MILWAUKEE — The College of Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will hold special activities to join the celebration of Health Professions Week, Nov. 2-6.
Three out of five people involved in providing health care are not doctors, nurses, dentists or pharmacists. They are the people who administer lab tests, oversee diagnostic imaging and provide rehabilitation services, yet they are frequently overlooked in health care discussions.
Chukuka S. Enwemeka, dean of the College of Health Sciences, points out that these health care professionals fill a vital role.
“These careers also are very fulfilling and rewarding,” he says. “People trained in these professions are in high demand. The job market is very good, and the outlook for the future is upbeat as well. Moreover, these are well-paying career options that do not require the type of lengthy training associated with some of the other health care fields.”
He explains that one reason for the high demand for people in these careers is the aging of the American population. Older Americans, he says, represent “a group that is living longer and is proactive in demanding the services that health professionals provide. For example, the increased use of artificial organs, artificial tissues and artificial joints has resulted in a burgeoning demand for rehabilitation services.”
“In addition, professionals in these fields are finding more and more decision-making autonomy in their work,” Enwemeka says. “For example, many physical therapists now are able to formulate a treatment plan directly with a patient, instead of having that treatment specifically outlined by a physician.”
The growing opportunities to set up an independent practice, and flexibility in work scheduling, also are drawing people to these practice areas.
Activities at UWM will include a College of Health Sciences Faculty and Staff Recognition/ Appreciation Day on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and promotional displays by the college’s student organizations in the UWM Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., Nov. 2-6.
The UWM College of Health Sciences offers the largest number of health-related degree programs in Wisconsin, training its graduates for high-demand careers. Many of the college’s six undergraduate and seven graduate degree programs are nationally recognized and have achieved the highest accreditation possible. The college’s faculty conducts state-of-the-art research attracting a record number of federal research grants.
