FOR THIS.

ARIZONA CAN WITHSTAND THIS.

YOU GOT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO LEADERSHIP GOING BACK FROM GOVERNOR DUCEY TO GOVERNOR HOBBS, HAVE PUT POLITICS ASIDE.

HE DID THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN, GOVERNOR HOBBS IS NEGOTIATING THE DEAL.

THIS DEAL IS BIG NEWS IN THE SENSE THAT CALIFORNIA IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO GIVE UP MORE THAN THEY HAVE BEFORE.

THAT IS SOMETHING GOVERNOR HOBBS PUT TOGETHER WITH THE LOWER BASIN STATES.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT A WATER SCARCITY, IT'S CHEAP WATER BEING MORE SCARCE AND THE CITIES HAVE PREPARED FOR IT, THE CITIES ARE PUTTING MONEY AWAY, PUTTING INVESTMENT INFRASTRUCTURES IN, LIKE CITY THE PHOENIX, THEY'LL WEATHER THE STORM BETTER THAN OTHERS.

>> KEEP ATTRACTING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO PAY FOR WATER CONSERVATION THAT MORE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES NEED?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

GROWTH IS THE WAY OUT OF.

THIS LACK OF GROWTH, YOU NEVER BENEFIT.

PEOPLE SAY IF YOU'RE NOT GROWING, YOU'RE DYING, THAT'S TRUE.

GROWTH WILL FUND OUR WAY OUT OF THIS.

TED: GROWTH IS THE WAY OUT OF WATER PROBLEM.

>> THE OBSTACLE IS THE WAY, TED, FOR YOU.

TED: WE'RE GETTING INTO ZEN THINGS.

>> WE ARE.

WE ARE.

TED: IS ALL OF THIS MOOT, THOUGH, IF LITERALLY, A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF ARIZONA'S WATER ALLOCATION IS CUT BY FEDERAL OR SOME OTHER DESIGN.

THIS IS ALL A, THIS IS ALL IN THIS SIDE, BUT THINGS CHANGE, IF A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR WATER GOES AWAY FROM THE COLORADO RIVER, DON'T THEY?

>> THINGS WILL BECOME MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO PREP EVERYONE FOR THAT.

AGAIN, THE REASON WE'VE BEEN SO VOCAL ABOUT OUR DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ACTION OR INACTION HERE IS ARIZONA HAS DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT.

WE'VE CONSERVED.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD, PLANNING FOR A LONG TIME.

OTHER STATES HAVE NOT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BEAR MORE THAN OUR FAIR SHARE, THAT'S WHAT GOVERNOR HOBBS SAID, MAYOR GALLEGO SAID IT AS WELL.

TED: LAST QUESTION, ONE REASON WE'RE USING LESS WATER THAN YEARS AGO IS THERE'S LESS IN THE WAY OF AGRICULTURE.

WILL THIS COME DOWN TO A POINT OF AGRICULTURE VERSUS URBAN.

AGRICULTURE TAKES SO MUCH WATER?

>> IT IS 73% OF OUR TOTAL WATER USE.

WE USE LESS WATER NOW THAN IN 1950 BECAUSE OF AG TO URBAN.

OUR FARMERS GETTING MORE INNOVATIVE, THEY ARE SWITCHING TO DRIP IRRIGATION, THEY ARE PURSUING LESS WATER CROPS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE FARMS MOVING FROM ALFALFA TO BARLEY.

I BELIEVE FARMERS WILL ADAPT, I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A MORE POPULOUS GROWTH STATE THAT WILL LEAD TO LESS AG USES AS WELL.

THERE IS NO OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT IS GOOD AS MANAGING WATER AS ARIZONA.

WE ARE THE BEST.

TED: GROWTH IS THE WAY OUT OF OUR WATER PROBLEM.

I'LL NEED TO MEDITATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

DANNY, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS, TED.

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TED: RIO REIMAGINED IS A PLAN TO TURN A SIX-MILE STRETCH OF THE RIO SALADO RIVERBED INTO A HUB.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME PHOENIX MAYOR KATE GALLEGO.

MAYOR, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS.

BEFORE WE START WITH THAT, I WANT TO START WITH WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT HERE, AND AGAIN, PREPARING FOR LIFE IF SOME OF THIS COLORADO RIVER WATER GOES AWAY.

>> THAT IS AT TOP OF MIND FOR ALL OF US IN ARIZONA RIGHT NOW, IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX IS VERY FOCUSED ON THAT.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE IS INVEST IN ADVANCED WATER PURIFICATION, WATER RECYCLING, TAKE THE WATER WE HAVE HERE AND DO MORE WITH IT.

STRETCH IT FURTHER, THAT'S A SUPPLY THAT'S CERTAIN.

WE ALREADY HAVE IT.

WE'RE MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS.

PARTNERING WITH CUSTOMERS, SO IT COULD BE A REBATE TO GET YOU A WATER EFFICIENT APPLIANCE TO HOA CAN GET A SIGNIFICANT GRANT TO REMOVE GRASS IF YOU DON'T NEED IT ANYMORE.

UP TO $250,000.

WE WANT TO WORK WITH OUR RESIDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

WE'VE ALSO BEGUN CHARGING A VERY SIGNIFICANT FEE TO GO OUT AND ACQUIRE NEW WATER FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT.

IF YOU COME INTO PHOENIX, YOU CONTRIBUTE TO WATER ACQUISITION, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DEVELOPERS, NEW BUSINESSES WOULD PAY TO FUND US TO GO OUT AND GET NEW WATER SUPPLIES, WHETHER IT BE THAT ARIZONA PURE WATER OR LOOKING AT DESALINATION ONE DAY.

TED: MORE EXPENSIVE WATER IS ONE OF THE ALLOCATION PHYSICAL THE WATER PLAN COMES THROUGH, TRUE?

>> MOST COST EFFECTIVE WATER SOURCE IS THE SALT AND VERDE RIVERS, AND WE'RE LUCKY IN PHOENIX, THAT MAKES UP THE LARGEST PART OF OUR WATER SUPPLY, BUT WE ALSO BENEFIT FROM COLORADO RIVER.

ANY WATER SUPPLY AFTER THAT WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE.

SO WE, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE SALTY WATER SUPPLIES WE COULD TAKE THE SALT OUT OF AND WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE RIVER WATER.

TED: YOU QUOTED SAYING FEDERAL REGULATORS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE.

THE FEDERAL REGULATORS WHO CAME WITH THIS IDEA.

LAST QUESTION ON THIS, WHAT DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND?

>> SO IT FEELS LIKE REAL FEDERAL OVERREACH.

I DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THE NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS FOR THESE CUTS.

WE MAKE SO MANY KEY SYSTEMS HERE, I DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTAND HOW OUR ECONOMIES ARE ALSO CLOSELY INTEGRATED.

IT REALLY FEELS LIKE IF THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR HAD TALKED WITH PEOPLE FROM THE NATIONAL SECURITY WORLD, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND MORE, THEY MIGHT HAVE REACHED A CONCLUSION THAT WAS MORE RESPONSIBLE.

IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS, THEY SPENT MORE TIME LOOKING AT THE ECONOMIES AROUND RIVER RAFTING AND TOURISM THAN THEY DID ABOUT THE VITAL THINGS WE DO IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX.

THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC BUT IT WAS TOO DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO WRESTLE WITH, SO THEY PUSHED IT ASIDE.

TED: THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION, SORRY, LIED ABOUT THAT.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE.

DOES PHOENIX, SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, DOES ARIZONA UNDERSTAND THAT GROWTH, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE LAST -- SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE, OR DOES IT?

WE HEARD THAT GROWTH DOESN'T HAVE TO CHANGE, BUT IT'S HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHEN THERE'S ONLY A LIMITED AMOUNT OF SUPPLY, NO MATTER WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, THEY ARE ALL SOMEWHAT LIMITED.

DOES SOMETHING HAVE TO CHANGE AS FAR AS HOW WE DO THINGS IN ARIZONA?

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGED THEY WEREN'T LOOKING AT ECONOMIC IMPACTS.

THAT WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTING.

WE'RE A DESERT COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WATER IN EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO.

WE NEED TO THINK WHAT IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USES OF WATER?

TO ME, MAKING SURE RESIDENTS HAVE GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME, AND JOBS ARE KEY.

WE OUGHT TO BE PICKY, SMART AND STRATEGIC.

TED: WE BROUGHT YOU HERE BECAUSE OF A RIO SALADO REIMAGINE.

WHAT THE HECK IS THAT.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> SEEKING OUT THE RIVERS.

PHOENIX EXISTS BECAUSE WE'RE IN A BEAUTIFUL RIVERBED VALLEY.

THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT PEOPLE HERE ORIGINALLY AND IN THIS TIME, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE COLORADO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SALT RIVER WHICH WAS SO KEY TO OUR FOUNDING.

THE CITY OF PHOENIX IS TRYING TO REINVEST IN THAT AREA, IT'S KEY TO OUR HISTORY BUT WANT IT TO BE PART OF OUR FUTURE.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR POLICY PLAN WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN REINVEST AND REINVIGORATE THE RIVER.

YOU, THE VOTERS HAVE BEEN HELPING US.

WE WENT TO OUR VOTERS IN 2023 AND GAVE US APPROVAL TO BUY LAND ALONG THE RIVER, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE REINVESTING IN THAT AREA, IN THE AREA OF THE AUDUBON, A BEAUTIFUL BIRD SANCTUARY, WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT INVESTMENT, AND OUR RESIDENTS ARE EXCITED TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY ALONG THE RIVER.

TED: I GOT A SIX-MILE STRETCH FROM 32nd STREET OUT TO 19th AVENUE, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE PLAN COVERS THE WHOLE 20 MILES BUT FOCUS WILL BEGIN ON THE CENTRAL CORE WHICH INCLUDES WHERE WE BUILT LIGHT RAIL.

TRYING TO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE AREA.

IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED.

THERE'S NEAT PHOENIX PARKS IN THE AREA WITH PONDS.

MY KID FOUND SOME COOL -- HE ALWAYS FINDS THE ANIMALS, I ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE EXTRA TOWELS IN THE CAR.

WE DON'T TOUCH THE ANIMALS BUT JUST THE SPECIAL PLACES WHERE FAMILIES CAN MAKE MEMORIES.

PHOENIX FAMILIES HAVE DONE THAT FOR GENERATIONS AND HOPING TO MAKE KEY SMART INVESTMENTS TO BE REBORN AGAIN.

>> I KNOW THAT THE WHOLE RIVERBED CATALYST SITES ARE KEY ALONG THE REVITALIZATION PROCESS, WILL THIS BE A CATALYST SITE, AND THE IDEA IS TO BUILD THIS UP AS AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS?

THERE IS PRIVATE LAND.

THE REST OF 20 MILES, YOU GOT INTERESTING SITUATIONS, BUT IS THIS GOING TO BE A SHOW PIECE THE SIX-MILE STRETCH?

IS THAT THE IDEA?

>> THE CITY BOUGHT WITH GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FUNDS A 30 ACRE PARSEL AND HOPE THAT WILL BE A CATALYST, AND THE FIRST THING YOU MAY SEE IS A SMALLER ONE-ACRE SITE BY THE LIGHT SXRAL AUDUBON, AND WITH WONDERFUL PARTNERS, ASU, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND PRIVATE DONATIONS, WE'RE GOING TO START REINVIGORATING THAT WITH BEAUTIFUL ART, MORE ENHANCED COOL SPACES.

TED: COOL SPACES, THIS SOUNDS GREAT.

WHAT ABOUT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT?

HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL REMAIN?

>> WE'RE TRYING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO BUILD ON THE GREAT VISION JOHN McCAIN AND ED PASTOR STARTED WITH CAN ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

WE NEED THE CITY TO STEP UP AND LEAD IN THIS AREA AND BUILD ON OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHAT AUDUBON AND OTHERS ARE DOING THERE.

THANKS TO THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND AND MORE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO EXPAND WHAT IS HAPPENING.

SO YOUR GREAT ADVENTURE TO HOP ON THE LIGHT RAIL AND SEE OUR RIVER FRONT AREA.

TED: TIME FRAME FOR ALL THIS?

>> FALL CONSTRUCTION FOR THAT FIRST SITE I MENTIONED THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND OTHERS.

TED: ALL RIGHT, PHOENIX MAYOR KATE GALLEGO, ALWAYS A PLEASURE, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

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TED: ASA HAS A BRAND-NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL AND FIRST CLASSES ARE UNDER WAY.

THE NEW JOHN SHUFELDT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND MEDICAL ENGINEERING FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGINEERS.

DR.

HOLLY LISANBY IS DEAN OF THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL AND JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.

TED: WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WE TALKED WITH FOLKS ALONG THE WAY.

THIS IS NOT A TRADITIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOL, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE ARE REIMAGINING MEDICAL EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY CAN TRANSFORM WHAT'S POSSIBLE, AND SO WE HAVE FULLY INTEGRATED NEXT GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SO ON INTO NOT ONLY WHAT WE TEACH BUT HOW WE TEACH IT.

TED: THE GOAL IS TO GET PHYSICIAN ENGINEERS GRADUATED AND OUT THERE DOING THINGS.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A PHYSICIAN ENGINEER?

>> A PROBLEM SOLVER.

SOMEONE WHO LOOKS AT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST IN HEALTH CARE TODAY AND DOESN'T SAY, WELL, THAT'S JUST THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT BUT RATHER SAYS LET'S WORK ON A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, AND THAT SOLUTION MIGHT BE A NEW MEDICAL DEVICE, A NEW PIECE OF SOFTWARE, IT MIGHT BE A REDESIGN OF THE SYSTEM ITSELF, AND SO SOMEONE WHO CAN REALLY NOT JUST PRACTICE MEDICINE BUT TRANSFORM THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE BY LEVERAGING ENGINEERING TRAINING.

TED: YOU SAY NOT JUST PRACTICE MEDICINE, WILL THEY PRACTICE MEDICINE?

WILL THEY BE ABLE TO TREAT THINGS AS OPPOSED TO COME UP WITH NEW IDEAS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN FOUR YEARS, OUR STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING BOTH THE M.D., THE MEDICAL DEGREE AS WELL AS A MASTERS IN MEDICAL ENGINEERING AND AFTER THAT PREPARED TO DO RESIDENCIES IN ORDER TO PRACTICE MEDICINE.

TED: SO IT'S KIND OF A MEDICAL ENGINEERING SCHOOL?

>> THAT'S WHY OUR NAME ISSO LONG, THE JOHN SHUFELDT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND MEDICAL ENGINEERING.

TED: YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH ASU, ALL ASU NAMES ARE LONG.

COLLABORATING ACROSS FIELDS AT ASU, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> SO ONE OF THE DESIGN PRINCIPALS AT ASU IS FUSION ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES AND WE'RE CERTAINLY BRINGING TOGETHER THE FUNDAMENTAL MEDICAL SCIENCES, POLITICAL SCIENCES ALONG WITH ALL SORTS OF ENGINEERING, NOT JUST COMPUTER SCIENCE, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING BUT HUMANITY.

HUMANITY IS AN IMPORTANT PART BECAUSE MEDICINE IS A HUMAN ENDEAVOR, SO WE WANT OUR PHYSICIAN ENGINEERS TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE THESE TECHNOLOGIES TO SERVE HUMANITY AND TAKE CARE OF ARIZONANS.

TED: COLLABORATIONS WITH THE CITY OF PHOENIX WITH HONORHEALTH, OTHERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUTOUT TO MAYOR KATE GALLEGO AND THE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND COUNCIL MEMBERS MADE, MADE OUR NEW ASU HEADQUARTERS POSSIBLE, SITUATED IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX, AND, OF COURSE, SUPPORT FROM THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN CRITICAL, THE PHOENIX VA IS ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, BUT HONORHEALTH IS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY AFFILIATES.

TED: CRITICAL TIME FOR CONSTRUCTION, DO YOU HAVE THAT?

>> SOMEWHERE IN 2028.

WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN STARTED IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX IN THE MERCADO PHOENIX.

OUR STUDENTS WERE IN CLASS TODAY, THIS IS THEIR FOURTH WEEK IN CLASS JO FOURTH WEEK IN CLASS?

>> YES.

TED: SCHOOL HASN'T STARTED ASU, YET, BUT THESE FOLKS, UNDER WAY.

>> WELCOME TO MY WORLD.

IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE, IT'S A 12 MONTH A YEAR SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS STARTED ORIENTATION JULY 27 AND THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES FORMALLY WAS AUGUST 3, STARTING WITH OUR BECOMING A PHYSICIAN ENGINEER CLASS.

TED: GOOD PLACE TO START.

HOW MANY STUDENTS?

>> WE HAVE 36 STUDENTS.

TED: WILL THAT GROW IN YEARS TO COME OR IS THAT WHERE YOU WANT -- IS THAT A MAGIC SPOT?

>> WE PLAN TO GROW OVER TIME.

STARTING WITH 36, AS WE'RE BUILDING THE SCHOOL TOGETHER.

ABOUT HALF OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FROM ARIZONA AND WE'RE THRILLED ABOUT THEIR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES HERE IN THE STATE.

TED: TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE STUDENTS, HOW ARE THEY SELECTED?

HOW TO APPLY, HOW ARE THEY SELECTED, AGE, DEMOS, WHAT DO YOU GOT?

>> THEY APPLY WITH THE PROCESS OF ALL STANDARDS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN APPLICATIONS AND ESSAYS AND INTERVIEWS IS WHY DID THEY WANT TO DO THIS UNIQUE TRAINING AT THE CONVERGENCE OF MEDICINE ENGINEERING.

WE ASKED ABOUT THE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES IN ARIZONA.

OF OUR 36 STUDENTS, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE ENGINEERS, MANY OF THEM DID MAJOR IN S.T.E.M., BUT SOME MAJORED IN HUMANITIES AND OTHER AREAS OF SCIENCE, SO IT'S A REALLY NICE DIVERSITY IN TERMS OF THE DISCIPLINES REPRESENTED.

THEY HAIL FROM 11 DIFFERENT STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HALF OF THEM CALL ARIZONA HOME.

TED: IS THERE A PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT THEY MAY HAVE CAME FROM OTHER PLACE BUS THEY'RE HERE NOW AND WE NEED THEM IN THE STATE AFTER THEY GRADUATE?

IS THERE ANY INCENTIVE THERE?

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU HAVEN'T WORKED ON YET?

>> WELL, A BIG PART OF OUR FOCUS IS ON THE TRAINING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING IN HONORHEALTH AND OTHER CLINICAL AFFILIATES.

HONORHEALTH IS A NINE-HOSPITAL HEALTH SYSTEM LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED AND OPERATE A LARGE NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS ACROSS THE CITY AND RURAL AREAS AS WELL, SO THE HOPE IS THAT BEING EXPOSED TO THOSE NEEDS THAT THOSE STUDENTS, MANY OF THEM WOULD CHOOSE TO STAY AND DO RESIDENCIES IN ARIZONA AT HONORHEALTH OR OTHER RESIDENCIES IN THE AREA AND INVEST IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE LEADING HEALTH CHALLENGES IN ARIZONA.

TED: A PERSONAL QUESTION HERE, YOU'RE THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL HERE.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO ALL THIS, AND DID YOU THINK THAT YOUR CAREER WOULD WIND UP AS DEVELOPING PHYSICIAN ENGINEERS?

>> WELL, THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, AS A RESEARCHER AND AS A CLINICIAN, I FOCUSED ON USING DEVICES TO IMPROVE BRAIN HEALTH.

SO MY FIELD IS THE FIELD OF NEUROMODULATION, ACROSS MY CAREER, I COLLABORATED WITH ENGINEERS BECAUSE THEY'RE IMPORTANT TEAM MEMBERS WHEN YOU DEVELOP NEW DEVICES.

WHEN I LEARNED THAT ASU IS STARTING TO ENTIRELY UNIQUE MODEL OF EDUCATION, IF I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER GAEP, I WOULD HAVE APPLIED TO THIS SCHOOL.

IT'S BEEN THE HONOR OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER TO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO BE THE FOUNDING DEAN AND HELP BUILD THE SCHOOL WITH AN AMAZING TEEN.

TED: DID YOU SEE SOME HOLLY LISANBYS AMONG THE STUDENTS?

>> I HAVE TO BRAG.

OUR STUDENTS ARE OUTSTANDING.

THEY TRULY ARE PIONEERS, INNOVATORS, SO BRILLIANT AND BRING SO MUCH PASSION, IT'S BEEN A THRILL TO WORK WITH THEM.

TED: THE ASU JOHN SHUFELDT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, YOU ARE THE DEAN, HOLLY LISANBY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: YOU BET.

AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.