How HOSA-Future Health Professionals Helps Prepare Students for Careers in Healthcare

February 25, 2025 by Valerie Kirk

6 min to read

Image of healthcare providers in a hospital hallway

With an estimated 1.9 million job openings projected each year through 2033, healthcare jobs are on the rise. To introduce students to different healthcare careers and give them opportunities to gain hands-on healthcare experience while they are still in school, Connections Academy has partnered with HOSA – Future Healthcare Professionals as part of our growing college and early career prep initiatives to help online middle and high school students gain real-world experiences that will give them a head start on their professional journeys.

What is HOSA?

HOSA is a Career and Technical Student Organization that inspires middle and high school students to pursue careers in healthcare. With more than 300,000 members, HOSA is building a pipeline of experienced future healthcare workers to meet the growing demand.

Students in HOSA gain hands-on experience through community service activities and by participating in one of HOSA’s nearly 100 annual healthcare-related competitions and conferences. HOSA also offers scholarships to help students pursue their degrees.

 “HOSA's mission to empower students early – starting in middle school – to become global health community leaders through education, collaboration, and experience aligns perfectly with the goals of Connection Academy’s career readiness offerings to provide young people with direction, confidence, and connections to feel prepared for their next step after high school,” said Casey Welch, Vice President for Careers at Pearson Virtual Schools.

What Skills Do You Get from HOSA?

According to research done by Pearson, nearly eight out of 10 students know that they need the right skills to be employable. While 72 percent want to know more about what they should do to position themselves for success outside of academic success, 42 percent admit that they don't even know where to start and 26 percent are concerned about making connections with those who can help them on their career journey.

Joining HOSA can help students overcome these career uncertainties. As part of HOSA, they can explore potential healthcare careers while they are still in high school and gain hands-on experience in a low-pressure environment. These experiences can help them gain self-confidence in their abilities and build a resume that they can take to college or the workforce.

How Does HOSA Help Connections Academy Students Succeed?

HOSA events and competitions are designed to motivate students and help them improve their knowledge and skills on healthcare-related topics. Events are held at the local, national, and international levels. They also provide a platform for recognizing students’ achievements.

Recently, five students from the New Mexico Connections Academy HOSA chapter participated in the New Mexico State Leadership Championship event. Each student qualified to compete in HOSA’s International Leadership Conference.

1st Place – Medical Law & Ethics: Marcos Tapia (Grade 12)

2nd Place – Behavioral Health: Karma Bromwell (Grade 11)

3rd Place – Healthy Living: Vania Aragon (Grade 10)

4th Place – Medical Spelling: Myah Walker (Grade 9)

4th Place – Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): Karma Bromwell (Grade 11) and Katherine Kim (Grade 10)

Barbara James Service Award, Gold Status Recognition (with over 250 hours of community service): Vania Aragon (Grade 10)

“We're grateful for the partnership with HOSA that gives students hands-on experience and opportunities to develop leadership skill,” said Guadalupe Castillo, New Mexico Connections Academy science teacher and HOSA advisor.

Why Do Students Join HOSA?

“Thirty percent of Connections Academy students begin thinking about their careers between 6th and 8th grade as compared to 16% of all students,” said Welch.

Connections Academy students are often highly motivated and seek opportunities to learn about potential careers. Participating in organizations like HOSA gives them real-world experience while still in school, which helps them decide what they would like to do after they graduate.

Students that join HOSA build technical expertise and develop leadership skills. They also become part of a professional network that includes HOSA's collegiate and industry partners, alumni, and peers, which can help them in their future job search.

Preparing for Life After High School

Connections Academy is passionate about helping our students feel confident and prepared for their journey after high school. In addition to HOSA, families enrolled in a Connections Academy-supported school can also reach out to their school counselors to learn more about joining the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).

These career-readiness initiatives along with many other extracurricular clubs and activities help students learn important skills they will need for their post-graduate path.

Learn more about our College and Career Readiness initiatives.