Briefing Paper

Demand for health care workers is expected to grow faster than any other employment sector in the state. Approximately 15 percent of Alaska’s workforce will be employed in the health care industry by 2010. Nine out of the10 fastest growing occupations in Alaska are in the health field. Hospitals and other health care institutions are experiencing high vacancy rates for nurses, doctors and other health professionals including radiological techs, physical therapists, pharmacy assistants, physician’s assistants, dieticians and dental assistants. These chronic shortages cost the health care industry millions of dollars a year in recruitment and salaries for temporary health care workers from out of state.

Relying heavily on private industry for financial support, UA began an initiative in 2001 to expand health programs. Almost half of this expansion has been financed by private hospitals that contributed over $4 million to jump-start the programs.

Though UA’s health initiative has been tremendously successful, demand by industry remains acute. There are waiting lists for courses and admission into the various programs. UA’s allied health programs increased in enrollment by 83 percent in five years and the nursing program has a huge waiting list. UA’s focus this year has shifted slightly from the highly successful nursing program to allied health and biomedical research.

Allied health includes physicians assistants, occupational therapists, pharmacy, radiological technicians, medical assisting, and dental and ultrasound technicians. UA’s request is for these and other health profession training is supported by the needs of communities across the state, including rural Alaska.

Biomedical research should not be confused with a medical school. Biomedical research concentrates on the human health impacts of environmental influences. Avian flu, indigenous health issues, obesity and aquatic pathogens are all areas of biomedical research. Alaska is uniquely positioned for research in these and many other areas within the biomedical family. The National Institutes of Health has been a lucrative source of funding for biomedical research at UA. UA has been successful in competing for, and winning, millions in grants from NIH and other granting institutions.

Biomedical research has benefitted Alaska’s students by attracting and paying top flight faculty and allowing involvement in cutting edge projects.

Bottom Line: UA health-care programs need state support to keep pace with demand.

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For Information Contact:        
Pete Kelly, Director, State Relations                   
450-8006/463-3086