The goals of the Health Science program at the School of Technology are to provide opportunities for students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to obtain an entry-level position in the health care field or to continue to postsecondary training.

Our entire class is dynamically involved with Health Occupational Students of America (HOSA).

HOSA is not a club; it is a classroom-oriented organization, in which students learn technical skills. HOSA encourages students to get involved in something greater than his or herself and meet students with similar goals.

We attend state competitions annually. If a peer places first, second or third, they go on to compete at the National Leadership Conference in their specific skills and/or knowledge events. This past year, 23 students competed at the state level.

Four of those students attended the HOSA National Leadership Conference. Kristen Montgomery placed 20th in the nation in the sports medicine event.

Our division is very active in leadership. At the beginning of the year our classes elected officers to conduct formal meetings.

We establish committees to focus on a variety of causes including: drug awareness, autism awareness, blood donation, the Christmas Angel Program and canned food drives.

We also assist at a health fair with Calera Elementary and design visual displays to inform the public about health care science and HOSA.

We receive hands-on experience with patient care, and learn many procedures healthcare workers in hospitals perform daily.

We learn skills such as CPR for health care providers certification and first aid. The first year in the program we attend job shadowing.

The second year, we are involved in clinical rotations. This program has helped us make progress toward our goals of becoming a health care professional.

Mandy O’Neal is a student in the health care science program at the School of Technology.