In 1966, the Medical University of South Carolina established a new college to prepare allied health professionals for careers in the growing health care industry. Represented by 11 allied health degree programs, from bachelor-level to doctorate-level, the college has grown into one of the top allied-health schools in the country.

The college’s inception grew from recognition that the explosive growth in health care and its accompanying sophisticated technology had created a great need for more and better-prepared paramedical professionals.

The college originally brought together five hospital-based training programs – medical technology, radiologic technology, cytotechnology, inhalation therapy and a nurse anesthetist program. The primary objective of creating the college, then known as the School of Allied Health Sciences, was to recruit and train allied health science personnel in order to meet the growing demand in South Carolina.

On June 6, 1968, the new school awarded its first bachelor of science degrees to one cytotechnology and four medical technology candidates. Dr. William M. McCord, MUSC president, predicted that the school would show the greatest acceleration in student body of any school on campus and that its programs would be extremely valuable to medicine and South Carolina. This statement would indeed prove prophetic.

Over the past thirty-eight years, the college has seen a great deal of change and transformation. At one point the college offered more than 20 different training programs. It has produced thousands of health professionals whose skilled, compassionate care has touched the lives in every corner of South Carolina, and beyond. And, now holds the title of having more alumni than any other college at the Medical University.

Although the growth of the college has been rewarding on one hand, it’s been very challenging on the other. The college has struggled to keep up with its growth. Lack of space, disconnected programs and limited resources plague the very essence of the college.

Until now, there was very little we could do to offset our limitations. As the new millennium continues to open its doors of time, our college saw a door of opportunity when we were given the green light to building a new complex on the historic site of the High School of Charleston. As we broke ground on a new complex, a golden opportunity presented itself to the college – an opportunity to capitalize on our strengths and create a world-class learning environment. The year 2003 marked the rebirth of the College of Health Professions.