Trading screens for real-life interaction, Lisa Del Pizzo, science teacher, and her Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter are able to bring MedTalks back to being in-person.

HOSA will hold their annual MedTalks on Saturday, Feb. 4, with a morning and afternoon session. During these times, specialists will talk about their professions in the medical field so students can learn more about it.

During 2020, HOSA moved their MedTalksonline due to COVID-19. They kept them virtual for three years, making this upcoming talk the first year they were able to hold them in person.

Del Pizzo said she finds the in-person MedTalks to be more genuine due to the face-to-face interaction.

“Although the virtual format served its purpose, I think the in person event is way more authentic,” Del Pizzo said.

To find the professional speaker, students reached out to local hospitals and Washington University. Doctors such as anesthesiologists, neurologists, cardiologists and more are coming to talk in the theater.

“They are not getting paid,” Del Pizzo said. “They are doing it on their own time to talk to students and share their experiences.”

When deciding to join HOSA, the annual MedTalks were a big factor in sophomore Shruti Sugumar’s decision.

“I really liked the idea of listening to different speakers from different medical professions,” Sugumar said.

Although students in HOSA are required to either volunteer or listen to the talks, Sugumar is volunteering during the morning session and listening to the talks in the afternoon.

Sugumar is especially excited for one of the speakers for Biomechanics, as that is where she wants to go into in the future. Sugumar said she is excited to listen to the details about the job and wants to ask the speaker for an internship after the talk.

“I think it’s good for me to have exposure of what I want to do when I grow up,” Sugumar said.

Wanting to explore all fields and career paths, Anish Pasupuleti, sophomore, joined HOSA this year and is working as a Med Talks coordinator.

“I think it was a good leadership position,” Pasupuleti said.

Along with three other coordinators, Pasupuleti has reached out to many different doctors, students and scientists to see if they would be interested in taking part in this event. Pasupuleti also is in charge of creating and hanging up fliers at MHS.

Pasupuleti said he is especially looking forward to the biotechnology presentation, and that he is excited for the event as a whole since it presents many opportunities to students.

“I think it will help a lot of people know if they’re interested in a certain career,” Pasupuleti said.