appy New Year 2023 to each and every one of you – to HOSA members, advisors, partners, sponsors, and friends of our organization! Here’s to a year filled with successes, memories, happiness, and bliss… here’s hoping the year ahead will prove to be yet another successful year for HOSA-Future Health Professionals!
 
For many, the new year is a time that brings in new resolutions – to eat better, exercise, read more, and push beyond one’s comfort zone. It seems, for me, 2023 has, already, been a time for significant reflection. As a second semester senior in college – at the brink of graduating with a bachelor’s degree (swerving near the gates of real world “adulting”) – I’ve found myself using my final semester as an undergraduate student in several ways, be it reconnecting with friends made early in my years as a college student, making the most of being on a beautiful college campus with unmatched sports teams (Go Heels!), or spending time with those I’m closest with. And, yes, how can I forget spending my final semester completing academic projects like a Senior Honors Thesis and Health Policy Capstone!
 
The constant, whether in or outside of my academic commitments since the start of the new year, has been the theme of reflection. Reflecting on what I’m grateful for – what or who I need to spend more time with – what I need to learn – and what to prioritize moving forward. This theme of reflection is additionally one I have, with the International Executive Council, applied to HOSA-Future Health Professionals.
 
HOSA was blessed to have an amazing 2022. The return to in-person HOSA, Inc. Board of Directors meetings and an in-person 2022 International Leadership Conference were only some of the highlights of a year that “shattered all expectations.” I share my appreciation to last year’s International Executive Council – Sri, Tom, Hannah, Angelina, Akash, Mielad, and Alekhya – for an amazing year and an amazing opportunity to serve our membership last year.
 
And for the 2022-2023 International Executive Council, we were only reminded of how amazing 2022 was at the Washington Leadership Academy, held last September – the memories made were unforgettable for HOSA State and Local Leaders from across the globe!
 
Your IEC is proud of all that HOSA members have achieved this past year – in and outside of HOSA. We are proud of members who took advantage of HOSA’s competitive events program, skills building and professional development resources, and leadership conferences (be it fall and regional conferences, state conferences, Washington Leadership Academy, or the ILC!) We’re also proud of those members who took advantage of HOSA’s Service Project – Be The Match – scholarships, leadership opportunities, and so much more. You are the reason why “we do what we do” and why HOSA is the organization it is.
 
As an IEC, we are additionally enthusiastic to share with you the progress we have made in service of our membership since June. We hope you realize how grateful we are to serve an ever-growing international membership, and to share with the HOSA, Inc. Board of Directors in February some of the following highlights from 2022:
  • Enhancing the accessibility and availability of Executive Council members to HOSA membership via Direct IEC Office Hour Blocks, holding virtual blocks to meet with HOSA members
  • Development and continual expansion of HOSA Postsecondary/Collegiate chapter-specific resources
  • Coordination of social media merchandise giveaways and related challenges to promote member and chartered association-targeted engagement – the popular HOSA “12 Days of Giveaways!”
  • Institution of an inaugural “IEC Engagement Award,” awarded to the Chartered Association that engages the most with IEC-sponsored programming, events, challenges/giveaways, etc. at the 2023 International Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas
  • Development and monthly release of the HOSA Herald publication and quarterly release of HOSA’s official eMagazines!
  • Spearheading engagement for HOSA’s state leaders attending the Washington Leadership Academy alongside Jennifer McNelly and Jeff Koeninger, offering a successful State Leaders Professional Development Experience!
  • Execution of a fun, exciting, and engaging “HOSA Week” full of activities, engagement, and opportunities for highlights/features of HOSA members, chapters, and communities sourced directly from HOSA State Leaders’ Ideas!
  • Expansion of HOSA’s reach via social touchpoints, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, as well as Vlog content
  • Representing HOSA at a variety of conferences over the course of the year including NAF Next, ACTE VISION, NCHSE, Washington Leadership Academy, HOSA Fall Conferences, the United Nations Global Goals Summit, and more!
And, in addition to the above, I hope you will also be on the lookout on HOSA’s social media for information pertaining to a spirit week full of activities for HOSA’s Postsecondary/Collegiate division – February 6-10, 2023. The week will be full of engaging activities, sessions, resources, and giveaways! Something you will not want to miss…
 
Folks, in short: “make the most” in moving “beyond all limits” this year – and beyond.
 
Though your IEC is proud of all we – and the HOSA family – have achieved and accomplished in 2022, we know that “the best is always yet to be.” We look forward to a 2023 that moves “beyond all limits” in service of the future of health.
 
At heart, I hope you are able to make the most of 2023… I know it is one of my personal goals for the year ahead and, hopefully, you’ll join me!
 
With love — today, tomorrow, and always,
Kartik
 
Kartik Tyagi
International President
HOSA-Future Health Professionals