Posted on May 28, 2001 at 10:25 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — UAB’s (University of Alabama at Birmingham) School of Health Related Professions is opening a new route for those interested in careers in health care with expansion of the Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health (BSAH). The expanded degree program targets college freshmen and sophomores interested in pursuing a graduate-level health professions program, such as health administration, health informatics and physical or occupational therapy.

In the past, the BSAH program was reserved for graduates of a certificate or associate degree program in allied health who were working in the health care industry. The major will now be open to college freshman and sophomores and will be designed to prepare them for continued study in a graduate program.

“The primary focus is on general management principles and skills as applied in health care organizations,” says Donna Slovensky, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the degree program. “The current emphasis on efficiency and effectiveness in health care will require the kind of well-educated graduates this program will train.”

Interested students can contact the program at (205) 934-5173 or bsah@uab.edu. The program Web site may be viewed from www.uab.edu/healthcareers.

Career opportunities for graduates of the program exist in long term care, managed care, ambulatory care, home health, corporate health programs, public health, medical equipment firms and hospital operations.