Nov. 4, 2024
National Allied Health Professions Week is an annual celebration to honor the different health professional roles supporting the U.S. healthcare system. This year’s Allied Health Professions Week is Nov. 3-10.
Learn about the rich history of the field and how members of the School of Health Professions’ Doctor of Nursing Practice Program – Nurse Anesthesia, Genetic Counseling Program, Orthotics and Prosthetics Program and Physician Assistant Program in Baylor College of Medicine impact their professions.
The concept of allied health formed after World War II resulted in the high demand for medical services physicians did not provide. By the mid-1960s, health scientists began to use the term ‘allied health’ to describe these services.
The term became popular across the United States after the passage of the Allied Health Professions Personnel Training Act of 1966. The act provided grants to build and renovate training facilities promoting allied health.
The significant increase in healthcare practices other than medicine and the popularity of the term led to the development of allied health schools and certification programs at universities, colleges and healthcare centers.
In 1967, deans of allied health at 13 U.S. universities established the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions to advance the interdisciplinary education and training of the field in higher education. Over time, ASAHP began to extend its membership to hospitals, clinics and other non-academic institutions.
ASAHP’s dedication to expanding the knowledge of the field beyond its professions caused the organization to create National Allied Health Week in 1991. The annual celebration, which is celebrated in the first week of November, became National Allied Health Professions Week in 2016 to reflect the different practices in the field.
In 2019, ASAHP changed its name to the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions to not only acknowledge the diverse professions but also recognize the progressive nature of the field.
About 60% of healthcare practices are classified as health professions, including nurse anesthesia, genetic counseling, orthotics and prosthetics and physician assistant. SHP’s programs are helping in the advancement of these professions by continuing the school’s mission.
The programs recruit and retain talented faculty and staff, engage in innovative learning and use cutting-edge healthcare technology to prepare the next generation of health professionals for leadership and collaborative roles in their professions.
Because of the enriching experience in evidence-based care and interprofessional practice students gain at SHP, they consistently secure jobs at reputable health institutions, earn prestigious awards and engage in initiatives improving health professions education and access in their communities before and after graduation.
The history of the health professions is a testament to the evolution and adaptability of the field within the ever-changing healthcare system. SHP’s programs pave the way for future health professionals to excel in their respective professions, support healthcare systems and assist those in need of quality, empathetic healthcare.
