OCT. 3, 2005 | The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Health Related Professions (CHRP) reached a record enrollment for the 2005-2006 school year, with 601 students in its 17 allied health programs.

“We’re pleased with the growth within our college. It reflects the high demand for those in the allied health professions,” said UAMS College of Health Related Professions Dean Ronald Winters, Ph.D. “We expect the enrollment growth will continue as we expand our programs to meet work force needs and more students see the potential for rewarding careers in these professions.”

The student headcount includes full-time, part-time, undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate allied health students and represents a 6 percent increase from the 2004-2005 total of 565 students.  With the 601-student headcount, there are more allied health students at UAMS than any other kind. The total number of students at UAMS is 2,328.

CHRP’s programs range from audiology to emergency medical services; from nuclear medicine imaging sciences to respiratory care – with almost every field predicted to be in high demand in the coming years. Most of the programs have 100 percent job placement because of work force needs.

Winters said nearly 1,600 applications were received for the fall 2005 semester. The number of students enrolled could still go higher this year with the anticipated addition of part-time students who will participate in the special emergency medical technician (EMT) training program recently initiated in cooperation with the Arkansas Army National Guard.  An estimated 75 combat medic guardsmen will be educated annually in the combined program.

Most programs that weren’t already at maximum capacity saw increased enrollment, including respiratory care and cytotechnology. The dental hygiene and imaging sciences programs at UAMS continued to have full enrollment with very large applicant pools.

The respiratory care program, with classes at UAMS and at the UAMS Area Health Education Center Southwest (AHEC-SW) in Texarkana, jumped to 70 students this year from 46 in the 2004-2005 academic year. The cytotechnology program doubled from four to eight students.

U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected the health care industry to be among the fastest growing industries through 2012. The bureau further breaks down the industry by occupation, with several professions within CHRP expected to continue rapid growth for the next several years as employers struggle to find enough employees to fill an increasing need.

According to the predictions, the demand for dental hygienists and those educated in health information management  is expected to grow much faster than average, meaning employment in those professions is projected to increase by more than 36 percent by 2012.

Faster-than-average growth, with projected employment growth of 20 percent to 30 percent, is expected for audiology, speech pathology, cytotechnology, medical technology, diagnostic medical sonography, nuclear medicine imaging science , radiologic imaging science, respiratory care  and surgical technology.

Links on This Page

UAMS, Arkansas Army National Guard Join Forces to Improve Emergency Medical Training: http://www.uams.edu/update/absolutenm/templates/news_release_jerri.asp?articleid=3840&zoneid=33

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Health Services: http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs035.htm#earnings