CFHS HOSA Team Places in Top 22 at National Anatomage Tournament

In June, four Catalina Foothills High School students brought home one of the biggest wins yet, and they did it using technology most high schools never get to touch.

Zoya Zar, Nathan Wu, Soleil Sakali, and Benjamin Grandner represented CFHS and the state of Arizona at the National Anatomage Tournament in Santa Clara, California, competing in the Anatomage Table event. The Anatomage Table is a life-size, touchscreen virtual anatomy system that allows students to perform detailed simulated dissections and explore the human body in 3D, the same tool used in top medical training programs.

The team won the Arizona state competition this past April, a victory that ranked them 34th in the nation out of more than 2,000 teams competing across the country. That result led the way to nationals, and once there, they didn't just compete, they placed 22nd in the entire country.  

According to the students, the biggest challenge came after a preliminary round that didn't go as well as they'd hoped. Bouncing back mentally, staying confident and pushing forward even when it felt like they might not make it, was the hardest part of the whole experience.

"I am very proud of their hard work and commitment," said Megan Kimball, the CFHS Biology teacher who helped these students all along the way and chaperoned the team to San Jose.

Their results came from months of preparation, close collaboration to master intricate anatomical knowledge, and the discipline to compete at this level. They also point to the kind of opportunity CFSD strives to offer, giving students access to real, professional-grade medical technology and the chance to test their skills against the best in the country.  

None of it happens without the incredible educators who make it possible. Beyond her work leading the CFHS Biology/Honors Biology, Ms. Kimball serves as one of the HOSA advisors, guiding students through the extra hours of preparation, travel, and coaching it takes to build a nationally competitive team. Thank you, Ms. Kimball, Ms. Lisa Osinga, Ms. Lori Cole and Ms. Viktoriya Yurkiv, for your dedication to your students both in and out of the classroom.

Congratulations, Zoya, Nathan, Soleil, and Benjamin! These students already have their sights set on the future: Zoya wants to become a surgeon, Nathan is interested in orthopedics or trauma surgery, Soliel is drawn to genetics, and Benjamin hopes to pursue cardiology or emergency medicine.  We are excited to see what you will accomplish in the future.