National Allied Health Professions Week is November 2-6
Allied health professionals have a critical role in our health care system and provide comprehensive, patient-centered care to millions. National Allied Health Professions Week is November 2-6 and honors the nearly 7 million allied health professionals who make a significant impact on our health care system.
Allied health professionals are concerned with the identification, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of acute and chronic diseases and disorders; provision of dietary and nutrition services; rehabilitation services; and the management and operation of health systems.
Allied health professionals comprise nearly 60 percent of the health care workforce and include physical, occupational and respiratory therapists; physician assistants; medical laboratory scientists; emergency medical personnel (EMT and paramedics); imaging specialists (radiographers, sonographers, nuclear medicine technologists); audiologists and speech-language pathologists; and nutritionists and dietitians. Others often included in allied health are dental personnel (dental hygienists, dental assistants); exercise science professionals (fitness trainers, exercise physiologists, kinesiotherapists); health information technologists; health educators; counselors (genetic, family, mental health); pharmacy personnel (pharmacy technicians and assistants); cancer diagnosis and treatment specialists (medical physicists, radiation therapists); and other health care providers and support personnel, such as medical assistants.
The School of Health Professions at UT Health Science Center San Antonio represents six departments of professional programs including Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Emergency Health Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, Physical Therapy and Respiratory Care. The School of Health Professions provides programs at the bachelor’s, master's and doctoral level. More than 500 students have currently enrolled in allied health programs the UT Health Science Center San Antonio.
National Allied Health Professions Week is recognized by the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions, an organization that represents allied health education and practice in the United States.
The School of Health Professions is proud to recognize allied health professionals, students, and educators and celebrate their contributions to the health of the patients they serve.