At many high schools across the country, students interested in healthcare get a head start on their future careers through HOSA ‘Future Health Professionals’. HOSA is an international student club that helps high schoolers explore careers in the health science while also building leadership, teamwork, and professional life skills.
One of the most exciting parts of HOSA is its competitive events program. Every year, students prepare for regional, state, and international competitions where they can test their knowledge and skills against other schools.
Health Science events focus on academic knowledge in specific healthcare fields. Examples include Medical Terminology, Pathophysiology, Anatomy & Physiology, Pharmacology, and Nutrition. Students usually take a test that challenges their understanding of said medical concept and vocabulary in the selected field.
Health Profession events are more hands on and career focused in comparison to the other events. Events like Nursing Assisting, Physical Therapy, Dental Science, Medical Assisting, and Emergency Medical Technician allow students to demonstrate the real world clinical skills in fake scenarios.
In Emergency Preparedness events, students interested in more crisis response and public safety compete in events such as CPR (First Aid), CERT Skills, and Emergency Medical Technician. These events test students on how they respond under pressure in emergency situations, a skill that is heavily needed if interested in a healthcare job.
One thing HOSA strives to do is to build future leaders. Events like Extemporaneous Speaking, Prepared Speaking, Job Seeking Skills, and Interviewing Skills help students develop communication and professionalism, mostly just skills that are essential in healthcare and life in general.
Some competitions are more team based, such as Creative Problem Solving and Public Health. Others focus on community awareness, like Health Education and Community Emergency Response. These events encourage collaboration and service to help their community/people overall.
Through these competitive events, HOSA gives students the opportunity to grow academically and personally. Whether someone wants to become a nurse, doctor, physical therapist, or healthcare administrator, HOSA gives students a valuable experience that can make a difference long before their graduation.
