By Joan Koerber-Walker, President and CEO, Arizona Bioindustry Association, Inc. 

This article is part of a year-long blog series, Partner Profiles: Bringing the AZ STEM Ecosystem to Life. We’ll be highlighting the organizations statewide that build bridges and create connections to unite a wide array of STEM-focused industries.

Arizona’s life sciences industry is transforming the future of healthcare, and the Arizona Bioindustry Association (AZBio) is helping students and professionals discover pathways into this growing field. Through partnerships with industry, education, and community organizations, AZBio is strengthening Arizona’s health innovation ecosystem while creating opportunities for students to explore STEM careers.

For President and CEO Joan Koerber-Walker, that mission matters personally After more than 40 years working in STEM fields, she now brings together life science companies, health innovators, educators, and policymakers to help advance the treatments and cures that patients are waiting for. She also serves as Chairman of the Board of the Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation, home of the AZAdvances Talent initiative, which helps prepare students for careers in Arizona’s growing life sciences sector.

“Science, technology, engineering, and math play a role at every level and in every job across our health innovation community,” says Koerber-Walker. “Whether you’re an economist who works with numbers, a scientist working in the lab, a health professional, a business person, or a medical device engineer, STEM skills are the ticket to a brighter future.”

One of the organization’s most impactful initiatives is the Student Discovery Zone at the annual AZBio Awards. The program gives Arizona high school and university students the opportunity to showcase their research in front of more than 500 leaders from the state’s life sciences community. Students gain valuable experience explaining not only what they discovered, but why their research matters, while building connections that can influence their educational and career paths.

Students also compete for scholarships in both the high school and university divisions, with first-place awards of $1,000, second-place awards of $500, and third-place awards of $250. Since the program launched in 2014, more than 1,600 Arizona students have participated in the Student Discovery Zone, making it one of the state’s premier opportunities to connect emerging STEM talent with industry leaders.

Programs like the Student Discovery Zone reflect AZBio’s belief that today’s students will become tomorrow’s workforce. As Arizona’s health innovation sector continues to grow, developing strong STEM skills today means preparing students to become the researchers, engineers, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who will improve patient outcomes and strengthen communities across the state.

That opportunity extends beyond Arizona’s urban centers. Koerber-Walker believes some of the state’s greatest workforce needs and opportunities exist in rural communities.

“It’s important to understand that great minds and great people are being developed across the state of Arizona,” she says. “While we will always need workers in urban settings, today some of our greatest need is in rural communities. These shortages equal career opportunities. If you want to stay in the community that means the most to you and serve the people you care about, healthcare and health innovation careers are found in every community.”

She also emphasizes that STEM opportunities continue to become more inclusive as industries evolve.

“When I started my career, it was very rare to find women leaders in technology fields,” she says. “That is just one example, and it is not the case anymore. Opportunities in health innovation are open to everyone who chooses to serve others by developing their skills, exploring new ways of doing things, and never losing the passion to make life better for others.”

For students ready to take the next step, applications are now open for the 2026 Student Discovery Zone and Scholarship Competition. Applications close on September 7, 2026, giving Arizona’s next generation of innovators the chance to share their research, compete for scholarships, and connect with leaders shaping the future of health innovation.

Educators, students, and families can also explore AZBio’s collection of stories, videos, news, and career resources to learn more about the many pathways available within Arizona’s rapidly growing life sciences industry.

By connecting students with professionals, building partnerships across education and industry, and investing in workforce development, the Arizona Bioindustry Association is helping strengthen Arizona’s STEM ecosystem and create opportunities that improve lives across the state.