Young Leaders Learn to CARE

ARLINGTON, Va. (September 28, 2015)—HOSA-Future Health Professionals, the largest national organization for middle school, high school, and postsecondary/collegiate students with an interest in the health profession, held its ninth Annual Washington Leadership Academy on September 19 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. Nearly 200 state and local HOSA officers from 32 states, joined together to learn the importance of engaging with their Community, the significance of establishing and maintaining Accountability, the value of building health Relationships, and the benefit of exemplifying the Excellence during one’s leadership journey; this year’s WLA taught leaders how to CARE. Throughout the four days, the future health professionals heard dynamic speakers, participated in interactive workshops and leadership building activities, paid tribute to fallen heroes at the Arlington National Cemetery, toured the nation’s landmarks, and saw democracy firsthand by visiting with members of Congress.

COL Deydre Teyhen, DPT, Ph.D., OCS, Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Health, Office of the Surgeon General, Defense Health Headquarters, was a dynamic opening session speaker challenging the members and advisors to examine their daily habits and stressing the importance of physical activity, sleep, and nutrition on cognitive, emotional, and physical health. In being a great leader, don’t forget to care about self!

HOSA-Future Health Professionals was honored to host RADM Boris Lushniak, Deputy Surgeon General, for his final appearance prior to his retirement from public office. RADM Lushniak reflected on medical innovations through his lifetime and envisioned the future of medicine that the students would experience and help in creating.

Byron Garrett, award winning author and educator, demonstrated his great commitment to our nation’s youth as he challenged those in attendance to take hold of their future and become a dream maker.

The Washington Leadership Academy concluded with Kelly Barnes, motivational speaker and trainer, by reminding the leaders their purpose, their responsibility to others and the organization, how to value each other and the importance of serving others. It is the intent that all in attendance will leave with the knowledge, new skills and confidence to act in ways that help their state organization, schools, communities and their country.

Health science / biomedical science education teachers attended the conference as well, learning how to motivate and help develop their officer teams’ leadership potential and how they can help maximize their state initiatives throughout the year.

Also held was the State Advisors Management Conference, a four-day meeting that brought together HOSA State Advisors from 40 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada for an intensive training focused on HOSA’s 185,000 members and new initiatives for state involvement. Also meeting was the HOSA-100 National Advisory Council, chaired by General Bruce Green, M.D., of Deloitte, along with representatives from CVS Health, University of Phoenix, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Learning House and the Medical Reserve Corps.

For more information, videos, and photos from the Washington Leadership Conference, visit www.hosa.org/node/30/.