 Elmhurst College |
||||
| Department of Biology |
|
|||
|
PreAllied
Health Professions |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Elmhurst College |
||||
| Department of Biology |
|
|||
|
PreAllied
Health Professions |
||||
|
|
||||
Chapters &
Appendices:
Contents | 1 |
2 | 3 | 4 |
5 | 6 |
7 | 8 |
9 | 10 |
11 | 12
| 13 | 14 |
15 | 16 |
17 | 18 |
19 |
| A | B |
C | D |
E | F
| G | H |
I | J |
K | L |
Chapter 3
Professional Profiles
As someone considering a career in the health professions, it is important that you explore all the career alternatives available to you. The following are brief descriptions of the major health professions.Chiropractic Medicine
Chiropractic medicine is based on the premise that good health depends in part upon a normally functioning nervous system and that a causative factor in many disease processes is improper nerve supply to the body organs and tissues. The chiropractic approach to healthcare is holistic, stressing the patient’s overall health and wellness. Chiropractic treatment involves spinal adjusting, manipulation, physical modalities, and rehabilitation. Four years of graduate level work in a nationally accredited chiropractic college are required to earn a D.C., Doctor of Chiropractic. There are currently 16 accredited chiropractic schools in the United States. (Appendix C)For additional information contact:
American Chiropractic Association
1701 Clarendon Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 276-8800; (800) 986-4636The Association of Chiropractic Colleges
Dentistry
4424 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 102
Bethesda, MD 20814
Dentistry is devoted to maintaining the health of the teeth, gums, and other hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity. Most dentists engage in general practice, bringing skills in oral diagnosis, prevention, and rehabilitation directly to the patient. Students completing a dental program earn one of two equivalent degrees: Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.).
The majority of dentists begin practice immediately after the four-year dental program, although many pursue one year or more of post-graduate study. There are currently 55 accredited dental school programs in the United States. (Appendix D)
For additional information contact:
American Dental Education Association
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Washington, DC 20036-2212
(202) 667-9433American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-2500Medicine
Physicians treat and prevent human illness, disease, and injury. There are two types of physicians: MD (Doctor of Medicine) and the DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). The practice of medicine includes health education, prevention, and the use of accepted methods of medical treatment, including pharmaceutical agents and surgical procedures. Osteopathic medical programs place special emphasis on treating the entire person and recognize the importance of the muscular and skeletal systems in the proper functioning of all the body’s systems.
Medical school programs are four years in length. The MD degree is granted by allopathic medical institutions and the DO degree by osteopathic institutions after successful completion of the four year program. Additional graduate medical education may range from 3-7 years, depending on the specialty selected. Successful completion of national boards is required for certification prior to licensure. There are currently 125 allopathic medical schools and 19 osteopathic medical schools in the United States. (Appendix B & Appendix G)For additional information contact:
Association of American Medical Colleges
2450 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037-1126
(202) 828-0400American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231
(301) 968-4100Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy, a sub-discipline of Rehabilitation Medicine, is the field of health care that helps disabled people of all ages learn or regain the skills they need to live independent, productive, satisfying lives. It employs tools and materials rather than the mechanical aids used by Physical Therapists.
In 1999, The American Occupational Therapy Association mandated that education must be exclusively at the graduate level by January 1, 2007. At that time, Occupational Therapists (OTs) in the United States will receive either a Master of Arts or a Masters of Science degree to enter the profession.
There are over 50 schools offering a master’s level O.T. program in the U.S. (Appendix E). Bachelor’s degrees in OT are still available through some programs, though most of these programs are either being phased out or are in the process of transitioning to a graduate program. Students will be required to complete a bachelor’s degree as a requirement for admission to most Master’s level programs. Practitioners are certified by national examination.For additional information contact:
The American Occupational Therapy Association
4720 Montgomery Lane
PO Box 31220
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220
(301) 652-2682Optometry
Optometrists are primary healthcare providers who diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. A Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) completes a four-year program, and the majority enter general practice upon earning the O.D. There are 17 accredited schools of optometry in the United States. (Appendix F)
For additional information contact:
The American Optometric Association
243 North Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63141-7881
(314) 991-4100The American Academy of Optometry
6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 506
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 984-1441The Association of Schools of Optometry
Pharmacy
6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 510
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 231-5944
Pharmacists are experts in the science of medications and the art of medication therapy. Pharmacists package and dispense prescription medications, they offer advice on non-prescriptive drugs, and are called upon by health care providers for information about specific drugs or drug combinations. The entry level for the pharmacy program has traditionally been the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Degree. However, the increasing need for knowledge about drugs and drug interaction has made the doctoral level degree (Pharm D.) more important. Approximately 30% of the accredited pharmacy schools offer the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree (five-year program) while all offer the Doctor of Pharmacy degree (six-year program). Accredited pharmacy schools will no longer award the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree after the year 2004. There are currently 83 accredited colleges of pharmacy in the United States. (Appendix H)
For additional information contact:
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
1462 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2841
(703) 739-2330Physician Assistant
Physician’s Assistants (PAs), under a physician’s supervision, provide direct patient care by taking medical histories, conducting physical examinations, ordering diagnostic tests, giving treatment, prescribing certain drugs and counseling patients on their health care problems. PA programs are run by medical schools, hospitals, colleges and universities.
To date, there are more than 120 accredited PA programs in the United States (Appendix I) with over half of them offering a Master’s Degree, the remainder offering either a Bachelor’s Degree or an Associate’s Degree. Programs are at least two years of classroom and laboratory work followed by clinical rotations in the various medical disciplines. While most PA programs train students for general medicine, there are special assistant programs, such as surgeons’ assistant and pediatric assistant.
For additional information contact:
American Academy of Physician Assistants
950 North Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-1552
(703) 684-2782; (800) 999-2782Physical Therapy
Podiatry
Physical Therapists (PTs) work with people who have been physically disabled by illness or accident or who are born with a handicap. They work to develop and deliver appropriate treatment programs for the relief of pain, prevention of deformity, improvement of strength, development of coordination and increase in functional ability.
There are over 190 accredited Physical Therapy programs in the United States (Appendix J). Of the accredited programs, 165 offer master’s degrees, and 33 offer doctoral degrees. By 2002, all physical therapist programs seeking accreditation are required to offer degrees at the master’s degree level and above. The bachelor’s degree will no longer be offered. There is a growing trend for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) to become the entry-level training for PTs, requiring three years to complete. It is necessary for successful completion of a state-administered national examination to obtain licensure.
For additional information contact:
American Physical Therapy Association
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-1488
(703) 706-3203
Podiatric medicine is a branch of the medical sciences devoted to the study of human movement with medical care of the foot and ankle as its primary focus. A doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of foot disorders resulting from injury or disease. After completing four years of podiatric medical training, the podiatrist is required by most states to complete at least one year of postgraduate residency training.
There are currently seven podiatric medical schools in the United States (Appendix K). State licensing requirements generally include graduation from an accredited college of podiatric medicine, passage of the National Board examinations, postgraduate training and passage of the state written and oral examinations.
For additional information contact:
American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
1350 Piccard Drive, Suite 322
Rockville, MD 20850-4307
(800) 922-9266American Podiatric Medical Association
9312 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814-1698
(310) 571-9200; (800) 275-2762Veterinary Medicine
Veterinarians are trained to diagnose, treat and help prevent disease and disabilities in all non-human animals. There are currently 27 veterinary medical schools in the United States (Appendix L) requiring four years of study. Most veterinarians enter practice upon completion of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), although many pursue 2-3 years of post-graduate training or specialization in such fields as Lab Animal Medicine, Radiology, and Zoological Medicine.
For more information contact:
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
1101 Vermont Avenue, NW
Suite 710
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 371-9195; (877) 862-2740You must thoroughly explore your interest in considering a career in the health professions. At some point, you will have to convince someone other than your mother that you are serious and educated about your career choice. You will need to provide evidence to admissions committees that you have explored your intended career path thoroughly and know why it is a good decision for you. The physical, emotional, and intellectual challenges in the health professions are immense. The workload is large and intense and is with you always. You will need to be 100% certain that you can commit to a life in this area.
