The Blue & White

by Kaylie Lam


Methuen High School has a wide variety of clubs that students can choose from. From DECA, to Student Council, to Photography Club, MHS has just about any club that piques nearly every student’s interest. Starting at the end of the last school year, MHS has a new club, HOSA. HOSA, or Future Health Occupations, meets every second and fourth Monday of the month and discusses various health topics. Freshman biology teacher Dr. Kahn advises HOSA and is pleased with how HOSA has been going so far.

“We’ve had a lot of interest, our meetings are well attended and students seem really interested in learning more about healthcare careers and skills,” Dr. Kahn stated. She expressed her appreciation of guest speakers and student presenters who helped explain a variety of healthcare related topics to the club, “We’ve had a couple guest speakers with more to come, and students curious enough to learn about particular topics and present them to the group.”

Dr. Kahn was asked what led her to start HOSA at MHS. “Lina Zakaria, a current 10th grader, was the first person to suggest starting HOSA here at MHS. She asked her Biology teacher, Mrs. Hunter, who directed her to Mr. Harb, the head of the Science Department, who asked me to look into it.” After looking into the HOSA organization and looking for student interest in HOSA, Dr. Kahn started setting up the HOSA Club in the early months of 2024, with it officially starting in June of 2024.

Dr. Kahn expressed her love for HOSA and its members, saying “I really like how excited students are about possible careers in healthcare, and the great questions they ask. I also like getting to know students who aren’t necessarily in my classes.” However, HOSA definitely has its challenges. According to Dr. Kahn, “The only thing I dislike is that communication with the state and national HOSA organization has been slow and frustrating.” Despite this, Dr. Kahn has done a phenomenal job piecing HOSA together, giving students a new opportunity to explore some of their favorite topics.

11th grader Valentina Carideo is the first president of MHS’ HOSA and enjoys how HOSA has helped her grow, saying, “HOSA allows me to expand my knowledge about specific topics relating to the healthcare field, and be exposed to different careers. I really enjoy hearing from guest speakers, to understand the pros and cons of each profession, helping me determine if that is something I could see myself pursuing.” Carideo talks about how HOSA has helped inspire her love for healthcare, saying “When HOSA came to my attention, I knew it would easily become my favorite club, combining the best of both worlds: competition and healthcare careers. It is the one club that can provide experience and prepare me for a future career, furthering my academic experience.” She plans to rejoin HOSA next school year, as being a part of HOSA has been a meaningful experience for her and many other members!

Any and all students who are interested in healthcare professions, have healthcare related hobbies, or simply just want to join a new club, should consider joining HOSA. Not only does HOSA provide additional opportunities for students to succeed, it is also an extremely warm and welcoming environment. All students are welcome!