Why Does a Competency Model Matter to Allied Health Professionals (And Its Future)?

As the healthcare sector confronts a growing workforce crisis fueled by clinician shortages, rapid integration of AI technologies, and widening health equity gaps, the need for a strategic, unified framework to guide workforce development has never been more urgent. Competency models offer a robust, future-focused solution to align skills, behaviors, and outcomes across the health professions and allied health roles.

This session will explore how thoughtfully designed competency models can serve as a backbone for transforming the healthcare workforce. The speaker will define competency models and learning outcomes in detail, providing practical examples from clinical and allied health settings. By articulating clear expectations for practice and learning, competency models enable educators, employers, and policymakers to address evolving demands better. These include integrating digital health and AI fluency, supporting culturally responsive care, and creating more resilient, adaptable career pathways. Importantly, these models also provide a vehicle for embedding principles of health equity, interprofessional collaboration, and innovation across education and practice.

Participants will engage in a short, hands-on activity to design a mini-competency model. In small groups, attendees will:

• Identify a strategic focus area (e.g., AI literacy, equity-informed practice, team-based care)
• Consider key stakeholder needs and define the buy-in process
• Draft example competencies and measurable outcomes
• Create a simple visual representation of the model
• Discuss how the model could be used across education, testing/assessment, hiring, workforce development and more

By the end of this interactive session, participants will understand how competency models can serve as both a lens and a lever for health workforce transformation—one that not only addresses today’s challenges but anticipates tomorrow’s demands.