UT Dallas Students Take First, Second, Third Place Honors at National Health Leadership Conference

Six members of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) group at The University of Texas at Dallas recently competed in the organization’s national leadership conference where they secured high honors in the post secondary/collegiate category. 

Shubham Manchanda, a junior molecular and cell biology and biochemistry major from Corpus Christi, took first place in the medical math event, Nehal Gandhi, a senior neuroscience major from Irving, came in second place in the extemporaneous speaking category, and Aekta Malhotra, a senior molecular and cell biology major from India, took third place in prepared speaking.

Manchanda, who plans to continue on to medical school after graduation, was ecstatic with the results.  “I had been studying really hard for it over the summer, so I was glad that the national conference culminated on such a positive note.”

The event was held June 20-23 at the Marriott World Center in Orlando.  Other UT Dallas students competing included Christina Shams, Siamak Ansari and Kourash Zakeri.  Dr. Rebecca Pazdral, an advisor from the Health Professions Advisory Committee, accompanied the students on the trip.

HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education.  The group’s mission is to promote career opportunities in the healthcare industry and to enhance the delivery of quality healthcare to all people.

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