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Pre-Health Advising
Allied Health Professions
Haverford students pursue careers in all of the allied health professions, including dentistry, veterinary medicine, public health, pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapy, and nursing, all of which play important roles in the delivery of patient care.
Pre-requisite courses for different graduate programs may vary extensively; for a comprehensive list, please visit ExploreHealthCareers.
| Profession | Description | Education |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine |
Acupuncturists identify patterns of energetic imbalance and remedy that imbalance with the use of acupuncture needling, acupressure, and Chinese herbal preparations. | Master’s in Acupuncture and/or Oriental Medicine |
| Art Therapy American Art Therapy Association |
Art therapists use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore and manage a patient’s psychological status. | Master’s in Art Therapy |
| Audiology Student Academy of Audiology |
Audiologists diagnose, treat, and manage hearing loss and balance disorders for adults and children. This includes selecting and fitting assistive technologies and monitoring them surgically. | Doctor of Audiology |
| Child Life Specialist Association of Child Life Professionals |
Child Life Specialists help children and their families cope with challenging experiences through play, preparation, education, and self-expression. | Certification |
| Chiropractic Medicine Association of Chiropractic Colleges |
Chiropractors focus on the relationship between the body's main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient's health | Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine |
| Dentistry American Dental Education Association |
Dentists use the latest techniques and equipment to examine the head, neck and oral cavity to determine the oral health of the patient and identify and diagnose oral conditions that may manifest into systemic disease | Doctor of Dental Surgery/Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry |
| Genetic Counseling National Society of Genetic Counselors |
Genetic counselors help people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. | Master’s in Genetics Counseling |
| Naturopathic Medicine American Association of Naturopathic Medical Colleges |
Naturopaths diagnose, treat, and manage patients through a holistic approach in search of an underlying cause. | Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine |
| Nursing American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) |
Nurses are primary providers of patient care. They serve as advocates for patients, families, and communities, and sometimes go into research or healthcare management. | Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and/or master’s degree as a nurse practitioner |
| Nutrition nutritionED.org |
Nutritionists and dieticians advise and educate clients about the nutritional values of food. | Education and licensing requirements vary by state |
| Occupational Therapy American Occupational Therapy Association |
Occupational Therapists (OTs) help improve a client’s ability to perform daily activities by adapting the environment to fit the client. | Master’s in Occupational Therapy |
| Optometry Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry |
Optometrists treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of and affecting the eye. | Master’s in Optometry |
| Pharmacy American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Pharmacy is Right for Me |
Pharmacists are drug specialists who manage and dispense medication while communicating proper medication practices, interactions, and potential side effects to patients. | Doctor of Pharmacy |
| Physical Therapy American Physical Therapy Association |
Physical Therapists (PTs) diagnose and treat individuals who have health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities. | Doctor of Physical Therapy |
| Physician Assistant American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) |
Physician Assistant (PAs) conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions. | Master of Physician Assistant Studies |
| Podiatric Medicine American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine |
Podiatrists diagnose and treat conditions associated with the foot and ankle. | Doctor of Podiatric Medicine |
| Public Health Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) American Public Health Association (APHA) |
Public health is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to promote the health and well-being of populations. The practice is distinct from clinical medicine in its focus on communities rather than individuals, and on prevention rather than treatment. | Master of Public Health |
| Speech-Language Pathology American Speech-Language-Hearing Association |
Speech-Language Pathologists assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders. | Master’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders |
| Veterinary Medicine American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges |
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. | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine |