What's NEOAHEC up to?

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

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.

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

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.

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

Meredith Halling’s role on our board cannot be summed up by her title, even as Board Chair. She has been a kind and steady hand guiding NEOAHEC through the last year, always thinking before acting and bringing light to our meetings.

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Dennis Burke has too many accomplishments to list, but it’s easy to say that he’s made an impact on the healthcare landscape of Northeast Oregon.

Yessenia has returned every year as a camp counselor, dedicated to giving back to the program that helped shape her career.

From San Diego to Goldendale—Dr. Rachel Sonne’s journey from city life to rural healthcare is nothing short of inspiring. Discover how a combination of hands-on training, personal exploration, and a desire to make a difference led her to practice medicine in a town of just over 3,400 people. Find out why she believes that rural healthcare experiences are essential for the next generation of providers.