What's NEOAHEC up to?

Emily Jack has been part of Heppner Memorial Hospital for as long as she can remember. Growing up, she watched her mom work there as a nurse. The hospital grew to be more than where her mother worked, it was where Emily spent time getting to know the people who cared for her community.

Rural communities depend heavily on registered nurses to provide care, but they face disproportionate challenges, including higher workforce shortages, fewer training opportunities, and growing health disparities compared to urban areas.

In response, NEOAHEC has partnered with the OHSU School of Nursing La Grande Campus to launch Rural Ready Nursing Support—a targeted, three-pronged initiative designed to strengthen the rural nursing pathway.

To Paul Lindsay, a good time is “sitting on the tractor all day, just driving around in circles, listening to music and podcasts.” Growing up just outside of Heppner, Oregon meant that most of his time was spent with his six siblings on their family farm. They had a feedlot, raising cattle and growing alfalfa, corn, and wheat.

A story about a rural eastern Oregon town investing in its own children to sustain healthcare access close to home.

Learn about our programs, see what we've done in the last year, and get to know our organization as a whole.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. We’re highlighting Dr. Steve Koza, a La Grande native who attended MedQuest. Today, you might recognize him from Koza Family Dental Care, which he opened in 2007. Each year, he continues to give back by welcoming MedQuest job shadows.

In honor of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month, we’re spotlighting Jennifer Holliday, MD.

“The best thing about my job is seeing the changes in the kids and their families,” says Alicia Green--one of the first MedQuest campers, and she has dedicated her career to supporting children with disabilities.

Download our full Fall Newsletter!