Plymouth High School Health Careers students competed at the HOSA Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference competition in Indianapolis last week. There were 1,262 students in attendance from across Indiana.
There were five teams from North Central Area Vocational Cooperative (NCAVC) that competed in the Health Career Display category, 120 teams total. Plymouth High School Health Careers Instructor Jona Cartwright, B.S.N., R.N., said, “Four of our teams advanced to the top 20. 
The team of Citlalli Jurado (PHS) and Elizabeth Mendez (PHS) placed second overall and advanced to the International Level HOSA competition in Dallas, Texas in June.
The Health Science Program taught at Plymouth High School is part of the NCAVC, which consists of ten surrounding school corporations. Students who successfully complete one year can earn CPR certification and six dual college credits and students who take two years of the program can earn 11 dual college credit hours and get their CNA.
HOSA Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference highlights involvement in local, state and national health care, and education projects. The Leadership Conference also helps students network, develop effective leadership qualities, and skills.
Megan Kersey of Plymouth High School competed in the Pharmacy Science category and placed in the top seven. Cartwright said, Kersey was able to network while at the competition and spoke with representatives from Manchester College. “She learned that Manchester has a direct admit pharmacy program, which will give her more options of choosing a college to attend that is close to home after graduation,” said Cartwright.
Missy Yung and Dacey Baldwin both of Triton High School and Kimberly Baca of Plymouth High School participated in Courtesy Corp. The students acted as “victims” of a car accident and “choking” victim. Cartwright said, “Their experience helped them know what to do in the event they come upon a real-life situation.”
All 13 students attended a seminar presented by Starla Ewan, a college professor from Texas. Cartwright said, “She taught the students about the nervous system and they made clay models to help them retain the information.”
Students also attended “Heart Revived after 72 minutes- a true story of survival”. Cartwright said, “The speaker is a nurse who went into cardiac arrest after a run with her husband, who is also a nurse. Quick acting on his part and faith led to her long recovery. She is now a practicing nurse and also does public speaking about the importance of evidenced-based practice and how family presence at the bedside create better outcomes.”
