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Organization Spotlight - September 2006

The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) is a national, student-based nonprofit organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education Division of the Association for Career and Technical Education. HOSA has more than 80,000 members in 2,500 secondary and postsecondary chapters in 44 chartered state associations nationwide. Its mission is to promote career opportunities in the health professions and to enhance the delivery of quality healthcare.

HOSA is the only student organization that addresses the nation’s healthcare workforce shortage by promoting career opportunities in the health professions in elementary, middle, and secondary educational institutions. HOSA is committed to building a conduit through which qualified students will enroll in Health Science Technology Education programs and participate in HOSA chapters. Since 1976, HOSA has recruited, developed, and encouraged more than 1.2 million students to pursue a career in the health professions.

The HOSA, Inc. Board Chair, Sandra Parker stated that HOSA’s goal is to “double [its] membership by 2010 by encouraging [its] chapters to provide unique opportunities for [its] members to seek opportunities for personal and professional growth to enhance their health science classroom experiences.”

Since September 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina, HOSA has encouraged its 2,500 chapters to partner with local community-based organizations. HOSA members have been first responders in many emergencies while using healthcare skills developed in Health Science Technology Education programs and in leading and participating in student-led HOSA projects and activities. Numerous HOSA members volunteered in their respective communities impacted by hurricanes in 2005.

HOSA’s executive director, Dr. Jim Koeninger, stated that “because of [its] members and chapter advisors’ strong desire to be an active participant in emergency preparedness in local communities, [they] believe there could be a synergistic relationship between HOSA and the MRC, resulting in providing trained volunteers to complement the impressive work by the MRC across the country.”

HOSA chapters are active in their communities on a volunteer basis, addressing the Surgeon General’s priority issues such as improving health literacy and increasing disease prevention.

For more information, visit the HOSA’s Web site at www.hosa.org, or e-mail hosa@hosa.org.

Last Updated on 10/11/2006