Allied Health Careers STERN COLLEGE/BEREN CAMPUS ACADEMIC ADVISING Make an Appointment Artificial Intelligence Biotechnology Computer Science Cybersecurity Data Analytics and Visualization Digital Marketing and Media Mathematics Occupational Therapy Physician Assistant Physics Speech-Language Pathology There are many alternatives to the standard four-year “MD” degree. Now is the time to investigate these options and discuss these pathways with the Pre-Health Advisor. What is Allied Health and Who are Allied Health Care Professionals? This link provides a definition of allied health and an overview of the different specialties it entails. Doctoral Level Programs Audiologist Audiology is the science of hearing, balance and related disorders. Audiologists are experts in the non-medical diagnosis and management of disorders of the auditory and balance systems. Chiropractor Chiropractic doctors diagnose and treat patients whose health problems are associated with the body’s muscular, nervous and skeletal systems. Chiropractors believe that interference with these systems can impair normal functioning, cause pain and lower resistance to disease. They are most well known for the hands-on technique they practice to adjust imbalances in the patient’s skeletal system, particularly the spine. Naturopathic Medicine Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession that combines the wisdom of nature with the rigors of modern science. Naturopathic physicians are trained as primary care providers who diagnose, treat and manage patients with acute and chronic conditions, while addressing disease and dysfunction at the level of body, mind and spirit. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)is a doctoral degree program in nursing, one of two doctorate degrees, the other being the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy). The curriculum for the DNP degree builds on traditional master's programs by providing education in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership. In NYC the provides a 15-month Masters Direct Entry Program For Non-Nurses, providing an accelerated degree for students from an array of undergraduate backgrounds. They then offer a 2.5 year doctoral degree, the DNP as described above. There are also online options for both the MA and the DNP at schools across the country. Optometrist Optometry is a health care profession concerned with the health of the eyes and related structures, as well as vision, visual systems, and vision information processing in humans. Pharmacist Pharmacists, also known as druggists or chemists, are healthcare professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use. Physical Therapist Physical therapy, or physiotherapy, is a health care profession primarily concerned with the remediation of impairments and disabilities and the promotion of mobility, functional ability, quality of life and movement potential through examination, evaluation, diagnosis and physical intervention carried out by Physical Therapists. Podiatrist Podiatry or podiatric medicine is a branch of medicine devoted to the study of, diagnosis, and medical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower extremity. Veterinarian Veterinarians play a major role in the health of our society by caring for animals and by using their expertise and education to protect and improve human health as well. It’s likely that you are most familiar with veterinarians who care for our companion animals, but there is more than that one career to choose from if you decide to become a veterinarian. Masters Level Programs Anesthesiologist Assistant Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs) are highly skilled health professionals who work under the direction of licensed anesthesiologists to implement anesthesia care plans. All CAAs possess a premedical background, a baccalaureate degree, and complete a comprehensive didactic and clinical program at the graduate school level. Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults. Occupational Therapist An occupational therapist (OT) is a health professional concerned with restoration and maintenance of function following disease or injury. Physician Assistant Physician Assistants conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care and may assist in surgery. Public Health Practice Public health practice and program management is designed to prepare experienced clinicians (i.e., in medicine, dentistry, nursing, social work, etc.) and public health practitioners with the knowledge and skillset to assume leadership roles apart of multidisciplinary health care teams. A degree in this specialty incorporates features of several other public health disciplines and specialties including maternal and child health, substance abuse, mental health and environmental health, among others. Registered Nurse Registered Nurses (RN) roles range from direct patient care and case management to establishing nursing practice standards, developing quality assurance procedures, directing complex nursing care systems, conducting clinical research and teaching in nursing programs, as well as practicing in many other invigorating settings. Other allied health professions include public health, clinical lab sciences, genetic counseling, speech language pathology, audiologist and chiropractic medicine.
