Our Mission:
Health Science Education prepares students for employment and/or continuing education opportunities in health care through technical instruction in the classroom, experiential education in the laboratory, work-based learning opportunities at clinical settings, and leadership skills through Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).

HEALTH SCIENCE EDUCATION PATHWAYS
The Utah Health Science Education Pathways are based on the national health care skills standards and national health science career cluster pathways. Through health science courses students can gain an important foundation of knowledge and skills necessary for continued education in health sciences.

Health care is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in the United States, employing over 14 million workers in more than 200 careers. The explosion of technology in health care and an unprecedented aging population contribute to the national health care workforce shortage. Approximately 28 percent of all new jobs will be created in the health care industry through the year 2018, which translates to 3.2 million new health care positions nationwide.

Below are the ten Pathways in Health Science Education:

Biotech Research & Development
  -Biotechnology

Diagnostics
  -Clinical Laboratory and Medical Forensics

Health Informatics
  -Medical Office Administrative Assistant

Therapeutic Services
  -Dental

  -Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

  -Medical Assistant

  -Nursing

  -Pharmacy

  -Surgical Technician

  -Therapeutic Rehabilitation/Exercise

Our vision is to provide awareness and exploration experiences that motivate students to pursue a profession in health care. Once students are motivated, it is our intent to prepare students for continued education and/or employment opportunities in health care.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) is the student organization for Health Science Education. HOSA is involved in leadership development, career training, and service projects. The primary focus of HOSA is to increase opportunities in health care careers and enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA provides students with opportunities to attain the knowledge, skills, and leadership characteristics necessary to succeed in a health care profession, through leadership training, career training, and service projects.

• Nationally there are over 120,000 members.*
• Like national HOSA members on Facebook at http://tiny.cc/national_hosa_facebook.
• Follow national HOSA members on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nationalhosa.
  www.hosa.org

• Utah has over 3,300 members in 65 chapters.**
  www.hosa.org/state/ut.html

*The national HOSA service project for 2010-2012 is Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

** The state HOSA service project for 2010-2011 is HOSA 100 Fitness, ARUP Blood Services, and JDRF.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION
In 2010, thirty Utah students placed in the top ten nationally in a variety of health care-related competitions, ranking sixth in the nation.

AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS
Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Youth Programs provide services to schools and students in rural and urban medically underserved areas. Services are focused on motivating students to pursue careers in health care.

www.ahec.utah.edu

CAREER PREPARATION/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Health Science Education is a program that motivates and prepares students for pursuit of a health care profession. The program is based on:

• Employment needs of the health care community.
• National Health Care Skill Standards.
• Individual needs of students.
• Health care leadership and technical skills.
• Post-secondary education requirements.

Utah’s educational programs provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills for health care career opportunities in many diverse settings.

• Last year 4,969 students were awarded a CTE Skill Certificate in Health Science, indicating a high level of performance.
• Last year students earned the following industry certificates: 406 as a Certified Nursing Assistant, 44 as an Emergency Medical Technician, 39 as a Pharmacy Technician, and 13 as a Surgical Technician.

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

• 28 from Career and Technical Education Scholarship Program
• 10 from Davis Applied Technology College
• 4 from Utah Hospital Association
• 3 from Intermountain Healthcare
• 1 from Army ROTC

STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS

ARUP Laboratories
American Heart Association
American Red Cross
Iasis Healthcare
InnovaBio
Intermountain Healthcare
MountainStar Healthcare
National Safety Council
University of Utah Health Care
Utah Area Health Education Centers
Utah Department of Health
Utah Hospital Association
Utah Medical Education Council
Utah Nurse Aide Registry

Updated December 8, 2011