Health Occupation Students of America visit with HIPRC

Health Occupation Students of America visit with HIPRC

By: Alexandra de Leon Date: June 13th, 2022

The Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) club from Rainier Beach and Franklin High School paid Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center a visit June 9, 2022 at the Yesler Terrace Community Center.

Panelist speaking to HOSA students at the Yesler Terrace Community Center: (left to right) Dr. Monica Vavilala (HIPRC Director), Dr. Chelsea Hicks (HIPRC Postdoctoral Fellow), Dr. Keith Hullenaar (HIPRC Postdoctoral Fellow), Dr. Jonathan Kil (HMC Board of Trustees Member), Nike Williams (HMC Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring Supervisor), Maria Paulsen (HMC Trauma Outreach & Education), and Yvonne Simpson (HMC Interpreter Services Director)

A variety of panelists were invited to attend and speak about their various roles at Harborview Medical Center and within their communities. HOSA students enjoyed a pizza lunch, all while posing various questions to the panelist like:

What do you need in order to be medical interpreter in Washington State?

Does HMC offer internship opportunities?

Shortly after the panel Q & A, Drs. Chelsea Hicks and Keith Hullenaar led a private discussion on injury and violence prevention topics. Through this interaction, students mentioned school and gun violence and suicide prevention were all important topics to them.

Students were also able to make a quick visit to Harborview Medical Center before departing. Overall, about 87% of students that participated mentioned they learned something on this visit that may influence their future career or educational plans. HOSA students attending were in grades 9-12, and were led by their teacher, Ms. Morgan Flake.

Seattle Fire Department EMT/paramedics speak with HOSA Students.