Medical News The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 3 This summer, five Palm Springs High School (PSHS) students left the desert to compete on the national stage at the HOSA International Leadership Conference (ILC) in Sports Medicine and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). These passionate students pushed themselves to proudly represent their school. HOSA - Future Health Professionals, previously recognized as Health Occupations Students of America, is an organization that helps prepare students for health professions. Holding annual conventions for middle school, high school and college students, HOSA provides hands-on learning experiences through competitive events and workshops. The organization also gives students a chance to explore careers in the medical profession, offering mentorship and networking opportunities to connect students with peers and professionals. In March of this year, the PSHS students competed in the state portion of HOSA, proudly finishing in the top 10 in their events. They moved on to ILC nationals and went to Nashville, Tennessee, with a clear objective of making the most of their experience. Most students in the high school’s medical academy, referred to as PALM (Palm Springs Academy for Learning Medicine), felt very prepared for the sports medicine competition. They expressed gratitude for the materials taught in class, internships offered, and the hands-on opportunities to assist as athletic training student aides—helping athletes and shadowing games alongside the school’s athletic trainer. The trip to the national conference turned out to be a success on both personal and professional levels for the five students. One wrote, “It was incredibly inspiring to meet people who share the same passion for health care and to exchange ideas, experiences and goals.” The conference also gave them a deeper understanding of the wide range of career paths within the medical field, from clinical roles to public health and research, helping to broaden their perspectives and immerse them in the environment. Students believed it helped push them out of their comfort zone and gave them even more passion to pursue the health care careers. While their journey to nationals concluded without medals, they said the true value of attending was more than just awards; it was about connecting with people you otherwise wouldn’t have met and exploring those connections with strength and courage. With that, they walked away with something greater—a chance to make their school proud and show what PALM is truly about: resilience. Gonzalez is a senior in the PALM Academy. For more information on the valley’s medical health academies and how businesses and individuals can support students, visit www.onefuturecv.org. For several years now, I’ve practiced what some call radical honesty. I chuckle even using that term, as if there is something radical about being honest. And yet, in our world of socially acceptable truths and polite evasions, it is. Somewhere along my path of evolution, I was introduced to the transformative power of living authentically. For me, authenticity means more than just “being yourself.” It means living in full alignment with your values, your goals, and your inner truth and speaking from that place with unwavering clarity. This concept didn’t just resonate with me; it changed me. It became the cornerstone of my coaching work and, more importantly, my way of life. My one-week experiment. I began with a personal experiment: Could I go one week without telling a single lie? No polite fibs, no nods of agreement when I didn’t actually agree, no false flattery. It sounds simple, but I quickly discovered the challenge wasn’t a lack of willingness. It was realizing just how deep dishonest communication is woven into the fabric of our culture. We’re taught to smooth the edges, to say what’s expected, to keep things “nice.” Radical honesty, on the other hand, asks us to risk discomfort in service of truth. Every husband has likely been in the unenviable situation of being asked, "How do you like my dress?" knowing it's not really a question but rather a cue for a compliment. Honesty in such a moment isn’t just about what you say but how you say it, and whether it comes from a place of care. That week-long honesty challenge became a turning point for me. I didn’t just survive it, I woke up through it. I realized how much energy is spent managing impressions, filtering thoughts and avoiding awkward truths. I felt the liberation of having nothing to hide. And I decided then: this is my new way of being. What radical honesty is (and isn't). So what is radical honesty, really? It’s not about being blunt or harsh. It’s not an excuse to offload judgment or criticism under the guise of “just being honest.” It’s about transparency. It’s about integrity. It’s about honoring yourself and the other person enough to speak what’s real, while also staying rooted in compassion. Why truth matters. Why does it matter? Because truth is magnetic. When we speak from our authentic center, we create clarity, invite others into deeper connections, and build trust, not just with others, but also with ourselves. www.DesertHealthNews.com September/October 2025 PSHS student representatives at the HOSA International Leadership Conference wwwwww. d. de es se er tr tc ca ar er en ne et twwo or kr k. c. co omm/ e/ er cr ca ar er e Check in online at DesertCareNetwork.com/ERCare At Desert Care Network • Three Trauma Centers, including the only Level 1 Trauma Center in our Desert • Highest Level NICU for newborns in the Coachella Valley • Only DNV-Accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center • The Comprehensive Cancer Center • Hospitals in Palm Springs, Indio, and Joshua Tree Emergency care, close to home Minutes Matter Check in online at DesertCareNetwork.com/ERCare At Desert Care Network • Three Trauma Centers, including the only Level 1 Trauma Center in our Desert • Highest Level NICU for newborns in the Coachella Valley • Only DNV-Accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center • The Comprehensive Cancer Center • Hospitals in Palm Springs, Indio, and Joshua Tree Emergency care, close to home Minutes Matter The Radical Honesty Challenge By Delphine Channels Palm Springs High School Students Represent at HOSA International Leadership Conference By Miranda Gonzalez Continued on page 17 “I didn’t just survive my personal honesty challenge, I woke up through it.” — Delphine Channels
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