HOSA
In 1991 Juniata distinguished itself by establishing the first collegiate chapter of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) in Pennsylvania. Our Sigma Theta Alpha Chapter is open to students from all areas of the health professions and encourages teamwork and cooperation.
Students in HOSA sponsor talks by health professionals from all fields, do community service projects, and participate in annual State Leadership Conferences, where they have won first prizes in such competitive events as Emergency Medical Technician, CPR/First Aid, Extemporaneous Writing, Creative Problem Solving, Biomedical Debating, and Community Awareness.
As part of their community service activities HOSA students have written a play called Stacie's Diary about teenage pregnancy and performed it in area high schools, helped enroll children in the "Kids Now" project of the Children's Health Insurance Program through the J.C. Blair Hospital in Huntingdon, hosted swimming parties for the Huntingdon Big Brother/Big Sister organization, and organized pet therapy at the local nursing home. This upcoming year HOSA students will be working with Mainstream Counseling and J.C. Blair Hospital to teach middle school students about health problems associated with drug and alcohol use and will be working with the Hospital to organize community groups to respond to political action alerts relating to health care issues that affect our area.