This week has been designated to honor the many individuals who assist physicians in providing health care to the public.

They are known as allied health professionals, and Nov. 3 through 9 is nationally recognized as Allied Health Professions Week.

The College of Health and Human Sciences will co-host a reception today from noon to 3 p.m. at Gilbert Hall, along with members of the National Alpha Eta Honor Society of Allied Health.

“Most of the public doesn’t recognize who they are or what they do,” said Sharon Miller, associate dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences. “Allied Health Professions Week is an effort to raise awareness.”

The federal government recognizes around 100 professions as allied health professions, Miller said. Included in that list are physical therapy, clinical laboratory science, nuclear medicine technology, dietitians and speech pathology.

Senior speech pathology major Erin Hedman said that many people do not know what speech pathology is until she explains it to them.

“A speech pathologist is an individual who, through therapy, helps people to overcome their communication disorders,” Hedman said.

Communication disorders include problems with stuttering, articulation or any other speech impairments that could make communication difficult.

Another reason for Allied Health Professions Week is to find students who may be interested in becoming allied health professionals, Miller said.

Miller is president of the NIU chapter of Alpha Eta Honor Society. She said that the name Alpha Eta was chosen because it is represented by the Greek letters AH, which also stands for allied health.