HOSA is a global organization focused on training and preparing students for the healthcare industry. On March 11- 13, 2026, Timberline students competed in the HOSA State Leadership Conference (SLC) for multiple health, leadership, and technical events. The purpose of this feature is to celebrate the seniors who attended the conference, their experiences, and their accomplishments. Timberline’s chapter is led by Ms. Loftis, and the seniors who participated in HOSA this year were Randy Li, Yael Gur-Sexton, Alex Atalla, Jiexi Mei, Jiwon Park, and Grace Wargo.
Individually, Gur-Sexton won an impressive first place in the medical assisting event. However, our seniors also showed great collaborative skills and competed well in teams. Wargo took fourth alongside her teammate, Ida Grisso, in the field of CPR/First Aid. Additionally, Atalla, Wargo, and Gur-Sexton, and Grisso used their strong knowledge of human anatomy to win fourth place in the Anatomage Tournament. Lastly, Li helped his team win third in the HOSA bowl, a trivia competition spanning all healthcare and anatomy-related topics.
Their achievements not only reflect their impressive ability to handle the rigor of HOSA, but also show that they’re prepared for a potential career in the healthcare industry. I got the chance to interview Alex Atalla (Sr.), who competed in sports medicine at SLC this year. He’s had plenty of experience in HOSA, having placed in the top 30 at the premier event, the International Leadership Conference, last year. Here’s what he had to say about the benefits of HOSA and how it shaped his plans after high school.
Q: What were the most rewarding aspects of HOSA?
A: Some of the most rewarding parts were making connections, building my college application, and learning to compete and handle myself under pressure.
Q: How do you think HOSA has shaped your experience in high school?
A: HOSA has shaped my high school experience by introducing me to a group of people with the same interests and giving me a way to pursue my passions at a higher level.
Q: What do you plan to do after high school? In what ways has your time in HOSA influenced this?
A: After high school, I am attending Vanderbilt for pre-med, planning to become an orthopedic surgeon in the future. HOSA has impacted this by strengthening my college application so I could get into Vanderbilt and by strengthening my passion for medicine throughout my high school years.
Q: Ultimately, would you recommend HOSA to other high school students? What advice would you give them?
A: I would definitely recommend HOSA to other high school students, and I would advise them to take it seriously because you truly get out what you put into it. If you are intentional, you could build lasting relationships, develop useful skills, and even go on to win at the International Leadership Conference!
Atalla’s insightful advice shows that HOSA benefits students beyond just the competition. By equipping participants with lifelong connections and enhanced technical skills, HOSA serves as a great opportunity for high school students to get involved in the local community, network with healthcare professionals, and earn scholarships.
