HOSA (organization)

HOSA
Formation 1976[1]
Type Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)
Headquarters 548 Silicon Drive, Suite 101
Southlake, Texas 76092,
United States
Membership
 185,000[2]
Executive Director
 Jim Koeninger[3]
Website http://www.hosa.org/

HOSA-Future Health Professionals , formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), is a national career and technical student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education Division of ACTE. HOSA is composed of secondary and postsecondary/collegiate students. It is headquartered in Southlake, Texas and is the largest student organization which prepares students to enter the healthcare field.

History

HOSA was founded in 1976 out of a task force from the American Vocational Association in order to determine whether a new student organization accommodating healthcare students was necessary.

From November 4–7, 1975, the State Department of Education and Division of Vocational Education in New Jersey with 18 representatives from Alabama, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas voted to form the American Health Occupations Education Student Organization.

On November 10–13, 1976, in a constitutional convention in Arlington, Texas AHOESO adopted bylaws, which also changed the organization's name to Health Occupations Students of America; elected national leaders; selected colors and a motto; made plans to design an emblem; and set the first National Leadership Conference for Spring 1978 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[1]

In 2004, the organization dropped the acronym from its name, and began publishing all documents under the brand "HOSA - Future Health Professionals."[4]

Beliefs

“ The mission of HOSA is to enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care by providing opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development of all health science technology education students, therefore, helping students to meet the needs of the health care community. ”
— HOSA Mission Statement[1][2]

Uniform

The official HOSA uniform consists of a navy blue suit with maroon accent in the form of a tie for men or a scarf for women. The HOSA emblem is affixed on the suit jacket.[5]

National Leadership Conference

2003 NLC in Atlanta

Members meet annually at a National Leadership Conference held in June in cities across the United States. Over 7,500 students participate in exciting general sessions, competitive events, and leadership experiences, all while networking with health sciences students from 50 states and territories.[6]

Past and upcoming NLCs include:

Competitive events

HOSA currently offers 58 competitive events, ranging from skill-based to leadership and team-based. Members compete at the regional, state, and national levels. Those who place in the top three positions at the state level are given the opportunity to compete at the national level.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Student Membership Handbook, p. 6
  2. 1 2 Davis, Kevin. "What is HOSA?". Health Occupations Students of America. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  3. ↑ Davis, Kevin. "HOSA Headquarters". Health Occupations Students of America. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  4. ↑ Lauver, Lori S., et al. "Kids Into Health Careers: A Rural Initiative." The Journal of Rural Health 27.1 (2011): 114-121.
  5. ↑ HOSA Handbook Section A
  6. ↑ Student Membership Handbook, p. 13
  7. ↑ Student Membership Handbook, p. 10

Bibliography

External links

State Association Websites

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