Tempe, Ariz.— Arizona State University has received a $5 million gift from longtime donor Annette Beus and her family to support scholarships for students at its newly established School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering. The contribution marks a pivotal investment in ASU’s growing commitment to reimagining medical education and addressing the evolving challenges of modern health care.
The donation will fund scholarships for 72 students and will serve as the foundation for a larger campaign aimed at raising $20 million by July 2026. That total would cover scholarships for the first two incoming classes at the new medical school, which plans to welcome its first students in fall 2026, pending accreditation.
In alignment with ASU Health’s mission, the School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering is designed to educate a new generation of physicians trained at the intersection of medicine, engineering, technology, and the humanities. The curriculum will integrate emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and data science with clinical training, with the goal of producing doctors capable of driving health care innovation and improving patient outcomes.
ASU President Michael Crow praised the Beus family’s contribution, emphasizing both the immediate and long-term impact of the scholarships. He noted that the gift will not only directly support students but also inspire additional philanthropy to help the school meet its ambitious goals.
Annette Beus and her late husband, Leo, are well-known for their philanthropic legacy at ASU. Over the years, the Beus family has made significant contributions across disciplines, from law and space exploration to biomedical research. Their support has established several high-profile centers at ASU, including the Beus Center for Law and Society, the Beus Center for Cosmic Foundations, and the Beus Compact X-ray Free Electron Laser Lab.
For Annette Beus, the focus on scholarships is personal. She expressed a deep commitment to supporting young people through education and highlighted her belief in the transformative potential of ASU’s latest academic venture. She noted that the new medical school represents a unique opportunity to improve health outcomes not only locally, but globally.
Sarah Hollingsworth Lisanby, the school’s founding dean and professor, described the gift as “a game changer,” noting its potential to eliminate financial barriers for talented students. By removing the burden of tuition, she said, the scholarships will allow students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers as physician-engineers, helping to reshape the future of health care through innovation.
The scholarship initiative is part of ASU’s broader Changing Futures campaign, a university-wide effort to raise resources for initiatives focused on education access, leadership development, sustainability, health, community strength, and technology innovation. The campaign underscores ASU’s ongoing dedication to inclusive education and real-world impact through public-private partnerships and philanthropic support.
As ASU continues to expand its health education footprint, the Beus family’s latest gift sets a powerful precedent for investing in students and building a health care workforce ready to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.
