State Officer Team
 Conner Jackson, President | School: Newark Charter High School Career Area: Biotechnology Grade: 12th Activities: Varsity Captain for the NCS Indoor and Outdoor Track Team, Researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, Former Intern at Wilmington Pharmatech, Healthy Kids Running Series Volunteer, Secretary for NCS National Honor Society, Student Council, Science Olympiad, Black Student Union, Asian Student Union, National Spanish Honor Society, Orchestra, 2022 Project Citizen National Competition Superior Award, 2024 HOSA State Leadership Conference (2nd Place Job Seeking Skills, Bronze Barbara James Service Award), 2023 HOSA State Leadership Conference (3rd Place Job Seeking Skills), 2022 University of Delaware CHS Pipeline Program. Future Medical Professionals- Class Officer. 2024 Boys State Attendee- Speaker of the House. 2024 Delaware Youth Congressional Conference Delegate. 2023 Delaware BioScience Conference Delegate. Student Council-Governance Committee Chair. Research Student Connection Assistant Director. 2024 New Castle County Superior Court Intern. What HOSA means to me: I had the honor of being able to join HOSA my freshman year. HOSA has been able to provide me with more insight and experience into the different types of fields of interest in the health field. It has provided me with opportunities to meet new people and connect with individuals from all across the globe who share a common interest in health. During the ‘23-‘24 school year I had the high honor serving as State Vice President, where HOSA allowed me to grow as a leader along with being able to connect with our members across the state and our International Executive Council. I hope to continue to grow Delaware HOSA to an even more successful and great ‘24-‘25 school year! Future Goals: Following High School it is first my goal to get a bachelor’s degree and master's degree. I am very well interested in going into medicine/health. It is my hope that later on in my life I will be working in the industry of pharmaceuticals and drug development, or anything in the chemistry field. I also have a 2nd passion with a goal of also going into politics later on in my life and working in or with the government, and being able to provide insight into what goes on in medicine to those in power. Favorite Quote: “Success is the sum of small efforts - repeated day in and day out”- Robert Collier |
 Akshaj Bais, Vice President | School: Newark Charter High School Career Area: Biotechnology Grade: 11th Activities: HOSA (2023 Delaware Silver Medallion Winner [Epidemiology], 2024 Delaware Gold Medallion Winner, 2023 ILC Delegate), 2024 BioGENUIUS Competitor, New Castle County Science Fair (2023 Croda Best in Show & Smart Science to Improve Lives Award, 2024 Environmental Science Silver Medal Winner), Newark Charter Computing in Biotech Club President, Intern at University of Delaware Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Intern at University of Delaware Department of Chemical Engineering, Christiana Care Volunteen, Newark Charter Model UN Delegate, Student Council, Newark Charter Biotechnology Board Student Representative, National Spanish Honor Society Member. What HOSA means to me: Regardless of whether someone is simply competing at their regional conference, or someone placing and getting on stage at the International Leadership Conference, HOSA, to me, is an opportunity for individuals that want to go into healthcare to be able to meet one another and connect. The healthcare field is pivotal in maintaining order and stability in the world, and encouraging young individuals to pursue healthcare as a profession is beneficial to creating the doctors and surgeons of the future. As a whole, HOSA is a wonderful opportunity to see my future in healthcare in the present. Future Goals: After high school, I want to major in biomedical engineering and molecular biology. I want to eventually go into medicine and research cancer and its causes. My end goal would be receiving a doctorate in medicine or my Ph. D in biomedical engineering, curing the diseases of the future. Favorite Quote: "A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything." - Malcolm X |
 Arjun Bharath, Vice President | School: Middletown High School Career Area: Allied Health Grade: 12th Activities: HOSA ILC 2023 Bronze Medalist in Human Growth and Development, HOSA ILC 2022 4th place finalist in Human Growth and Development. Three time Delaware HOSA SLC Human Growth and development champion in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Middletown HS NHS Chapter, 2023 Governor’s School of Excellence, Emergency Medical Responder and cadet at Odessa Fire Company, Christiana Care 2023 Volunteen, 2023 Bayhealth Volunteer, Lacrosse, Delaware State Fire School certified for Basic training, Structural Firefighting training, Vehicle Rescue Training, and Hazardous Materials training, Math League, Bayhealth Voyagers Program 2021-2023. What HOSA means to me: Over the past three years, HOSA has had a massive impact on my life in various ways. I have had opportunities to learn valuable skills related to planning and leadership, and I have been able to hone them in the various conferences that I have had the honor of attending and helping run during my time as a Delaware HOSA officer. I have also been able to meet and create close friendships with amazing people from all over the world that are also interested in the medical field, and I have been able to participate in various volunteer events that have allowed me to have a positive impact on my community. All of these experiences have been instrumental in my growth as both a student and a leader and have played a massive role in making me the person I am today. Future Goals: After high school, I am planning on attending college as a biomedical engineering major. I am also planning to earn either a medical degree or doctorate degree, although I am still exploring the possibilities of this stage of my career. I have always been very interested in genetics, and the possibility that we could help eliminate the genetic conditions that tens of millions of people suffer from around the world. I am also intrigued by the ethical and moral implications of this field and would love to be on the cutting edge of this field either by founding a startup or becoming a researcher in the field. Favorite Quote: “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
 Sudipa Chowdhury, Vice President | School: Newark Charter High School Career Area: Biotechnology Grade: 11th Activities: HOSA - 2023 Dental Terminology 1st Place in State, MasonVotes Community Organizer, ThinkNeuro 2024 Summer Research Intern, Youth Environmental Summit Student Leader, EnviroTHON Competitor, Student Council, Debate Team, Math League, National History Day 1st Place Individual Documentary, Exceptional Care for Children Student Volunteer. What HOSA means to me: As I entered HOSA in my freshman year as part of our school’s biotechnology pathway, I could not have ever predicted how valuable and fulfilling my experiences were going to be. I can undoubtedly say that the past HOSA events, including SLCs and ILCs, have taught me so much about the expansive field of health studies, the multiple career pathways available, and what it truly takes to go into these fields. Competing has also consistently motivated me to delve deeper into my interests in health, which I know will serve me well as I begin to differentiate what careers I want to go into. I am truly indebted to HOSA for how it has indirectly guided me throughout high school and prepared me for my future. For these reasons, I look forward to being a part of the 2024-2025 State Officer Team and furthering my knowledge not only as an aspiring healthcare professional, but also as a leader. Future Goals: Following high school, I plan to go to college as a pre-med student and major in biochemistry. I’m currently planning to go into medical school and study to become an oncologist as I have had a long-lasting desire to not only study cancer and its potential treatments, but I would also love to one day be able to diagnose and support afflicted patients. Favorite Quote: “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you” - Walt Disney |
 Carter Porter, Vice President | School: Indian River High School Career: Allied Health Grade: 11th ACTIVITIES: I have been an active Member of IRHS (Indian River High School) HOSA since my freshman year. In 2023, I was elected as Vice President of the IRHS HOSA chapter. I participated in the State Leadership Conference during my freshman and sophomore years, and in 2024 I received the Barbara James Service Silver Award. I volunteer for Enrichment of Hope, an afterschool program supporting local children. I am also on the Varsity Tennis team for Indian River High School. What HOSA means to me: Joining during my freshman year sparked an interest in HOSA, specifically the officer side. Being in HOSA has allowed me to develop leadership skills, and given me a chance to compete and engage with students who have similar interests in healthcare, and to become a problem-solver. HOSA has also allowed me to grow on a personal level. I have developed as a team player, expanded my communication skills, become a mentor for fellow students, and learned to adapt to changing situations and overcome challenges. HOSA has given me the opportunity to learn and serve in my community. Future Goals. After graduation, my goal is to pursue an undergraduate degree in pre-med. Afterward, I plan to obtain my degree in paramedicine. I plan to work as a paramedic and attend a medical school to obtain my doctorate in internal medicine. Favorite quote: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” -Oscar Wilde |
State Management Team
 Rozie Townsend, State Advisor | Hello Future and Current Health Service Professionals! My name is Rozie Townsend. I am very excited to be Delaware State’s new HOSA advisor! I am looking forward to expanding HOSA’s mission to empower future Health Professionals to become leaders in their local and global communities through education, collaboration, and experience. As a previous Health Professional, I am in awe of how much the industry of Health Care is constantly changing. I'm thrilled at how HOSA is actively promoting career opportunities in the health industry to enhance quality and diversity in all health professions. I have over ten years of research related health care experience and over 16 years of education experience spanning alternative career and technical education (CTE), academic and special education. Being involved in health care started while I was in elementary school looking through a microscope. From that point on, everything science and medicine was my passion. Later that passion extended into teaching and education. This is the beauty of being involved in Health Care! There are many avenues one can explore and grow! I want our affiliated members (students in the Health Sciences) to not be “boxed in” to just one discipline but to explore other disciplines and see how they are interconnected. I want our affiliated members to be able to forge their own pathways into being future Health Professionals. I am excited to continue Delaware’s commitment in ensuring that any attending, public school student taking a science course as a CTE participant or involved in their school’s Health Science program as a CTE concentrator has access to HOSA, can become an affiliated member, and explore the career opportunities possible as a Health Professional. I am honored to work with our State Officers, Chapter Advisors, Affiliated Partners and students/affiliated members to grow our chapters and expand our community engagement! Favorite Quote: “She turned her Can’ts into CANS and her Dreams into PLANS” – Author Unknown |
 Kristen Scott, MPH Program Manager | Hello! My name is Kristen Scott and I am excited to be joining the Delaware HOSA team this year! For as long as I can remember I have been attached at the hip to everything healthcare - either through studying, working, or supporting healthcare initiatives, I have learned so much over the years. My experience is wide-ranging, from being a pre-med major, conducting research, building EMR systems, connecting Delawareans to health insurance and a medical home, medical practice management, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and healthcare administration...I have done it all! I have been exposed to various facets of the healthcare system and have seen first hand how multi-disciplinary teams work together to provide patient care, support operations, and more importantly build healthy communities. I have a passion for supporting and developing leaders and look forward to all of the great events, programming, and activities we will tackle together! I am thrilled to partner with the State Officers, advisors and students to make this a great year! I look forward to meeting you all! Favorite Quote: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead |