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
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
Thank you, Seth, for your commitment to rural healthcare—both through MedQuest and your work at OCH!
Board Member Feature: Meredith Halling
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
Portal Directions
Board Member Feature: Dennis Burke
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.
Board Member Feature: Yessenia Garcia-Sanchez
Yessenia has returned every year as a camp counselor, dedicated to giving back to the program that helped shape her career.
Rachel Sonne, MD: Trading Urban Life for Rural Practice
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.
Board Member Feature: Andrea Flores-Reyna
Andrea Flores-Reyna, Juntos Coordinator in Hood River and Wasco Counties, has been a driving force behind the MedQuest Day Camp experience since 2022.
Board Member Feature: Nick West
Nick West walks the walk of a rural provider.