Through hours of work, weekly meetings, and numerous student opportunities, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) is a program at Bowie that is recognized nationwide.

HOSA is mainly student-led, with some support from advisers, who are adults that share the student’s interest in healthcare. 

 “I’m like an adviser,” health teacher Josue Gold said.  “And the president of HOSA is Daniel Cardenas, and the VP is Laura Vandervennet.”

HOSA has been recently added to Bowie’s list of clubs, as it was just established at the school just this year.

“We’re still developing, we’re trying to figure it out, baby steps,” Gold said. “We just got started, but our mission is to empower future health professionals to become leaders in the global health community.” 

There are approximately 70 student members, with about 20 who attend meetings regularly, according to HOSA member Lily Deanda.

“I heard about HOSA last year, actually, I took principles of  health science,” member Charlotte Hill said. “I have always looked forward to helping people, and healthcare is good for that.”

HOSA includes many opportunities for its members including competitions.

“We do competitions, we have a spring competition where we compete with other HOSA groups across Texas,” Gold said. “They had a conference, went to Round Rock High School and did a lot of different opportunities with healthcare professionals, like suturing, or sewing with human skin.”

This program has the intention of preparation for the healthcare world and all that it entails.

“Basically it’s about immersion, getting kids into understanding what jobs there are,” Gold said. “It’s about getting kids involved with all professions. It’s all student-led.”

As the club is still very new, club members are starting to socialize regularly.

“I learned to work with people more, (and) it helps with social skills,” Lily Deanda said. “(HOSA is) very nice and welcoming.”

HOSA, using practical applications, aims to allow students to use the knowledge they’ve acquired in real life.

“My friend is a dancer, she hurt herself,” Hill saidl. “I was reviewing anatomy structures, and I knew how to help her.”

HOSA offers many opportunities for students, and it is open to new members, according to Hill.

“I think HOSA is a great club for everyone,” Hill said. “With leadership skills, meeting wonderful people, and feeling like you’re making a change in the world.”