Written by Cameron Carter, 2024-25 Secondary Board Representative
This winter, I had the privilege of sitting down with Holly Wilson, a Public Health Educator and Communicator from Florida, now working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. Her journey into healthcare began during her junior year of high school when she joined HOSA – Future Health Professionals. Initially planning to pursue a career in pharmacy or nursing, her path shifted dramatically after taking an Introduction to Public Health course at the University of Florida.
Unable to enroll in her desired class, Wilson selected the public health course simply because, as she put it, “at least it has health in it.” To her surprise, she fell in love with the field. She was captivated by the concept of preventive medicine and the opportunity to protect people before they became ill.
Wilson went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in health education and a master’s degree in public health education, with a focus on health communication. In 1999, she began her career at the CDC, working in the field of infectious diseases. Her early projects covered a broad range of topics, including correctional facility health, vaccines, and maternal health.
Currently, Wilson works in environmental health, where she analyzes data related to diseases, injury prevention, and infectious diseases influenced by environmental factors. Reflecting on her career, Wilson shared, “The skills you gain in HOSA—not just clinical skills but also communication and leadership—lay the foundation for your future in healthcare.”
