Media Advisory: Health Professions Shortages Bring Employers to School of Health Professions Job Fair

September 30, 2008

Story contact:
Cheri Ghan, 573-882-2653, Ghanc@health.missouri.edu

MEDIA ADVISORY: Health Professions Shortages Bring Employers to School of health Professions Job Fair

WHAT:  The MU School of Health Professions 2008 Job Fair       

WHO:   Approximately 45 health care providers and health care-related companies will come to the MU campus to recruit much-needed employees.

WHERE:  Reynolds Alumni Center       

WHEN:  4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008

WHY:  With shortages in the health care field, School of Health Professions graduates are some of the most sought-after employees at Mizzou. This annual event allows employers from health care and health care-related professions to come to one place to meet many students and promote their company as a great place to work.

NOTE:    The School of Health Professions offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nuclear medicine, respiratory therapy, radiography, clinical laboratory science (med tech) and diagnostic medical ultrasound, as well as a non-clinical bachelor of health sciences degree program. These professions are commonly called allied health professions.    

As for the shortage of workers in the health care industry, economists predict health-related occupations to grow rapidly between 2002 and 2012, with double-digit growth in at least six of the allied health professions. It is estimated the allied health workforce will be as many as 2.5 million workers short by 2020. The gap is fueled by 77 million aging baby boomers requiring intensive chronic health care treatment as well as the skyrocketing increase in conditions such as autism.