HOSA, a career prep program for high school and college-aged students, is hosting an upcoming health conference in South Dakota. The event is expected to draw 800 future doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators. Brock Rops, the executive director of the South Dakota HOSA chapter, believes that these events reflect the reality of the career field.
Rops emphasizes the importance of finding a job that feels like a calling rather than just a career. He encourages students to be adaptable and pivot if their initial plans don’t work out. HOSA events are designed to provide students with opportunities to explore various aspects of the healthcare industry, similar to FFA for future health care professionals.
The conference will feature presentation and project-based events, as well as skill-based competitions in areas such as physical therapy, medical lab science, dental care, pharmacy, and forensic science. Rops highlights that HOSA is a space for students to discover the broad spectrum of opportunities available in the healthcare field and build confidence in their abilities.
The South Dakota HOSA conference will take place at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls on April 11 and 12. Top performers at the conference will have the chance to qualify for the international HOSA conference in Houston, Texas.
