News

What's happening in Health and Human Services

Looking for the latest news from CHHS? Read on to see how Northern Arizona University is changing the face of healthcare—on campus and around the world.

Meet Sara: A Q&A With a Member of Our First Hybrid DPT Graduating Class

Katie Fahy | January 26, 2026

Meet Sara Thomasson, a member of the first graduating class of the Hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. In this Q&A, Sara shares why the hybrid format was the right fit for her and how she successfully balanced school and family life… Read more

US News & World Report ranks CHHS careers among top 20 jobs in health care

Katie Fahy | January 23, 2026

U.S. News & World Report has released its 2026 rankings of the best health care jobs, and programs offered through Northern Arizona University’s College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) are preparing students for many of the nation’s top-ranked careers. This year’s rankings were determined by salary data, unemployment rate, and projected job growth as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics… Read more

Training tomorrow’s hygienists | Elevate, The Campaign for NAU

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Inside a small clinic tucked just south of the Skydome, Northern Arizona University students are providing high-quality dental hygiene care to patients across northern Arizona—while gaining the real-world training that sets them apart as health professionals… Read more

NAU Dental Hygiene student and faculty member.

AZ Summit 2025

mtf228 | January 21, 2026

AZ Summit is an interprofessional education (IPE) event that is held each fall at the Phoenix Bioscience Campus (PBC). This event is designed for students across several professions. The goal of this event is to provide an interprofessional educational learning activity to help students improve communication and teamwork skills, develop an understanding of other providers’ roles, and practice ethical patient centered care. … Read more

Hybrid OT Student Spotlight: Get to Know Alexis

mtf228 | January 9, 2026

Get to know Alexis, a Hybrid Occupational Therapy student, as she shares what her days look like in the hybrid program, and how she balances life and learning. … Read more

Northern Arizona University College of Health and Human Services.

Ashley Araiza AT Student Feature

mtf228 | December 8, 2025

Meet an Athletic Training Student … Read more

Destiny Brown AT Student Feature

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When did you first learn about Athletic Training, and what interested you in the field? … Read more

A day in the life of a Hybrid OT student: Meet Aleena and her journey to Occupational Therapy

Andrew | November 3, 2025

Meet Aleena, a Hybrid Occupational Therapy Student. Read on to learn more about Aleena’s day-to-day as a Hybrid student, and why she chose to pursue Occupational Therapy… Read more

Aleena, Hybrid Occupational Therapy student.

Monica Monroe named 2025 CHHS Distinguished Senior

Andrew | October 27, 2025

Monica Monroe, the 2025 College of Health and Human Services Distinguished Senior, has turned her passion for health and helping others into meaningful action. From launching a nonprofit to engaging in hands-on community work, her dedication to serving her community is exactly what earned her this well-deserved recognition. … Read more

Monica Monroe, 2025 CHHS Distinguished Senior.

Circle the City Receives 2025 PAEA Partnership Award

Andrew |

Recently, Circle the City (CTC) was nationally recognized with the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Partnership Award, honoring their outstanding contributions to physician assistant (PA) education and their leadership in advancing healthcare for individuals experiencing homelessness. The award was accepted on behalf of the organization by Fartun Jama, MPAS, PA-C, a current student in NAU’s Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program and a preceptor for NAU PA students at CTC. … Read more