Ahlberg Hall was named for former WSU President Clark Ahlberg and his wife, Rowena. The initial plans for the building called for it to house both the new Wichita State University (WSU) College of Health Related Professions and the Wichita branch of the University of Kansas (KU) School of Medicine, which was then a cooperative venture with WSU. Before the building was completed in 1980, the KU School of Medicine and WSU College of Health Related Professions cooperative venture ended and the KU School of Medicine located elsewhere.

The present WSU College of Health Professions includes programs in public health sciences, medical technology, nursing, dental hygiene, advanced education in general dentistry, communication sciences and disorders, physical therapy, and physician assistant and related clinics.