Friends,

It is often said that when you are walking down the streets of New York City, you could run into anyone and everyone — anywhere from a financier to a fireman, from a pilot to a plumber. Of course, that also includes HOSA-Future Health Professionals alumni!

I was walking down the streets of New York City on Thursday, October 27th with Corey He, HOSA Secondary Board Representative and Akash Kotian, former HOSA Postsecondary/Collegiate Vice President (2021-2022) when a man walking by asked, “are you all in HOSA?”

We stopped and said yes. He mentioned he was a HOSA alum who, when he was in high school and college, was a former State President and National Officer Candidate. Now, he was a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist working in New York City. After we introduced ourselves and chatted with him about his journey within and after his years in HOSA-Future Health Professionals, he mentioned what an impact those years had on his career trajectory, but also the core memories and experiences that he had as a younger student. He then asked the question we were waiting for: do you still need help judging at the ILC each year?

“Of course we do!” And after saying our goodbyes and exchanging business cards, onwards we went after an exciting day representing HOSA-Future Health Professionals at the United Nations!

HOSA-Future Health Professionals was invited to send representatives to the Ideagen Global Goals Summit, held in collaboration with the Global Green Inclusive Innovation Summit and powered by Microsoft, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on October 27, 2022.

Representing HOSA-Future Health Professionals included:
– Kartik Tyagi, HOSA International President
– Corey He, HOSA Secondary Board Representative
– Akash Kotian, Past Executive Council Member, Princeton University (2021-2022 Postsecondary/Collegiate Vice President)

Patricia Cornet, Co-Founder, Women of Color in Pharma, and member of the HOSA-100 National Advisory Council, was also present at the Summit, speaking as part of the health equity and sustainability panel.

The Ideagen Global Goals Summit, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, was a remarkable experience for Corey, Akash, and I in representing HOSA-Future Health Professionals. The Summit was a convening of global leaders and luminaries that share a  vision of achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The SDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a call to action to end poverty, protect our Earth, and ensure all are able to experience peace and prosperity by 2030. Although the pandemic created a considerable challenge for achieving these goals, the Summit was critical in bringing together the partners, stakeholders, and contributors with a charge of ensuring our planet is one that we are proud to leave our kids — and their kids.

Filled with action-driven speakers — CEOs, Foundation Presidents, NGO Presidents, students, leaders, and educators — from companies like Morgan Stanley, Visa, KPMG, Microsoft, Providence Health, and Amazon to representatives of the Permanent Mission of Greece to the UN, the UN Development Programme, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the summit provided great insight, and was invaluable to continue the dialogue on achieving the SDGs.

What an honor and privilege it was for me, as HOSA’s International President, to speak and be invited to be part of a panel: “Education and Leadership to Achieve the Goals.” Speaking alongside the following CEOs, professionals, and student leaders was a true privilege:
– Dr. Peggy Pelonis, President, American Community Schools Athens
– Adriane Thorpe, CEO at Summer Discovery & Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG)
– Georgette Boulegaris, Grand President, Daughters of Penelope
– Jimmy Kokotas, Supreme President, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA)
– Taylor Smith – Student Leader and Advocate

It is clear: HOSA-Future Health Professionals has significant overlap with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and has a charge in supporting achieving them — especially as it relates to good health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities.

I recall sharing with those in attendance at the United Nations summit: “I couldn’t think of a better occasion to rise to the moment — because the people that are counting on us aren’t only our children, our parents, our grandchildren — it’s the children of our children and generations to come…” I shared that to increase the relevance of these global goals, we have to “take to heart the role that youth have in realizing the goals.”

To close the panel, I was asked to share a message I had for our global leaders as it relates to taking into account the impact student leaders can have, to which I had a very simple response: “embrace the light.”

For me, it’s critical we ask our leaders to “embrace that light in this next generation — not only in students, but in our educators — in all the stakeholders that have a say, a place, and a willingness to impart their wisdom, their insights, and their expertise on the success of today and the years to come.”

And it’s why I’m proud to serve HOSA-Future Health Professionals. Because we have these conversations every day. We understand the role we play in the future of one of our world’s fastest growing industries: health. We pride ourselves on being 100% health and filling workforce needs — empowering generations of students to become well-equipped leaders in the global health community…

… but we also understand we aren’t there yet. And that we need more diverse providers of care and diverse health professionals — that we need to address systemic inequities in our institutions, recognizing unrelentingly and uncompromisingly the damaging impact of bigotry, of othering, and of prejudice in our ability to thrive together and to ensure all people in all places have the capacity and ability to be healthy.

Representation matters. HOSA understands that. And it’s why it was an honor to represent the youth and student leader voice at the United Nations at the Ideagen Global Goals Summit.

I’ll bet Corey and Akash would tell you the same: of what an honor and privilege it was to represent HOSA at a summit of such magnitude. They were both awestruck, as was I. We still have yet to comprehend the weight of history that lies in the halls and rooms of the United Nations — the halls we just walked and the rooms in which we just sat.

We share our genuine thanks to Ideagen Global CEO and Founder George Sifakis, former Director of HOSA’s Washington Office, for the amazing opportunity and invitation to represent future health professionals at the United Nations!

The challenge becomes quite clear: how can HOSA-Future Health Professionals support the achieving of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals?

Our world has a lot at stake. It’s time, yes, to rise to the moment.

With love — today, tomorrow, and always,
Kartik

Kartik Tyagi
International President
HOSA-Future Health Professionals