Merced Union High School District

Exploring healthcare career opportunities and learning more about the field itself is what defines the Health Occupational Students of America, or HOSA, for short. On October 25th, Buhach Colony High School hosted the local HOSA region’s annual Fall Leadership Conference (FLC). The event brought 125 students in from different high schools throughout the Central Valley, including four MUHSD HOSA chapters. 

 

This was Buhach Colony HOSA’s first time hosting such a significant event on campus, making it a new opportunity for growth and success for the club’s chapter. Each workshop was planned, created, and facilitated by different HOSA students from each school. By emphasizing the importance of student-led events, HOSA exhibits its mission to empower future health professionals, building their confidence to eventually enter the medical field. 

 

One of the primary purposes of the leadership conference was to prepare the HOSA students for the State Leadership Conference (SLC) in the spring, while also fostering collaboration, leadership, and various skills found within the medical field. Every HOSA Chapter within our region was able to get to know each other by working together on the different activities and workshops, while also learning about information regarding healthcare. These activities varied, including a competitive HOSA trivia game, learning origami for relaxation, or learning how to wrap bandages around injuries. 

 

Ultimately, these workshops were meant to allow students to feel ready for the competitive events and opportunities at the State Leadership Conference, which will be with HOSA students from all throughout California. 

 

Mrs. Lawson, one of the advisors who was instrumental in the planning of the event, describes the importance of HOSA itself. “This is our first time doing FLC here at Buhach Colony,” she said. “HOSA is really important, it builds character and confidence. Our students are able to meet other students that want to be the future of healthcare in America; they’re able to collaborate with other students. It’s really important for everyone to be involved, and it gets us prepared for SLC, the big event.” The club at BCHS is still fairly new, having started in 2019. Hosting the Fall Leadership Conference was a really important experience for the HOSA chapter, and they’re excited for what’s to come for the program. 

 

Buhach Colony had Dr. Buenrostro from Turlock as their keynote speaker of the day, as well as Kimberlynn Devine, a registered nurse; Dr. Patel, an anesthesiologist; Mr. Barber, a certified athletic trainer; and BCHS alumni Danielle Lopez, a registered nurse, as panelists from the medical industry. With each of these volunteers, students were able to learn more about their career paths, asking questions to each of them, creating an environment of education and personal connection. 

 

We asked students present at the event what HOSA truly meant to them. Sofia Valencia, a senior, said, “HOSA means being willing to learn, be around other people, lead, and have fun.” Angie Rojo, a junior, said, “HOSA means really preparing for my future. It allows me to prepare for both the Navy and for pursuing a career in medical technology.” Winter Wood, a senior, said, “HOSA means starting my future and becoming a pediatric heart surgeon one step at a time, by learning new things from my partners and peers above.”  The students are using HOSA as a tool towards their future, regardless of where in healthcare they’re aiming for. Through it, they continuously learn vital traits of leadership and teamwork, especially within the medical field. 

 

With events such as our local Fall Leadership Conference and the State Leadership Conference, students from the Central Valley are able to connect with others who have similar interests, creating new connections. For SLC in the spring, HOSA students will be heading to Orange County to collaborate with chapters from all over California. The chapters that were present at FLC are planning to attend, meaning our MUHSD schools will be representing our region and our district. 

 

Claire Cuenca is a senior at Buhach Colony High School and student intern for the MUHSD Communications Department.