Ideagen Radio
Ideagen Radio
2025 Global Leadership Summit: Bergen Morehouse & Ria Mohan — Building the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders
The most urgent question in healthcare isn’t just about technology or cost—it’s about people. Recorded at the Ideagen Global Leadership Summit near the UN General Assembly, this episode features Bergen Morehouse, Executive Director of HOSA, and Ria Mohan, International President of HOSA, on a bold, student-led solution to workforce shortages: start earlier, lead differently, and connect classrooms directly to the real world of care.
We explore how HOSA operates as a global talent pipeline from middle school through college—blending technical education with the professional skills employers value most: leadership, teamwork, and communication. Ria reframes leadership as listening first and serving with, not for, while Bergen outlines how to meet the most critical workforce gaps in allied health and clinical roles.
From safe, competitive events that let students test careers early to mentorship ladders that carry them from middle school to alumni status, HOSA offers a visible, achievable pathway. The conversation also goes global—touching on chapters in China, Canada, Korea, Germany, Italy, and Turkey—where cultural diversity strengthens empathy and patient care.
What makes this model work is proximity. HOSA programs are embedded directly into school-day health science curricula, where advisors can spark confidence, connect students with internships and scholarships, and partner with leading companies to create meaningful exposure.
If you care about the future of healthcare, talent development, youth empowerment, or global leadership, this conversation offers a practical, optimistic blueprint.
Okay, everybody, we're back at the Idea Gen Global Leadership Summit 2025. We have another incredible interview as we inch toward the closing bell ceremony. I'd like to invite up Bergen Morehouse, Executive Director of Host of Future Health Professionals. Bergen, welcome. And Rhea Mohan, International President of Host of Future Health Professionals. Rhea, welcome. And so here we are. Here we are on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. We have the only organization pre-post-secondary that is all healthcare on the planet, which is the pipeline of our nation's future health professionals, HOSA. Incredible diversity in the pipeline. We've built, you know, incredible pipelines into all of the Allied health professions. And you two are leading the way right now. No pressure. And so I'd like to ask you, what is HOSA, RIA, for our global audience?
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely. HOSA is an international student-led organization made up of student leaders who are really looking to empower the future of health. And we do this through a variety of ways. We have competitive events, scholarships, internships, job shadowing opportunities, and really just finding ways to expose our student leaders into different avenues of health so that they can really see themselves as confident change makers through any sector of health. And we do that through a variety of ways in HOSEN. And we're really fortunate to be here to be connecting with so many visionary leaders who are helping us with this mission.
SPEAKER_03:And so Bergen, you're a newly minted executive director, my gosh, you know, and along with that, you know, I believe that you know leadership, leaders stand on the shoulders of those that preceded them often. But you need the courage to do things, maybe change, do things that you know you move in a different direction or whatever it may be. Now you have this pipeline, there's three million alumni. Is that about right?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, three million alumni out there.
SPEAKER_03:Since 1976, what do you see? You've you've just taken over the organization as executive director. What's your vision for the future?
SPEAKER_00:I think HOSA has a really unique opportunity right now to really impact the healthcare workforce pipeline. We know that we hear from industry, where are we finding the talent? Where are people coming from? How do we recruit them? How do we develop them? And we know the shortages in healthcare, not just in physicians but across all Allied health fields. There are shortages today, there are shortages when you look at the projections five, ten years down the road. And HOSA is that solution. And like Rhea said, we are developing students from middle school all the way up through college, and not only are we teaching them those technical skills and those clinical skills that they need to succeed in the industry, but we're teaching them the professional skills. It's again what industry is telling us. It's the leadership, it's the teamwork, it's the communication skills. We're helping develop really, really good people like RIA who are gonna fill that talent pipeline.
SPEAKER_03:You know, and that's and that's the important piece is to think about how you're aligning with industry. And here's the other startling thing that maybe a lot of the people in our global global audience don't know, which is the organization's almost 50 years old. 50 years. And I've been in the room when you all have been telling the story. And you're telling the story, and you say, Yeah, we we have high school students that are being taught leadership skills, by the way, we'll talk about that a little bit later. And they're going into healthcare. And I remember early on several years ago, corporates would say, Well, high school, what are we gonna do with these high school? You know, and it's like we need we need people right now. But now they're looking for middle schoolers. These companies are figured out that my gosh, you've got to grab their attention, you've got to, they've got to grab your attention so much sooner. Is that what you're seeing amongst your peers?
SPEAKER_01:100%. Um, I think a lot of our student leaders are looking toward mentors, and so our middle schoolers are looking toward our high school students, our high school students are looking toward our post-secondary collegiate division, and so starting younger, we're seeing that a lot of students are looking toward um wanting to launch their careers in a way where they're following the footsteps of high school mentors, of post-secondary collegiate mentors, of our alumni, and um being able to continue that is just such a fulfilling journey and one that we're seeing across all membership divisions.
SPEAKER_03:And here's what's startling about RIA: you don't see her talking from a phone, she's actually looking at me when I'm engaging with her. And and this is there's 299,999 other HOSA students that are being taught the same skills. They're they're called leadership skills. So Peter Kuninga, who spoke earlier, his concerns will be allayed by the fact that HOSA is trying to change that paradigm with leadership. And so, Bergen, talk a little bit about leadership and why leadership is so important to HOSA.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, it's key. I mean, it's one of our foundational pillars. And and again, it's it's those skills that you know you say intangible, right? But they're extremely tangible and they're extremely needed. And it's what industry is looking for, and it's what has sometimes been missing. And so when we create platforms for our students to showcase their strengths, showcase their skills, and we recognize them for that, um, it really helps develop that self-confidence in them. And then it doesn't matter. We of course want them to go into health from our perspective, but if they don't, they're gonna fill your talent pipeline. Um, and so whatever path they go down, we feel like we've made an impact because of that leadership component.
SPEAKER_03:And so, Rhea, what gave you the courage to join HOSA? Like it took a moment, right? You had to say, Well, I want to join this organization. How did you even get involved? And now you're the international president.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03:No pressure, in countries all across the world. HOSA's in China, right, South Korea, Germany. I know so many countries, Canada, right? So many countries.
SPEAKER_01:Um, this is a really good question, and one that I've thought about a lot as you know, I'm reflecting on my HOSA journey. Growing up, I've definitely had the privilege of learning from leaders who view their roles not as service for others, but rather service with others, right? And that's something that I observed when I first walked into Juanita High School, where I was um, you know, walking in as a ninth grader to my first HOSA meeting, and I watched these leaders stand shoulder to shoulder with these members, and they didn't elevate themselves on a pedestal, they were there to serve alongside them, and that's something that I wanted to be a part of, and that's something that I wanted to embody, and something that the International Executive Council embodies, and so that's really where my HOSA journey started is that in that classroom where I was able to witness collaboration and I wanted to feel a part of that community.
SPEAKER_03:And I think it's important to note as well that while we welcome Bergen as the executive director, this is a student-led, student-run organization. Talk a little bit about that.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely. Uh, the heartbeat of HOSA really is our membership, right? As you talked about how HOSA is across the world, I could reflect on my HOSA journey and think about every life-changing experience that I've had traveling the world and going to conferences and speaking like this. But at the end of the day, it's not being on stage, it's not being under the bright lights that makes HOSA HOSA. It's the over 330,000 members who each have a unique story, who each have a unique strength to share. And being a student-led organization, that means that every student has something unique to bring to the table, right? There's no one else in this world who's better at being yourself than you. And each of those students brings something magical and special to the table that we want to hear and we want to see. And that's what makes HOSA so magical is that all of us are able to bring something different, and that's why we have the leaders that we do.
SPEAKER_03:And that's a you know, an important piece is that you know, with you know, where I'm in Washington and we have the you know, dialogue and discourse and things that happen. And uh what I love about HOSA is that the leadership models that. I mean, it's it's it's all about helping others, and it's inherent within healthcare, right, to be a servant leader and all of that. But I think if we could take a few nuggets from what HOSA does to empower these three 330,000 students, as you said, I think it would really truly change the world. Can you imagine like bring a HOSA program to the halls of Congress or wherever it may be and and and talk about you know arguing the issue but then you know moving on? It's a better way to uh to function.
SPEAKER_00:We say it all the time. We have a a conference, an annual conference everywhere every year in June, um, and it brings 15,000 people just like RIA together. And so if you ever are questioning what the future looks like, if you're losing that little bit of hope, you need that energy, come to a conference, get our students in front of industry, in front of people, or in front of leaders, um, and it definitely uh will change your mind. I can get it.
SPEAKER_03:And next year Indianapolis, right?
SPEAKER_00:Indianapolis, yeah, for our 50th.
SPEAKER_03:So that'll be the 50th anniversary, and that is true because I I believe that hope lives within HOSA because when you're concerned about leadership, um your concerns are allayed by meeting folks like yourself, Rhea. And so let's talk about that a little bit deeper. What does leadership mean to you? Like, what are the key elements that you see? Like, if I if I didn't have this one element, is it courage? All the things we've talked about, which one is most important to you?
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely. Um to me, leadership is never about being the loudest in the room. I think leadership is more so grounded in listening to the stories of others and making space to really see people as people and as human beings. It's easy to see us all in suits and maybe, you know, um you're not making that space to hear someone, but leadership is really about listening first. And this is, I was recently reminded of this in DC at our annual Washington Leadership Conference, which is where student leaders from across the country will gather to advocate for HOSA on the Hill and engage with our National Service Project and attend all these workshops. But at the end of the day, leadership is what took place after those workshops when members would come up to us and ask us questions, and I could be like, hey, tell me more about you. What are your lived experiences? What does your hosted journey look like? What can I do for you? And those genuine, meaningful conversations is what I really truly value about leadership and being able to form those connections with people because those relationships extend way past the halls of that conference. Those are relationships that continue way past the event, and um that's what makes leadership in HOSA so meaningful.
SPEAKER_03:Just incredible. So, Bergen, how about you? So you're you're you're you've run competitive events, which uh why don't you describe competitive events and then I'll ask you a question beyond that.
SPEAKER_00:Sure, yes. Um, competitive events is one component that we have within HOSA. It's a platform that we use to allow students to explore areas, various areas in healthcare to find their passion and find their purpose. Maybe they think they want to start out being a nurse and they try clinical nursing, and next thing they know they can't touch blood, right? So we want them somewhere else. Um so it's really the platform that we use just to help them explore careers and health.
SPEAKER_03:And so the same question to you. So what what what is that magical element of leadership that you believe without doesn't allow for it?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I think you have to bring people along with you. Um you can't you can't do it alone, and developing the people around you is key. It's not about what you're doing in the position, but it's about how you can empower and encourage others in their own leadership. And I think we we see that in HOSA, and we do a really good job of that in HOSA. We we set up or give opportunities to our students to run for local chapter officer positions and local state officer positions where they can have opportunities like this at the local level to develop those skills. So really making it not about you and the the title as leader, but really developing others and bringing people um along with you.
SPEAKER_03:How about international expansion? So what countries just I don't expect you to know all of them, but what countries is HOSA in now and where where is it going? Is it gonna take over the world? I mean, what which wouldn't be a bad thing?
unknown:Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00:So um we we have we are international. I China and Canada have our largest membership. There's about 10,000 members internationally between those two associations. Um but we have groups uh just this week we had our first chapter start in Turkey, um, Korea, Italy, Germany. Um, so yeah, it's it's starting to grow, and of course we're excited about that because it's global. Healthcare is global, leadership is global, and we want to be part of that.
SPEAKER_03:What about the diversity in the pipeline?
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely. Um I just wanted to also touch on how this past March I had the opportunity to travel to the national, the China hosted national leadership conference, um, and just wanted to speak on that diversity and being able to connect with students who may not have known English or, you know, there was a language barrier there, but we spoke that universal language of loving healthcare and of wanting to make a happier and healthier world for everyone. Um, so I was able to witness, you know, how their culture may be different and how the way they approach healthcare may be different, but we were all united in this same common thread of wanting to make a happier, more healthier world. Um, and I think we all have something different to bring to the table. So the diversity there is showcased through the different lenses that we view healthcare through.
SPEAKER_03:And so I know you're helping and working with partners, companies, the world's largest companies, startups, they come to you, you go to them. I mean, it's kind of an iterative process. And so, how do how do if I'm a if I'm in HOSA, how do I get exposed to any of the allied health? You you work with, you know, I helped create a pipeline into all of the allied health professions, but which how does that even work? Like, how does that happen?
SPEAKER_00:So we are we're really based at the local level. Um, I think that's where the power of our organization lies. Yes, we have over three million alumni, we have 300,000 students that represents this year, but the power of those connections that are taking place in the classroom between an advisor, as we call them, the classroom teacher, and one of our hosts and members, um, that's where that career exploration, where that inspiration is happening. We hear stories all the time. It wasn't until my HOSA advisor told me they believed in me, or in when my advisor told me that I could be a state officer, I could be the next RIA, that's when it clicked. So, really that's happening at the local level, and then we have this power of our relationships and partnerships and people behind it to support what they're doing day-to-day.
SPEAKER_03:And I think it's important to also note that HOSA is not an after-school program, it's part of the in-school health science curriculum, right? And so these advisors are in the schools. So these companies and organizations that work with you all, it's very difficult. How do you begin to get into a school system, you know, in Kentucky or wherever you are? With HOSA, in a partnership with HOSA, you're able to actually reach into the schools. And in both, you know, from an input standpoint and an output standpoint to educate uh you know the students, the future health professionals. And um, I'd like to close with what is your call to action, Bergen?
SPEAKER_00:Our call to action would be to get involved with youth. Of course, we'd love it if you get involved with HOSA, but whatever that looks like in your industry or your your area, you get involved with youth. It's gonna impact your organization, they're gonna make a difference, and you're gonna feel inspired.
SPEAKER_03:Bria, final word.
SPEAKER_01:Just picking back off what uh Bergen said, I would just encourage you all to include youth empowerment in your conversations. Um, this is kind of reminding me of the international theme of HOSA this year, which is champions of change. And I just want to reiterate that youth are part of that. We are the champions of change. We we've listened to such inspiring youth leaders here today, and um they are testimonials to how they are powering the future and how they are going to create change that we should all be a part of, and so I would just encourage you to include us in your conversations.
SPEAKER_03:And how do we find out more about HOSA?
SPEAKER_02:HOSA.org and come to Indy in J in June to see 15,000 of the people.
SPEAKER_03:What are the dates?
SPEAKER_02:June 17th to June 20th.
SPEAKER_03:There you go, 2026. Thank you so very much.
SPEAKER_02:Thank you.