Students Explore Health Careers Through HOSA

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 18% in the next decade, much faster than the average for all other occupations. Grain Valley High School (GVHS) students with an interest in entering this fast-growing field have an opportunity to network, compete, gain leadership skills, and travel through the school’s HOSA chapter. Health Occupations Students of America chapter, now called HOSA-Future Health Professionals, is a student-led international organization, established in 1976 to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. This is the chapter’s third year at Grain Valley High School and it has grown quickly to 64 members this school year. GVHS science teacher and the chapter’s sponsor, Danielle Dace, said the leadership, travel, and networking opportunities available to students through HOSA are outstanding. Students prepare throughout the year to compete at the state leadership conference held annually in March. Students can compete in one of over 55 events focused on skills and fields they would like to pursue. Last year, six students went on to compete in Dallas at the International Conference. In addition to competitions, students network with others interested in pursuing similar careers, meet health professionals in the community, and work on a number of service projects. “As a teacher, I want these opportunities available for my students and HOSA does that,” Dace said. In addition to the International Conference in June, two students recently returned from a trip to Washington, DC, where HOSA student leaders from across the nation convened to learn leadership skills and how to be better advocates for the mission of the organization. Shaley Harper, junior at GVHS and President-Elect of the school’s HOSA chapter, was one of the students representing Grain Valley’s chapter at the Washington Leadership Academy held in mid-September. “We spoke to representatives from Senator Blunt and Senator McCaskill’s offices about our organization and the Perkins grant that helps fund organizations like HOSA,” Harper said. Harper said the organization helped her figure out what she wanted to study after high school. “My competitive event is sports medicine, and I want to be a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon. This organization got me interested in the sports medicine field as well as orthopedics, because I learned a lot about the skeletal and muscular system through HOSA and our Project Lead the Way classes that we take at school,” Harper said. Sam Collins, a senior and Historian for the HOSA chapter, stated that his interest in pursuing a biomedical engineering degree was a result of networking with other students and talking about career interests. Sam is looking at attending Wichita State University next fall to study biomedical engineering. “Networking with students who have similar interests is also an important aspect of the program,” Dace said. Olivia Herder, GVHS senior and the chapter’s Secretary, also said her participation in HOSA led her to an interest in becoming a pediatrician. During a STEM night event with elementary students, Olivia realized her passion for working with children. “I loved talking with children. At the STEM event, we had to talk students through a science experiment to extract their DNA. It was really fun to see their faces light up,” Herder said. Beyond the competitions and networking, students conduct a number of service projects annually. The group will be assisting with a Sock it to Breast Cancer event Saturday, September 29th during the Cross Country meet on the grounds at Grain Valley North Middle School. Members will be offering pink ribbons for a donation; funds raised from the event will benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The group will also work on a number of fundraising projects this school year to raise funds for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Additionally, the group visits local nursing homes and has invited medical professionals to review their past projects. They welcome the opportunity to partner with other area health care professionals to expand networking beyond the school. “I’m just really proud of my students and I want people to know how amazing they are,” Dace said. Follow GVHS’s HOSA chapter on Twitter: @GVHOSA.

2018-19 GVHS HOSA-Future Health Professionals Chapter Officers include (L to R): Olivia Herder, Secretary; Shaley Harper, President-Elect; Sam Collins, HistorianPhoto credit: Valley News staff