HOSA-Future Health Professionals Collaborates with Pearson

The partnership provides hands-on experience, insight into emerging fields and opportunities, connections to collegiate and industry partners, and local, national, and international healthcare-related competitions.

FREMONT, CA: “Thirty percent of Connections Academy students begin thinking about their careers between 6th and 8th grade as compared to 16% of all students. 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,” says Pearson Virtual Schools VP for Careers, Casey Welch. 

Pearson and its Connections Academy, a fully online public school program that has served K-12 students for over 20 years, declared a collaboration with HOSA-Future Health Professionals, a career and technical student organization (CTSO), to introduce middle and high school students to healthcare careers. Through the partnership, Connections Academy will introduce students to HOSA's immersive experiences, which will help them explore hundreds of healthcare careers. 

Students will gain hands-on experience in the healthcare industry, learn about new opportunities in healthcare careers, and meet like-minded students worldwide. According to Pearson's Skills Outlook, HOSA students develop the skills employers prioritize, including leadership, communication, teamwork, and technical skills relevant to specific healthcare careers. 

“HOSA-Future Health Professionals is pleased to establish a partnership with Pearson and its Connections Academy schools, which share our commitment to educational excellence and fostering a mindset of lifelong learning,” “Through these shared values and a vision for the future, we strive to expand opportunities for students to explore health careers, build technical expertise, and develop the essential leadership skills to thrive as future health professionals,” says Sarah Walters, MMCH, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC, Executive Director at HOSA. 

Their experience fosters self-confidence, motivation, and enthusiasm for their future in healthcare by allowing them to develop a professional network with HOSA's collegiate. The industry partners, alumni, and peers participate in community service and the organization's nearly 100 annual healthcare-related competitive events at the local, state, and international levels. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, participation in HOSA helps students prepare for the 1.8 million openings projected in these occupations each year, on average, due to employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the healthcare industry permanently. Early exposure and the development of long-term skills and industry connections are critical for high school students interested in healthcare occupations, projected to grow at a 13 percent rate through 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.