“Be kind to yourself. And then let your kindness flood the world.” – Pema Chödrön

In every measure and facet, HOSA has altered, disrupted, and enriched Anna’s understanding of herself  – whether it be as a student, leader, or friend. Her HOSA experiences, as well as the dedicated individuals she has met, reflect and inspire those core qualities embodied by the future health professional she hopes to become: leadership, resilience, and drive – but also empathy, compassion, and grace. Beyond honored to serve HOSA as its President, Anna believes in the power of community and meaningful connection unique to our organization, and hopes to hold both this collective spirit and the individual member in mind as she serves this coming year. Through HOSA, it has been Anna’s greatest privilege to have met mentors and role models who have believed in her every step of the way, and were endlessly generous with their unconditional support. In some small way, she hopes to be this person for those she serves. As a 6-year HOSA member, Anna has been able to explore her interest in public health research and narrative in healthcare, pursuing a B.S.P.H in Nutrition Science & Research and Literature, Medicine, Culture Minor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Beyond academic interests, HOSA has also allowed Anna to develop a love for graphic design and artistic expression in healthcare, driving her goal to make space for creatives in HOSA-Future Health Professionals. Outside of her HOSA family, Anna’s second home is either UNC’s Davis Library or the local Starbucks, drinking an absurd amount of coffee and cramming for exams with her best friends. She loves running on the UNC trails, experimenting with new recipes, going on coffee tours, and road trips — especially if there’s a concert at the end. Looking towards the year ahead, Anna is thrilled and excited to continue to be inspired by the talented members she meets, the incredible leaders she serves with, and the resonant spirit of HOSA-Future Health Professionals.