New York College of Health Professions

If you think that being healthy has just as much to do with the mind-body connection as it does pills and doctor's visits, you may be on your way to a career in the health and wellness field. Unlike most modern medicine, the health and wellness industry -- which focuses on the use of holistic and ancient Eastern medical practices -- is concentrated on the care and upkeep of the individual on a regular basis.

"That is sort of the basic of holistic and Asian medicine: wellness," explains Barbara Carver, the senior vice president and acting dean of admissions for New York College of Health Professions (Syosset, NY). "Western medicine is reactive and does not focus on how to stay healthy all the time."

For more than 25 years, New York College of Health Professions has maintained its goal to instruct students in the importance of wellness and holistic health. With an offering of associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs in massage therapy, acupuncture, and Oriental medicine, students are able to receive an extensive training that prepares them for state licensure.

As Carver warns, "It is not a fluff field." New York College's programs, which range in length from 20 months to three and a half years, involve not only in-class instruction but active practice as well. Thanks to the Academic Health Care Teaching Clinics of New York College, students are exposed to real patients from the community during their time at the school. As part of their regular curriculum, students must evaluate, treat, and submit write-ups of their interactions with patients.

This critical exposure to the demands of a real-world clientele provides students with the experience that they need in addition to the clinical work hours required for licensure. As a testament to its stringent education program, New York College of Health Professions has even received institutional accreditation from the New York State Board of Regents and the Commissioner of Education.

The client's health is not the only priority for New York College, though. That's because, no matter what degree program a student is enrolled in, students are required to take classes in yoga, tai chi, or qi gong, in order to promote their own well-being.

In addition to a thorough training experience, students of New York College can also be assured of job prospects after they graduate. The school holds a career fair three times a year, and there are some spas in Long Island, NY that will only hire New York College graduates; students who have attained a bachelor's degree or higher may even choose to become holistic health educators themselves. "You can make a career anyway you want," attests Carver. "You can work part-time, full-time, or on your own."

And while the idea of a health and wellness career used to inspire images of spas and salons, today you're just as likely to see a massage therapist employed at a local doctor's office. "The average person is now aware of the therapeutic value of massage," says Carver. "It's now recognized by many Western facilities."

Sound Off! Post Your Comments