Molding the future doctors of America

HOSA starts another year going strong within the Lincoln East High School community

Cyan Seymour, Editor-In-Chief • October 1, 2025

Photo by Emily Tast

The HOSA officer team (L-R) Zahraa Aljabiry, vice president of recruitment, Evan Ngo, vice president of records, Cecilia Cary, president, Risha Gumudavalli, president elect, Mia Crawford, vice president of outreach, and Lauren Rallis, event coordinator.

Every other Wednesday at Lincoln East High School in room 220, a group of students gather after school from 3:15 to 4:00 to attend HOSA. HOSA stands for Health Occupation Students of America, a club for students interested in the healthcare field.

HOSA is an organization that is recognized nationwide, providing students with hands-on experiences and direct connections to the healthcare field earlier on during their high school career. The club is mostly student-led, with the president planning and leading each meeting.

HOSA members attend a meeting on September 3 to learn about basic first aid procedures. Operations such as CPR, suturing, stitching, and using tourniquets were taught to enhance student understand simple medical procedures. (Photo by Zahraa Aljabiry)

This year, the president role has gone to senior Cecila Cary. Besides HOSA, Cary is involved in varsity orchestra, Launch leadership, and is the vice president of communications for Key Club. Cary has been in the club since her freshman year, having taken an interest in the medical field prior to joining the club.

“I direct the other officers on what their roles will be for the week,” Cary said. “I create the slideshows, organize the field trips, and other educational opportunities for an upcoming meeting.”

President elect Risha Gumdudavalli is a junior, and this is her third year involved in HOSA. Outside of HOSA, Gumudavalli is in Key Club, Red Cross Club, Civic Engagement Club, alongside having a job and being a student ambassador. She had taken interest in HOSA as a freshman, having always wanted to pursue a career in medicine, similar to Cary.

“As president elect, I will be the president next year. It’s essentially a two year role,” Gumudavalli said. “I’m just like an acting vice president for now, learning from the president how the club runs and how to plan things.”

The sponsor for HOSA is Ms. Kreifels, who also teaches family and consumer sciences and sponsors student council. This is Kreifels’ second year as HOSA sponsor, having taken over the position last year when she started to teach health sciences.

On September 3, three HOSA members Daria Hakimova (left), Evie Olivera (center), and Grace Cai (right) were practicing using gauze and bandages to wrap up wounds. This meeting had several stations for students to cycle through and experience new skills. (Photo by Zahraa Aljabiry)

“HOSA is important because it helps students learn about fields in healthcare and learn about colleges and career paths,” Kreifels said. “A lot of times, students are unsure of what path they want to follow. HOSA helps with that. It helps students find where they fit in the medical field and what is right for them.”

Some things that HOSA does can differ from meeting to meeting. At the September 10 meeting, there were rotations for each member to go through. From practicing sutures on a banana, to learning CPR, or mastering the use of an EpiPen.

Interested in joining HOSA? Join the Google Classroom via code: NPRFL3JF (Photo by Graphic by Cyan Seymour)

HOSA provides a unique opportunity for those that may not have a peek into the medical field. There are many distinctive experiences the club highlights during the meetings. These lessons allow students to further identify a future career and work towards reaching their goals early on. HOSA is a great way to get a foot in the door of the medical field, especially in high school and if individuals are uncertain of what exactly they wish to go into.

“There are snacks,” Cary said. “It’s super fun and I’ve met some of my best friends through HOSA, but snacks are always a must, too.”

About the Contributors

Cyan Seymour, Editor-In-Chief

Cyan Seymour is a senior and The Oracle’s Editor-In-Chief this year, and this marks her third year on staff. Aside from her years within The Oracle, Cyan is involved in Student Council and enjoys the community and closely knit friendships that she’s found. In her free time, she loves listening to (almost) all types of music, reading, writing, shopping, and baking. As a senior, reflecting on her growth the past four years, Cyan states that there has never been a specific moment that has shaped her, but rather every challenge and accomplishment she’s been through has molded her over time. Cyan is a firm believer in making the most of the time you have on Earth, as she says, “You only live once, so you might as well just do it all!” With many aspirations for this school year, her future dream career as a veterinarian, and more, Cyan is sure to have a great year writing and taking photos as a part of The Oracle staff!

Zahraa Aljabiry, Editor, Website Editor

Zahraa Aljabiry is currently a junior at Lincoln East High School, with two years of Oracle experience under her belt. Along with The Oracle, Zahraa is also involved in Key Club, HOSA as the VP of recruitment, and president of ACS (American Cancer Society). Involving herself in all of these different clubs and groups has given her a good first hand experience of East’s culture and describes it as “very hard working, very locked in.” From her years at East, she hopes to leave with “memories to look onto and something that will pave my way to the future.” Speaking of the future, she hopes to pursue her love of helping others and become a surgeon making bank and saving lives. Outside of school, she loves to spend her time with family, writing, and playing sports with friends. We are excited to have Zahraa on staff for the 2025-26 school year!