Montana WWAMI connected with aspiring healthcare students at the recent HOSA State Leadership Conference in Billings, advancing its commitment to building Montana’s future physician workforce.
Nearly 400 high school students from throughout Montana competed in a wide range of medical and leadership events, showcasing both skills and a passion for future roles in medical professions. Events included presentations on family physicians and Native health advocacy, as well as hands-on clinical skills, such as EMT and clinical lab science.
Montana WWAMI’s Sara Houston and Judi Sullivan joined as volunteer judges, supporting a range of competitions. Houston judged the event, “Research Persuasive Speaking and Writing: Is the smartphone responsible for the current youth mental health crisis?” Sullivan evaluated students in job seeking skills, interviewing approximately 11 participants for mock healthcare positions and assessing their performance.
On the conference’s second day, Montana WWAMI hosted an outreach table, offering students a chance to learn more about pathways into medicine. Conversations ranged from program details to long-term career goals.
“It’s a great opportunity to share all about WWAMI with some potential down-the-road students,” said Montana WWAMI Program Administrator Judi Sullivan.
TRUST Director Sara Houston agreed, calling the event very worthwhile.
“Student interest in the program, as well as enthusiasm for attending the 2026 Montana Pre-Med Summit at MSU in October, highlighted the strong value and continued growth of these outreach efforts,” she added.
The Montana HOSA conference continues to build a powerful pipeline of future Montana healthcare leaders.
