HOSA: A New Competitive Club Makes Its Debut

This September, a new club was officially announced to the QHSS student population. From Moremoremedics to PsychExplorers, QHSS finally welcomes the arrival of a new medical club; QHSS HOSA. HOSA has already been prevalent in many schools throughout America. Finally making its official debut in QHSS, the board and members have clear expectations for this new competitive medical club.

But first of all, what is HOSA exactly? HOSA stands for “Health Occupations Students of America”, until it was formally renamed to “HOSA-Future Health Professionals” in hopes of reaching a broader audience. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as other federal and state agencies, HOSA seeks to empower students interested in medical careers and leadership in the global health community through competitions. From Behavioral Health to Prepared Speaking, this medical competitional organization tests the limits of students through exams, speeches, and projects.

The board of HOSA has shown undeniable excitement and has high expectations as of this year, and following years to come. “I hope this year every member will be able to compete in a few healthcare competitions, meet some healthcare professionals, and learn important healthcare skills! Our biggest goal, however, would be attending the Spring Leadership Conference, a big HOSA conference that brings high schoolers from different HOSA clubs in New York State together. It’s an amazing opportunity for members to participate in competitions and network!” says Co-President Kripa Das, when asked about her wishes for HOSA.

This excitement is not only limited to the current board of HOSA, but also had a greater impact on the current members as well. 

When interviewed about her respective aspirations for HOSA, current member Sophia de La Rosa said, “I currently feel really excited about HOSA because it gives students a chance to grow both professionally and personally. This year, I’d love to see strong teamwork and hands-on opportunities that help everyone feel connected and prepared for competitions. In these competitions, I want to deepen my knowledge of medicine and the healthcare field. I hope to strengthen my understanding of real medical concepts, build skills that can help me in a future medical career and challenge myself to think like a healthcare professional.”

However, due to being a competition club, HOSA has a clear disadvantage when it comes to financial issues. Similar to other competition clubs, funding is a restriction for HOSA as of right now. This proves to be a major impediment for the board and the members of HOSA, who had high hopes of competing in many HOSA competitions and attending various HOSA events. Due to the lack of funding, in-person competitions are currently barred for most members, primarily the Spring Leadership conference in Syracuse.

Fortunately, not all hope is in vain. The mandatory $25 dues will not be nearly enough to cover the costs of events such as the Spring Leadership conference, which includes a $50 registration fee. In response to this, the board of HOSA has already started planning fun fundraising events in the upcoming months to fight, as Kripa, “this financial burden, one fundraiser at a time”.

As the new year approaches, so does the deadline for these events and competitions HOSA as an organization has to offer. With the aspirations and hard-work from the members of HOSA, current member Samiha Rahman, as well as the many members of HOSA hope to see a community where everyone gets to compete in competitions during its first year at QHSS; Somewhere all students can compete without being held back by restrictions.