
Founded in 1968, the School of Allied Health Sciences prepares graduates who excel in health care and practice as competent health care professionals. The school has grown from offering four programs at its inception to today offering undergraduate degrees in dental hygiene, health information management, medical technology, occupational therapy, physician assistant, respiratory therapy and radiologic sciences. Master’s degrees are offered in medical illustration, physical therapy, health education, science and health informatics.The School of Allied Health Sciences annually enrolls approximately 550 students, with enrollment increasing by 33 percent in 2003, for a total enrollment of 631 students. Graduating the largest number of MCG students each year, the School of Allied Health Sciences is significantly contributing to the health workforce in Georgia and beyond. Nearly 66 percent of MCG’s allied health sciences graduates work in Georgia. Focusing on health care disparities and medically undeserved populations in rural Georgia is central to the mission of the school. The school has 397 clinical affiliations with health care providers in rural or undeserved counties in the state. By training in these undeserved areas, students understand the need first hand and are more likely to return to these areas to practice after graduating.
The school uses innovative educational approaches such as distance-learning, multimedia technology, interactive television and the Internet to make an allied health sciences education accessible to a wide range of students. Programs in Medical Technology and Radiologic Sciences are now offered in a completely Web-based format, eliminating geography as a potential barrier to earning a degree.

“Sam Kellett is a prescient entrepreneur and has generously lent us his significant financial acumen as a member of the MCG Foundation, Inc. Board,” said President Rahn. “He has played an immeasurable role in the growth and development of an expanded research mission by establishing the first endowed chairs in the MCG Schools of Allied Health Sciences and Nursing.” [Full Story]
