Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) president and senior Risha Kulkarni and HOSA vice president and senior Srisai Vuppuluri of Westford Academy’s chapter were chosen to be representatives on the Massachusetts State HOSA Board. After receiving positive recommendations from former WA representatives Shreya Ambekar and Priyanka Rajaram, Kulkarni and Vuppuluri were appointed to the board in August, and have begun their 2025 season at WA.
HOSA is an international student-led organization recognized by the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and several alternate agencies. The organization operates with the intention of preparing students for future careers in health professions, so being selected as a representative on the state board comes with a number of obligations.
“We run the main social account and the email account, so we take care of any questions that any of the chapters have,” Kulkarni said. “There’s over 60 chapters, so there’s a lot of questions, not only from the board, but from their members as well.”
Not only are Kulkarni and Vuppuluri working with the many chapters of HOSA within Massachusetts, but they are also currently looking to establish new chapters. A few of the chapters that the two have been able to help start are in Tyngsboro, Littleton, and Worcester.
“In just the past two [or] three months that we’ve been officers, we’ve initiated about 12 new chapters, which is a huge amount when we only have 60,” Vuppuluri said. “We get to communicate with these new people impacted by this as well.”
One of the main aspects of HOSA is its competitions, in which students have the opportunity to specialize in the specific fields that they are interested in pursuing as a future career.
“If you plan on going into anything in the STEM field, we say compete because [HOSA] has specific events tailored to [anything] you want to do,” Kulkarni said.
Starting a new chapter of HOSA requires thoughtful planning and enterprise. Vuppuluri and Kulkarni must ensure that a school has adequate interest, get them approved on the national level, then provide them with the materials necessary for their members to be prepared for the State Conference and fundraising skills to ensure the club has longevity.
“We give [new chapters] examples of material or portfolios that past competitors have won,” Kulkarni said. “Giving them this gives them more opportunity to see what events the students want to compete in, as it’s a hard choice [when] there’s so many.”
Not only is Massachusetts HOSA gaining two leaders, according to blood drive coordinator and senior Nina Pierson, WA’s chapter of HOSA will also be able to feel the benefits of having Vuppuluri and Kulkarni as representatives.
“I am certain Sai and Risha’s involvement in HOSA beyond the school level will further root them into this association’s cause, motivating our members to achieve their goals as future health professionals,” Pierson said. “Their roles give WA access to more resources and connections, advancing us in the right direction.”
The two will be able to provide their members with crucial information regarding their two main events: the Massachusetts State Leadership Conference (SLC) and the International Leadership Conference (ILC).
“We’re able to get information to WA a lot quicker I would say […] because it comes straight from the board,” Kulkarni said. “All the information regarding those two main events would get passed onto us directly, and of course we’re going to give that right back to our club.”
Being able to receive such vital information faster allows for WA HOSA’s operations to run much smoother and more efficiently. According to Vuppuluri, having the opportunity to collect payments, help people choose events, and other actions slightly earlier will give students more of an advantage.
Kulkarni and Vuppuluri’s road to becoming representatives was centered around commitment to the organization, having inquired about the position even before applications opened.
“Both of us showed dedication to this,” Vuppuluri said. “We both asked Shreya multiple times before she left about when applications were coming out, how we’d be a state officer, and what to do. That told this state adviser that we are dedicated and interested.”
Math teacher Rachel Connerty has only been an adviser of WA HOSA for a few weeks, but she has already had the opportunity to witness Kulkarni and Vuppuluri’s leadership in action.
“They’re unbelievable. Srisai and Risha [are] so very organized and professional, and they know what they’re talking about,” Connerty said. “There’s almost 200 people in this club and them and the other cabinet members are organizing these activities, [and] I’m really impressed.”
Submitting their recommendations for their applications was the only thing that Kulkarni and Vuppuluri had to do to be considered for the role. However, during their time as representatives, Kulkarni and Vuppuluri plan on making the application more rigorous with tests, interviewing, voting, and speeches, improving the overall process and making it more democratic.
“We want to really make sure that we have people deserving of representing such a big organization, as well as making sure they’re qualified,” Vuppuluri said. “We’ve had great officers in the past and currently, but we definitely want the cream of the crop.”
According to Kulkarni, the future of HOSA and its success is dependent on the people running it, and hopes to continue the trend of strong leadership from those before them.
“The goal is for HOSA to grow and expand as much as possible. We want to be the best it can be, and I think it all starts with who is on this team and who gets to run it,” Kulkarni said.
Kulkarni and Vuppuluri hope to bring legitimacy to WA’s chapter of HOSA, as well as provide a strong example for their peers.
“All grade levels are represented, allowing our younger students to truly model the older ones, and one day following in their footsteps as board leaders,” Pierson said. “Watching their president and vice president take on this major role as state representatives is definitely encouraging.”
