Central Chapter Technologist Section Establishes Relationship with Health Occupation Students of America

By Rebecca Sajdak, BA, CNMT

HOSA logo A year ago, the Central Chapter Technologist Section launched an outreach initiative to promote careers in nuclear medicine technology in urban high schools. As part of that initiative, we have been in contact with HOSA, the Health Occupation Students of America. HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education (HSTE) Division of ACTE. HOSA’s two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA’s goal is to encourage all health occupations instructors and students to join and be actively involved in the HSTE-HOSA Partnership.

I received an invitation from Jan Rittenhouse, the executive secretary for the Illinois HOSA organization, to attend their fall workshop in Decatur, IL, on Friday, Oct. 20, 2006. I attended meetings where speakers presented from various modalities and career fields. I also presented information to the teachers on the field of nuclear medicine and nuclear medicine technology.

HOSA is initiating on-line testing for their spring leadership conference competition where students compete in twelve areas of instruction. Part of the competition will be done on computers prior to the competition in order to free up time at the meeting to participate in symposiums.

HOSA was very excited about the Central Chapter Technologist Section’s interest in their organization and look forward to working with us.