RIT to Hold Allied Health Career Days, Nov. 26, 27

Medical technologists don’t grow on trees. In fact, national statistics indicate that in seven years there will be 93,000 job openings and only 5,000 new medical technologists to fill them.

Area high school students will learn about medical technology and other allied health professions at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s 21st annual Allied Health Career Days on Nov. 26 and 27. Students will learn about the expanding work force needs and professional training programs offered at RIT for health care delivery. Approximately 500 to 700 students are expected to attend the two-day workshop, which will be held in the Gosnell Building.

Interactive workshop sessions will expose students to a variety of career opportunities in the allied health field. Students will learn how medical technologists in forensic laboratories use chemical tests to unravel mysteries and the identities of criminals. Some students will don white coats and stethoscopes, and learn how physician assistants diagnose their patients. Others will learn how ultrasound is used to image the body and how nuclear imaging technologists detect diseases. Biomedical computing specialists will show students how to write computer software to meet the needs of hospital personnel and medical professionals. In addition, sessions on exercise science and nutrition will teach students to look beyond the scale in measuring their real fitness and the importance of a healthy diet.

"Allied health professionals serve to provide both primary and supportive roles to the delivery of health care," says Richard Doolittle, chair of RIT’s allied health department. "There is a real need for people in health care, and there is great demand for our graduates."

For more information about RIT’s Allied Health Career Days, contact the department of allied health sciences at 475-2978.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Interviews with members of RIT’s allied health department can be arranged prior to the workshops. For more information, contact Susan Murphy at 475-5061 or smmuns@rit.edu.