Sequim teens compete at international future health professionals conference

By Matthew Nash • July 6, 2022 1:30 am
PhotoS courtesy Laura Gould For the first time, Sequim High sent students to the HOSA international Leadership Conference, an event focused on promoting careers for future health professionals. Adviser Laura Gould, left, stands with Madelyn Pickens, center, and Jelissa Julmist, who competed in Family Medicine Physician and Sports Medicine.
PhotoS courtesy Laura Gould For the first time, Sequim High sent students to the HOSA international Leadership Conference, an event focused on promoting careers for future health professionals. Adviser Laura Gould, left, stands with Madelyn Pickens, center, and Jelissa Julmist, who competed in Family Medicine Physician and Sports Medicine.

A pair of students and their teacher marked Sequim’s first physical journey to the HOSA International Leadership Conference (ILC) in June.

Madelyn Pickens, a 2022 Sequim High graduate, and Jelissa Julmist, a senior at Sequim High this fall, qualified to compete June 22-25 in Nashville, Tenn., by placing in the top three in their events in the March virtual HOSA conference, said Sequim High science teacher adviser Laura Gould.

In state, Pickens placed first in the Family Medicine Physician division and Julmist second in the Sports Medicine category.

At the international conference, Pickens placed second and Julmist didn’t place. The field featured about 8,400 students competing in 84 events from 49 states and several other countries, Gould said.

“It was really fun and cool,” Pickens said of the conference.

Last year, she placed third in state and second in the virtual 2021 international competition for the “Clinical Speciality” category. However, this year meant a little more in person.

“Getting a place isn’t the same when sitting in your family’s car,” she said.

Pickens interviewed two doctors — Charles Sullivan and Josh Huhndorf — about their practices and presented a 10-minute presentation on their careers and their discussion to judges.

Pickens said it’s part of an effort to raise awareness for the need for more general practice doctors. She initially didn’t find the subject too interesting but found through her interviews there was a lot of variety.

“It could be a cool option,” she said.

Julmist said she didn’t realize how large the conference was until inside.

“I got down there and realized it was a lot of people and a big deal,” she said.

Gould said Sports Medicine is one of the most competitive events, and with no sports medicine program at Sequim High School or an athletic trainer, Julmist was all self-taught.

Julmist said Gould bought her a book about taping injury techniques and to prepare for the state conference it took her a few weeks to perfect taping knees with a lot of practice.

While she didn’t make it beyond the first round, Julmist said she hopes to return to the international competition and compete in more events, such as Photography and Physical Therapy.

Now and later

HOSA, now known as Future Health Professionals, started at Sequim High School in the 2017-18 school year, Gould said.

She compares the program to Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), except one for aspiring health professionals. At Sequim High, 10 students would meet with her for about 15 minutes each Wednesday morning before school, preparing mostly for the state conference in various categories.

Students’ goals for next school year include to host a STEM event in some capacity for elementary students.

Students have all expressed a desire to qualify for the international conference, Gould said, one that includes workshops, speakers and more.

Pickens starts college at the University of Washington this fall, she said, hoping to take premedical science classes with a minor in political science and some other fun classes.

She said she’s uncertain if she wants to pursue medical school, but said the conference “reinvigorated my passion for it” because the “whole environment had people wanting to dedicate themselves to helping others.”

Julmist has one more year of high school and is looking at the University of Montana for physical therapy as a path to pursuing a career as a collegiate athletic trainer.

“My mom [Nikki Hover Julmist] owns a gym [SportsFit Training Center], and we’re all very into sports,” Julmist said of the career path.

“It’s just something that’s always interested me and to help others.”

For more about HOSA/Future Health Professionals, visit hosa.org.

Madelyn Pickens placed second in the Family Medicine Physician competition for the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn., last month. She placed second in the virtual, international event, Clinical Speciality, in 2021.

Madelyn Pickens placed second in the Family Medicine Physician competition for the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn., last month. She placed second in the virtual, international event, Clinical Speciality, in 2021.