Allied Health, Pre-Professional Concentration

Advisor: Dr. Barry Rhoades

Career Description: Allied health encompasses a broad group of health professionals who use scientific principles and evidence-based practice for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic diseases, who promote disease prevention and wellness for optimum health and who support other healthcare providers in delivering care. The scope of allied health practice extends to the individual, the family, the community and to public education; many allied health professions specialize in the promotion of optimum health and the improvement of health-related quality of life. In addition, heath care administration and health systems management are important components of allied health. Professions that are often listed as “allied health” include many of the well-known non-nurse, non-physician health care providers including audiologists and speech language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and respiratory therapists, diagnostic medical personnel including medical technologists, imaging specialists, nutritionists, dietitians and physician assistants.

Becoming an Allied Health Professional: Allied health professions fall into three broad categories: technicians (assistants), therapists and technologists. Technicians are trained to perform procedures, and their education lasts less than two years. They are required to work under the supervision of technologists or therapists. Cardiovascular technicians, ophthalmic medical technicians and medical assistants are examples of careers in this category. The educational process for therapists (including Physician Assistants and Physical Therapists)or technologists (including Audiologists and Athletic Trainers) is more intensive and includes acquiring procedural skills, learning to evaluate patients, diagnose conditions, develop treatment plans and understand the rationale behind various treatments in order to judge their appropriateness and potential side effects. Generally, therapists/technologists require an undergraduate degree and additional post-baccalaureate and/or graduate education.