What's NEOAHEC up to?

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.

Portal Directions

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.

Andrea Flores-Reyna, Juntos Coordinator in Hood River and Wasco Counties, has been a driving force behind the MedQuest Day Camp experience since 2022.

Nick West walks the walk of a rural provider.

The closure of the Baker City Obstetrics department has highlighted the urgent need to address maternal healthcare challenges in rural Eastern Oregon. Interprofessional health professions students from the Northeast Oregon Campus for Rural Health, community members, and local healthcare educators and professionals will partner to develop OB simulations tailored to meet the needs of our region.