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NEOAHEC Newsletter Articles, Stories of Impact, Annual Reports, & More

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These articles were written by Northeast Oregon Area Health Education Center (NEOAHEC). They are the intellectual property of NEOAHEC. These pieces of writing in their entirety cannot be altered without explicit permission. NEOAHEC is supported by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under U77HP03052.

Board Member Feature: Caitlin Russell

Caitlin Russell is a NEOAHEC board member.

MedQuest Fundraiser

MedQuest Fundraiser

We’re excited to share that Sharon Schumann is hosting a Pampered Chef Fundraiser to benefit MedQuest!

NEOAHEC leader receives nationwide award

NEOAHEC leader receives nationwide award

Meredith Lair was presented with the 2025 Christina Holmes Emerging AHEC Leader Award during the National AHEC Organization (NAO) conference.

New Pathway Program Coordinator

New Pathway Program Coordinator

Right before MedQuest, NEOAHEC hired a new Pathway Program Coordinator!

Funding Update

Thank you for standing with us! Your support for AHEC shows how much rural Oregon values growing its own future healthcare workforce.

Meeting with Senators

Meeting with Senators

Senator Wyden met MedQuest campers in La Grande, and Senator Merkley honored NEOAHEC with a U.S. flag from the Capitol.

91 MedQuest Campers

91 MedQuest Campers

MedQuest doubled in size! In 2025, four free camps across NE Oregon introduced students to 30+ health careers through job shadows, hands-on skills, and mentorship.

2025 Summer Newsletter

2025 Summer Newsletter

Our Summer Newsletter is out! Check it out for updates about NEOAHEC, including MedQuest, Funding, Awards, New Staff, and another Story of Impact!

Yessenia Garcia-Sanchez, BSN, RN: Investing in the Future

Yessenia Garcia-Sanchez, BSN, RN: Investing in the Future

As a teen from rural Umatilla, she connected with MedQuest and never let go. Today, she’s a nurse at Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston, a NEOAHEC board member, and a longtime MedQuest counselor.

Yessenia proves that when rural students are invested in, they often invest right back—building careers and communities at home.

Board Member Feature: Seth Deister

Board Member Feature: Seth Deister

Thank you, Seth, for your commitment to rural healthcare—both through MedQuest and your work at OCH!