Building Up the Community
Liz, Alix, and Nate are rural providers who are dedicated to making their communities healthier. In celebration of National Rural Health Day, let’s take a moment to understand why they love rural life. To read more about each of them, visit neoahec.org and check out our Stories of Impact.
Looking out for each other
Growing our own healthcare providers in rural communities works. At AHEC, we see it happening all the time. People are always willing to invest in their friends, families, and neighbors, and when done well, it encourages people to follow their passion and live their lives close to home.
Liz Sieders, a nurse practitioner who has lived in Pendleton most of her life, says, “It’s small, but there’s still culture here.” She loves that she doesn’t have to travel far to find something to do, but even more, she loves the people around her.
To her, rural is “everyone looking out for everyone else, whether they know you or not…It’s a spirit.”
Connecting to your neighbors
Though not unique to rural towns, it’s especially noticeable that your friends and family are always in and out of the same businesses as you. You will see your mother-in-law at the post office, your dentist at the grocery store, and an old classmate working in the clinic.
It can be comforting to always be around familiar faces. It can make a visit to see your primary care provider feel more like coffee with a friend.
Family practice doctor Alix Cooper grew up in Hood River and knows just how intimate rural healthcare can be. They believe, “If you're from La Grande and your doctor is from La Grande and knows all the same people as you, you're more likely to take their advice.”
And Alix is probably right—who wouldn’t rather listen to advice from their grandmother or best friend than a stranger?
Investing in youth
Alix went to MedQuest during high school and really appreciates that the camp taught them that it’s possible to work in healthcare without leaving rural Oregon. They felt so passionate about the camp that they found ways to be involved again and again.
Alix worked as a camp counselor for five years, then spent time conducting research on MedQuest as an Oregon Health & Science University student. They reached out to all of NEOAHEC’s past MedQuest campers and asked them if they ended up going into healthcare. 85% of those who took the call said yes.
Encouraging mentorship 
Nate Defrees, a family doctor who grew up in a cattle ranching family near Baker City, came back after he finished his education and started a family. One of the things he’s most passionate about now is allowing health professions students in his clinic.
He says, “Those of us that take learners really get a lot of out of it, too. It's nice to have a fresh eye on what you're doing…It's really a beneficial thing to have just for my continued growth as a physician and teacher.”
Creating a community
AHEC is a community hub. Everything that we do is built on connecting people to local resources.
Each year, NEOAHEC has more volunteers than participants. So many people are willing to take the time to mentor youth, allow students to observe them work, and share their knowledge with anyone willing to listen.
They love to do it because they know that their efforts will go right back into their community and make living in their rural home that much better.
For more details about Nate, Liz, and Alix, check out NEOAHEC's Stories of Impact.
