What's NEOAHEC up to?

Check out how Investigators of Science 2026 went! See pictures, read quotes, and learn about the program objectives.

Jessica always knew she loved science, and the more opportunities she had to explore that interest, the more she discovered her passion for healthcare.

After attending Girls in Science (now Investigators of Science) in eighth grade, she went on to participate in MedQuest, where shadowing an orthopedic surgeon helped her realize she wanted to become a doctor. “It really just kind of clicked. This is what I want to do. This is where I want to be. I want to be a doctor. I just liked the impact that he had on his patients.”

Years later, during one of her final clinical rotations at Grande Ronde Hospital, Jessica experienced a full-circle moment when a 2026 MedQuest camper came to job shadow her in the emergency department.

NEOAHEC is Expanding!

We are always looking for people who have been part of NEOAHEC to share their stories with us. Whether you are a student, healthcare professional, volunteer, partner, or have been involved with NEOAHEC in another way, we want to hear what you’re doing now and how your journey has unfolded.

The 2026 MedQuest multi-day camps are done for the year! Thank you to everyone who worked together to make these camps such a success.

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.