Dear Reader,

Have you joined yet?

The Health Professions Network (HPN) is now a membership organization. We're formally incorporated as a 501c3 organization. This new status will help HPN contract with other agencies, apply for and receive funding, and move forward to meet the many challenges facing allied health.

All past attendees of HPN meetings should have received a membership letter and form in June. As stated in the letter, please RSVP as soon as possible, preferably by July 6th so that we can begin to develop our membership database.

HPN membership includes lots of great benefits, and it's free. Join the HPN now to take advantage of this unique opportunity to advance allied health.

Best regards,
HPN Board of Directors

Contents

1. WIIFM?
2. HPN enjoys "Minnesota nice" at Minneapolis meeting, April 26-29
3. HPN making a difference in the future of allied health
4. HPN Web site new and improved—be sure to update your profession's listing
5. Enjoy Anaheim, CA this September at the fall HPN meeting
6. HPN reaches out to the future health care workforce
7. New Health Professions Education Data Book now available

1. WIIFM?

No, it's not a radio station, nor a new video game. WIIFM means "What's in it for me?"

If you're talking about membership in the HPN, the answer is, "Plenty!"

• Network with other health professional associations and key national education/accreditation groups, including the AMA, AHA, HOSA, and HRSA
• Participate and be represented at two outstanding educational HPN meetings per year, where your organization will:
  • Learn about key issues in health education and practice from a variety of recognized speakers
  • Meet colleagues from across the spectrum of the health professions
  • Enjoy the hospitality of cities' Convention and Visitors Bureaus and learn more about their meeting and convention spaces, restaurants, and attractions
• Increase the power of your profession's voice by joining forces with other allied health groups, representing more than 100 unique professions
• Stay informed about the latest allied health news by receiving our quarterly e-mail newsletter
• Obtain copies of the AMA's Health Professions Career and Education Directory (list price $70) for only $25, plus shipping/handling
• Take part in the "Featured health profession" on the HPN Web site, to promote your profession to a wide audience of educators, counselors, students, and prospective practitioners

Each member organization will be able to appoint two representatives. As in the past, HPN membership will be free. Sign up now…

2. HPN enjoys "Minnesota nice" at Minneapolis meeting, April 26-29

The HPN spring meeting included a variety of stimulating presentations on the topic of "Healthcare's Human Resources," with speakers from the following:

• Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
• North Louisiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
• Center for Health Workforce Studies
• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)

Read a summary of the meeting, which was hosted by the Meet Minneapolis Official Convention and Visitors Association.

As always at HPN meetings, there was lots of time for fun activities: Riding Segways along the Mississippi, wine and chocolate cooking classes, and learning about St. Paul's storied history as a gangster capital.

Don't think meetings can be this much fun? Here's the photographic evidence to the contrary.

3. HPN making a difference in the future of allied health

In light of the current health care workforce along with projected growth, HPN is developing a large-scale proposal to heighten public awareness of the critical need for qualified health professionals to serve the healthcare needs of our nation. To do this, we are proposing a two-phased approach: Phase One will be a nationwide public relations campaign, and Phase Two will address the long-range opportunities to focus consumer awareness on educational and capacity issues associated with training for health care workers.

Such exciting work! Become a member of HPN now and get your organization's needs heard at the onset of this ground-breaking proposal.

4. HPN Web site new and improved—be sure to update your profession's listing

Thanks to the hard work of the Media Team, the HPN Web site has received a well-deserved makeover. Info on all things allied health is now up-to-date and easier to find than ever. Check out www.healthpronet.org and see for yourself!

Be sure that your profession is accurately reflected on our site. Our "Featured Health Professions" page includes 43 different fields, from anesthesiologist assistant to veterinary medical technology. Check it out now and let us know if we need to make any updates. And be sure to link to your listing from your organization's Web sites and e-newsletters.

5. Enjoy Anaheim, CA this September at the fall HPN meeting

Save the date! Mark your calendar for the fall HPN meeting, September 27-30 in Anaheim. Details will be forthcoming soon on the HPN Web site.

Also, the HPN Board is discussing whether to change the format and timing of the meeting. Some past attendees have expressed a preference for a meeting that is shorter and/or concludes before the weekend. We welcome your thoughts on this topic. E-mail us at Information@healthpronet.org.

6. HPN reaches out to the future health care workforce

Through its close working relationship with HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America), the HPN is reaching out to more than 80,000 high school students planning careers in health care.

An HPN representative attended HOSA's annual meeting this month in Orlando to make a well-attended presentation on health care careers and distribute career brochures from HPN members.

Learn more about HOSA.

Be sure to check out and download our informative PowerPoint presentation on careers in allied health—perfect for helping K-12 students learn more about the variety of opportunities in this field.

7. New Health Professions Education Data Book now available

This newly updated publication features 30 tables of data for academic year 2005-2006, including

• Number of Programs and Enrollments, Attrition, and Graduates by Occupation
• Enrollments, Attrition, and Graduates by Race/Ethnic Origin and Gender
• Health Professions Salary Ranges

The data book provides a wide range of allied health education data useful to workforce analysts, policy makers, professional associations, career counselors, and students.

Order your copy now in Adobe Acrobat pdf format.