Careers in health are numerous and diverse. They go beyond the health professions we advise at the Center for Pre-Health Advising. Many are classified as the Allied Health Professions. The Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions defines allied health as follows:
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; promote disease prevention and wellness for optimum health, and apply administration and management skills to support health care systems in a variety of settings.
Professionals in these fields work alongside doctors, physician assistants, dentists, physical therapists, and other healthcare providers in order to deliver quality care in a variety of settings.
Below is a list of many of the professions that fall under the umbrella of allied health. The level of training and/or education required to find an entry-level position in these fields varies. Some fields may provide career advancement opportunities through continuing or advanced education. Fields in red indicate programs that are offered at UW-Madison.
Advanced Cardiovascular Sonographer, Anesthesia Technologist/Technician, Cardiovascular Technician, Dental Assistant, Dental Hygienist, Emergency Medicine Technician/Paramedic, Hospital Administrator, Lactation Consultant, Massage Therapist, Medical Administrative Specialist, Medical Assistant, Medical Interpreter, Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Scribe Specialist, Midwife, Neurodiagnostic Technician, Nursing Assistant, Paramedic Technician, Perfusionist (B.S. & M.S. also), Polysomnographic Technician, Radiation Therapist, Recreational Therapist, Respiratory Therapist, Specialist in Blood Bank Technology, Surgical Assistant
Anesthesiology Assistant, Audiology, Exercise Physiology, Genetic Counseling, Medical Illustration, Medical Social Work, Nutrition (M.S./Ph.D.), Orthotics/Prosthetics, Radiography, Speech-Language Pathology
The following resources will help you as you begin to explore careers in Allied Health:
- Explore Health Career’s Allied Health Professions Overview
- Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions
- Twitter: @ASAHPDC
- Careers in drug abuse prevention and intervention
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs database of programs
- Madison College’s School of Health Sciences offers training in a variety of allied health fields.