“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived — that is to have succeeded.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Picture this: the roar of a crowded general session, the steady hum of energy in the air, electrifying music pulsing through the room, and the unmistakable feeling of belonging shared by every HOSA Member in the audience. Before walking onto the stage, David reflected on his purpose as a leader: not just to speak, to listen.

 Since joining HOSA in 2022 at Kingwood Park High School, David has been driven by a deep desire to serve others with empathy, intention, and heart. Serving as the 2024-2025 Texas HOSA State President, David learned that leadership is rooted in connection; that uplifting others, championing their dreams, and creating a space where everyone feels seen is what truly moves an organization forward. David wears a reminder of this reality on his left wrist —a small, lightning bolt bracelet gifted by his state advisor during the 2025 Texas HOSA State Leadership Conference. This bracelet represents his connection to his team, and reminds him of the electric energy needed to motivate those around him.

David will pursue a double major in Global Health and Biology at Duke University as a recipient of the prestigious Gates Foundation University Scholars Program scholarship. WIth a long term goal of becoming both a public health analyst and emergency medicine physician, David is passionate about building sustainable, equitable healthcare systems for underserved communities across North America, and hopes to uplift healthcare systems in his country of origin, Mexico. Working as an emergency medical technician in Houston has shaped his understanding of healing, teaching him that compassion, presence, and listening can be just as powerful as any medicine.

As HOSA-FHP celebrates its 50th anniversary, David is honored to lead during a year grounded in legacy and possibility. With the theme, Champions of Change, he hopes to ignite new dreams, celebrate every member’s journey, and remind them that their voice matters! When not on stage or in scrubs, you’ll find him building legos, hiking, lifting, or blasting Kings of Lean. But, no matter where he is, David leads with the same mission: to serve with heart — and to leave people better than he found them.