“I will not forget walking into the hospital and smelling that clean hospital smell. Right away, I thought, ‘Oh, this is not going to go well,’” Carlos E. Reyes, DHA, MSN, RN, CHSE, recalled.
Reyes, healthcare educator and the 2025 HOSA Alumni of the Year, started his healthcare leadership journey in 1981.
One fateful day, he entered his health science classroom taught by Mrs. Joye Megow, unsure of what he’d like to do with his future career. Under Megow’s influence and enthusiasm, he decided to join HOSA – Future Health Professionals and fully immerse himself in all it had to offer during its infancy stage.
That year, he and his fellow classmates competed in the HOSA Bowl and went all the way to the final round at the 1982 National Leadership Conference (NLC).
“As silly as it sounds, it was one of the greatest things ever,” Reyes said. “After we won, Mrs. Megow was hugging a statue outside the hall because she could not contain her excitement.”
The team returned home with a trophy and was featured in a local newspaper. As of Reyes’ last visit in 2015, it remained the only national HOSA victory at his high school alma mater. The experience brought immense pride—not only for winning the tournament but also for raising funds to attend, building a team from scratch, and establishing a thriving HOSA chapter. The victory spurred a decades-long relationship between Reyes and HOSA, and a passion for healthcare leadership and education.
“Two consistent messages I adopted from HOSA are, ‘don’t pass up opportunities’ and ‘someone is always watching and listening,’” Reyes said.
Eventually, Reyes specialized in emergency care where he applied lessons about teamwork, professionalism, and modeling expectations he learned from HOSA. Inevitably, Reyes’ career expanded in scope and impact. He has held several leadership positions in nursing administration, served as an associate professor in fire science and EMS, and lead as the Director of Simulation/Technology at HCA Healthcare. Despite these accomplishments, he says his most fulfilling role has been mentoring young professionals from diverse backgrounds and education levels.
“I am able to encourage them to seek a healthcare pathway for their future career and provide opportunities for them as much as possible,” Reyes said.
25 years after his high school HOSA days, Reyes was able to track down “Mrs. Megow” and thank her for the effect she had in his life.
“I took her out to lunch and shared the successes I had achieved up to that point. I thanked her directly, because I credit her with starting my journey in healthcare,” Reyes said. “To say that HOSA and my advisor shaped my career, my healthcare journey, is a bit of an understatement. What I do for HOSA and all the student activity is my way of paying it forward for what she did for me.”
In 2012, Reyes won Florida HOSA Advisor of the Year. Reyes said he had “no idea” he was nominated until his name was announced. The award, symbolic of his impact on advisors and HOSA members alike, continued the legacy of excellence instilled in him by Megow.
“I like to believe none of us do our jobs for recognition. I was speechless and humbled … both personally and professionally,” Reyes said.
To the countless HOSA members Reyes has spoken to, the message he was given back in 1982 remains the same.
“Never pass up opportunities and go in with an open mind – whether it’s seeking a healthcare position or seeking a position in life,” Reyes said. “At the end of the day you need to be a professional and you want to be noticed for the right reasons.”
Reyes’ odyssey from a young impressionable student to a nationally recognized leader reflects the enduring power of guidance, perseverance, and opportunity. His story is a reminder of the ripple effect one person can have on generations. Through every role he’s held and every student he’s inspired, Dr. Carlos Reyes continues to embody the very values HOSA instilled in him more than four decades ago—demonstrating that when opportunity meets dedication, a flourishing future can blossom.
“I’m fully invested in the success of the HOSA members I meet. I hope they see, through me, everything great about healthcare,” Reyes said.
Discover more at hosa.org/alumni to stay connected with HOSA – Future Health Professionals and build your network with healthcare leaders like Dr. Carlos Reyes.
