Mahtomedi students with a passion for the medical field now have a new opportunity to explore the career area thanks to a club at Mahtomedi High School (MHS).
The Future Healthcare Professionals, commonly referred to as HOSA, is a nationwide club. Joud Wadi (Class of 2026) founded the group at MHS during the 2024-25 school year, and it continues to grow. The weekly HOSA meetings allow students to explore their passion and interests in the medical field through presentations with information on medical terminology or experiments. The Club also includes a conference component, and during these opportunities, students can compete in different events, make posters, or talk to other students and healthcare professionals. Overall, HOSA has become a space where students who are interested in the medical field can explore their passions and see if the medical field is the right field for them.
Joud Wadi saw the need for a student to take the initiative and bring HOSA to MHS, so she took on the leadership role of bringing it to students. She saw HOSA as an opportunity for students passionate about healthcare “to grow, compete, and connect with professionals.” Time for HOSA to meet easily aligned with the school’s Flex time. Joud expressed her appreciation for the MHS Flex time; she said, “Flex time gave me the freedom to take that initiative, and seeing the impact it has on students' career exploration makes it all worth it.” Flex time is a 35-minute period each day. Students can select from various options, such as receiving academic support, participating in wellness activities, or joining special interest groups and club meetings. Flex Time also provides the opportunity to create new clubs at MHS.
Written by Aoife Hiniker, Class of 2026 student at Mahtomedi High School and Mahtomedi Public Schools Communications Intern