All of Us UArizona-Banner's “Arizona Health Champion” award series aims to recognize health professionals, researchers, health educators, and community partners who are promoting health research, public health initiatives, diversity in research, and increased access to health programs and education for underserved communities. 

Dr. Michele Y. Halyard was appointed as the Suzanne Hanson Poole Vice Dean of the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in April 2013 responsible for operational integration of the three campus of the Mayo’s national medical school in Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida.  In addition Dr. Halyard, is the inaugural Dean of the Arizona Campus of the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine which opened in July 2017. 

Dr. Halyard is a professor of radiation oncology in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Sciences and is board-certified in therapeutic radiology. Her area of expertise is in the treatment of breast cancer. Dr. Halyard became a member of the Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, in 1989 and went on to chair the department. She served eight years on the board of governors of Mayo Clinic in Arizona, including serving as vice chair, and served eight years as a member of the Mayo Clinic Executive Committee and Board of Trustees. In addition, Dr. Halyard served as the first cancer center director of Mayo Clinic in Arizona as the center became a part of National Cancer Center (NCI) designated comprehensive cancer center encompassing all three Mayo Clinic locations.  

Dr. Halyard’s primary research area of expertise is the use of patient reported outcomes in cancer clinical practice. Additional research areas of expertise involve the treatment of breast cancer with radiation therapy. Dr. Halyard served as the Vice Chair of the Patient Reported Outcomes and QQL Committee of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group followed by serving as Vice Chair of the Health Outcomes Committee of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.  She currently serves as the Chair of the Patient Reported Outcomes track for the American Society for Radiation Oncology annual scientific meeting.  Dr. Halyard was a member of the American College of Radiology Expert Panel on Radiation Oncology Breast Committee. She is currently a member of the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Halyard became a fellow of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in 2019. She is currently a member of the ASTRO Council on Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.  

Dr. Halyard has developed an expertise regarding the impact of cancer in the African American community. She is the cofounder and current President of the Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer, an organization dedicated to providing support for breast cancer survivors and their supporters as well as providing education to the Black community within the Phoenix metropolitan area about breast health including mammography screening and breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Dr. Halyard is an active member the Links, Incorporated and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, both international organizations comprised of professional Black women serving Black communities, including a focus on health disparities. 

Dr. Halyard has been recognized for her service to the community. She is the past recipient of the Health Community Service Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority incorporated in 2012, the Outstanding Leadership in Medicine Award from the Maricopa County Arizona NAACP in 2013, the 2014 Community Celebrating Diversity Champion Award from the City of Scottsdale, and was inducted into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame in 2020. Likewise she was twice recognized as one of the most influential women in Arizona but the Arizona Business Magazine, and in 2022 recognized as an honoree of 48 Arizona Women as one of the 48 most intriguing women of Arizona who have had an impact on their communities, as well as the University of Arizona – Banner All of US Research Program’s Arizona Champion award for promoting health research, public health initiatives, diversity in research, and increased access to health programs and education for underserved communities.