hosa-Future health professionals

llinois HOSA  is dedicated to enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality healthcare by providing opportunities for career and technical education knowledge as well as leadership development for the secondary, post-secondary, and collegiate students whose career interest is health science technology.  Illinois HOSA is 100% healthcare.

• HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation and recognition for secondary, postsecondary, adult and collegiate students enrolled in Health Science Education programs and/or interested in pursuing careers in health care. HOSA is 100% health care!
• HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation and recognition for secondary, postsecondary, adult and collegiate students enrolled in Health Science Education programs and/or interested in pursuing careers in health care. HOSA is 100% health care!
• HOSA is not a club to which a few students in school belong. HOSA is a professional student organization and a powerful instructional tool that can be integrated into the health sciences curriculum and classroom. In addition, participation in HOSA provides students with a pathway to achieving diploma requirements. Students participate in a variety of classroom activities, job shadow opportunities, internships and field-based investigations. Through these activities, students gain skills in personal management, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, employment foundations, and career development.

The purpose of the HOSA organization is to develop leadership and technical HOSA skill competencies through a program of motivation, awareness and recognition, which is an integral part of the Health Science Education instructional program. Since its inception in 1976, HOSA has grown to over 200,000 members. HOSA has continued to sustain membership growth for the past two decades. HOSA provides its members with a comprehensive program of competitive events, training, development, recognition, scholarships, and partnerships for future health professionals. Highlights of HOSA’s programs include:

• HOSA is 100% healthcare and concentrates every aspect of its mission and resources on this employment sector.
• Illinois HOSA offers 53 healthcare industry endorsed competitive events; they are utilized throughout the academic year as instructional resources.
• HOSA’s Competitive Events Program includes four events specifically designed for students with disabilities.
• Chapters are modeled like small learning communities where students hold meetings and work as a team to develop a business plan of action that includes career exploration and development, community service, and activities that promote effective leadership.
• The National Healthcare Foundation Standards are used to establish rubrics to evaluate student performance in the competitive events program. HOSA uses awards and recognition in the same manner that the healthcare industry identifies “outstanding employees” as models.
• HOSA is endorsed by the Health Science Education division of ACTE and the US Department of Education.

HOSA’s program incorporates continued health science education and development from the middle level to the secondary level to the post-secondary level to alumni. HOSA’s chapter model also allows for industry-based chapters to allow for the HOSA experience to happen simultaneously at the secondary/post-secondary institution and then to resume at industry-based HOSA programs where students serve as interns and/or entry-level medical jobs.

The goals that HOSA believes are vital to each member are:

• To promote physical, mental and social well being.
• To develop effective leadership qualities and skills.
• To develop the ability to communicate more effectively with people.
• To develop character.
• To develop responsible citizenship traits.
• To understand the importance of pleasing oneself as well as being of service to others.
• To build self-confidence and pride in one's work.
• To make realistic career choices and seek successful employment in the health care field.
• To develop an understanding of the importance in interacting and cooperating with other students and organizations.
• To encourage individual and group achievement.
• To develop an understanding of current health care issues, environmental concerns, and survival needs of the community, the nation and the world.
• To encourage involvement in local, state and national health care and education projects.
• To support Health Science Education instructional objectives.
• To promote career opportunities in health care.