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.
Christina Holmes Emerging Leader Award
When Meredith was given the award, this is what was shared:
"This award is named in memory of Christina Holmes, a first-generation college graduate who dedicated 25 years to the AHEC mission, rising from office assistant to CEO of Gulfcoast North AHEC and later serving as president of the National AHEC Organization Board of Directors.
"Christina’s passion and commitment continue to inspire future leaders in healthcare.
"It is my great honor to present the 2025 Christina Holmes Emerging Leader Award to Meredith Lair, whose leadership at NEOAHEC has transformed rural healthcare education in Eastern Oregon and beyond.
"Since becoming Executive Director in 2015, Meredith has expanded MedQuest from a single event to four impactful camps, modernized programs for long-term sustainability, and pioneered a statewide data tracking initiative. She has secured national funding for maternal health training, strengthened statewide AHEC collaboration, and serves on multiple NAO committees, shaping the future of healthcare education.
"Her dedication to the “grow our own” approach ensures rural students have clear pathways to healthcare careers. Under her mentorship, Pre-Health Society graduates have successfully entered medical, dental, and nursing schools. Her work on rural nursing workforce development was recognized at the Western Institute of Nursing Conference, and under her leadership, NEOAHEC received the NAO Center of Excellence Award.
"As Meredith celebrates 10 years at NEOAHEC and 24 years in rural healthcare, her impact is undeniable. She is not just shaping the future—she is building it, one student, one program, and one partnership at a time."
Photo caption: Meredith Lair holding award presented by Mindy Bateman.