Health Occupations Students of America

HOSA
Motto The Hands of HOSA Mold the Health of Tomorrow
Formation 1976[1]
Type Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)
Headquarters 6021 Morriss Road, Suite 111
Flower Mound, Texas 75028,
United States
Membership 150,000[2]
Executive director Jim Koeninger[3]
Staff 8
Website http://www.hosa.org/

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 students. It is headquartered in Flower Mound, Texas. HOSA is the largest student organization that prepares students to enter the health care field.

Contents

History

HOSA was founded in 1976 out of a task force from the American Vocational Association Convention (AVA) in order to determine whether a new organization accommodating health care students were 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 (AHOESO). On November 10–13, 1976 in a constitutional convention AHOESO in Arlington, Texas: (1) adopted bylaws, which also changed the organization's name to Health Occupations Students of America, (2) elected national leaders, (3) selected it colors and motto, (4) made plans to design an emblem, and (5) set the first National Leadership Conference for spring 1978 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Next years National Leadership Conference(2012) will be held in Orlando, Florida during June.[1]

Beliefs

The purpose of HOSA is to advance the education of its members in the health care profession, which by an eight point list founds the following:[4]

“ 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]
“

I believe in the health care profession.
I believe in the profession for which I am being trained and in the opportunities, which my training offers.
I believe in education.
I believe that through education I will be able to make the greatest use of my skills, knowledge and experience in order to become a contributing member of the health care team of my community.
I believe in myself.
I believe that by using the knowledge and skills of my profession I will become more aware of myself. Through fulfilling these goals I will become a more responsible citizen.
I believe that each individual is important in his or her own right; therefore, I will treat each person with respect and love.
To this end, I dedicate my training, my skills and myself to serve others through Health Occupations Students of America.

 ”

—HOSA Creed[5]
“ Health Science and HOSA - A Healthy Partnership! ”

—HOSA Tagline[5]
“
  • Navy Blue : the understanding of health care needs to be shared with others
  • Medical White : Purity and beauty
  • Maroon : the gift of life in our heart to be shared with others
 ”

—HOSA Colors[5]

Policies

During all official functions such as Competitive Events when uniform is specified, official business, and Executive Council meetings and during public relations activities. HOSA specifies: business suite or sport coat and slacks with dress shirt and tie for males, and business suit tailored dress or blazer and skirt with tailored blouse for females.[6]

New chapters are required to follow a fifteen step procedure. Chapters are divided into four categories which include: classroom based chapters, instructor based chapters, institution wide chapters, and school or community wide chapters.[7]

National Leadership Conference

Members meet annually at HOSA National Leadership Conference. The conference is held in June in different cities in the United States.[8]

The HOSA National Leadership Conference includes:

These conferences have been held:

Competitive events

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.[9]

Category I: Health Science Events

Category II: Health Professions Events

Category III: Emergency Preparedness Events

Category IV: Leadership Events

Category V: Teamwork Events

Category VI: Recognition

References

  1. ^ a b c Student Membership Handbook, p. 6
  2. ^ a b Davis, Kevin. "What is HOSA?". Health Occupations Students of America. http://www.hosa.org/whatis.html. Retrieved 2009-10-03. 
  3. ^ Davis, Kevin. "HOSA Headquarters". Health Occupations Students of America. http://www.hosa.org/natorg/hosa_headquarters.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-31. 
  4. ^ Student Membership Handbook, p. 5
  5. ^ a b c Student Membership Handbook, p. 7
  6. ^ Student Membership Handbook, p. 9
  7. ^ Student Membership Handbook, pp. 14–17
  8. ^ Student Membership Handbook, p. 13
  9. ^ Student Membership Handbook, p. 10

Bibliography

External links

Official State Chapters