Authors: Anita Hedlund; Brandon Censon MPH, CPH, RRT-NPS, CPFT, CPT; Christine Malone, EdD; Karen Piette, MHS, CMA; Katie Baker; and Kristen Hosey

This Book Is About

Introduction to Healthcare Professions was written with both the classroom and student experience in mind. This text is designed to prepare learners for the realities of healthcare careers. What sets it apart is its emphasis on helping students navigate their first steps into the field—reinforcing the message that there is a place for everyone in healthcare.

This Book Is For

This text is intended for community and technical college students who are exploring healthcare for the first time. Our goal is to provide meaningful context to a diverse and dynamic profession. We aim to empower students to confidently choose a path or specialty through exposure to a variety of careers. Along the way, students will build a foundation of essential knowledge and skills that apply broadly across the healthcare field and support future education and career growth.

This Book Is Unique Because

What makes Introduction to Healthcare Professions unique is our commitment to inclusivity and belonging. We believe all learners should see themselves in healthcare—and this book helps make that vision real. By exploring core healthcare competencies through the lens of specific professions, students are introduced to interprofessional collaboration and the realities of day-to-day work.

Each chapter includes engaging features like “A Day in the Life” profiles, snapshots of common diseases, key skills, and real-world experiences shared by healthcare professionals. Written by instructors for the students they teach—and those they hope to reach—this book invites all learners to imagine and pursue their future in healthcare with clarity and confidence.