Since 1968, UTMB's School of Health Professions, then known as the School of Allied Health Sciences, has dedicated its efforts toward training a key part of the health care work force and advancing knowledge of the disciplines it teaches all across Texas—and beyond.
“That 50-year history is not the building, or the brick and mortar; it’s in the hearts of our passionate faculty, staff and students—past and present,” said Michelle Conley, coordinator of student recruitment and admissions.
The School of Health Professions recently kicked off a year-long celebration to commemorate its 50th anniversary, which will culminate at next year’s homecoming on Oct. 19-20, 2018.
In true kick-off fashion, the school hosted a pep rally complete with black and gold balloons, streamers, pompoms, noise makers and yearbook-style photos from years past.
“Some of these photos represent programs we no longer have, but they
helped build the legacy of what we have today,” Conley said.
Today, the School of Health Professions offers bachelor’s degrees in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Respiratory Care; master’s degrees in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Health Professions, Nutrition and Metabolism, and Physician Assistant Studies; and professional doctorates in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.
Since 1968, the School of Health Professions—which started with 135 students—has graduated 11,500 alumni, most of whom have stayed in Texas to practice, said Vicki Freeman, interim dean of the school.
Students from each of the school’s programs were in attendance at the pep rally and cheered as Kevin Haslam, assistant vice president of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, shared a brief history along with a list of achievements and accolades.
“You don’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been,” Freeman said.
Additional plans and a full schedule of events can be found at
https://shp.utmb.edu/shp50/.