The program allows students and residents to serve in rural settings, both filling a provider shortage and spurring interest in rural health among budding professionals. Their Medquest Health Careers Choices camp has provided health career exploration opportunities to more than 120 students in grades nine through 12. Students learn about a variety of careers from presenters living in the community. These professions include medicine, dentistry, EMT, pharmacy, nursing, occupational and physical therapy, veterinary medicine and naturopathy. During the weeklong camp participants do at least two job shadows.
Surveys show that more than half of past participants have actively pursued health careers.
During their AHEC-sponsored rural rotation dental hygiene students from OHSU's School of Dentistry provide dental screenings and oral health education at the Baker City Early Intervention Center, Baker City High School, Baker City Women, Infants and Children program, Baker City Head Start, Unity Burnt River Elementary School and the Richland Elementary School. The rotation emphasizes community service and is responsive to local requests for dental screenings, educational services and health fairs. OHSU's Child Development and Rehabilitation Center serves children with disabilities or suspected disabilities through its statewide Community Connections Network , providing community-based, multidisciplinary needs assessment and coordination of care. Annually more than half the calls triaged by the consult service are from rural providers. The Northwest Marrow Transplant Program provides comprehensive blood and marrow transplant options, access to clinical research trials and highly specialized staff.