MedStars 2009

MedStars 2009 was held from July 7th-11th. Ten students from the AHEC-SW region were chosen to participate through a competitive application process. Student names are listed below, followed by the name of their high school and hometown:

Christopher Bristow, Cottage Grove High School, Cottage Grove
Tyler Clardy, Days Creek High School, Myrtle Creek
Jamiee Fuller, Glide High School, Roseburg
Courtney Lakey, Pacific High School, Brookings
Melanie Lyda, Hidden Valley High School, Grants Pass
Kristen Mosley, Sutherlin High School, Sutherlin
Ashley Pittam, Umpqua Valley Christian High School, Winston
Lindsey Verret, Butte Falls High School, Butte Falls
Acacia Warfield, Eagle Point High School, White City
Tamra Wood, Cottage Grove High School, Cottage Grove

MedStars alumni may apply to return as counselors after completing at least one year of college. This year AHEC-SW hired the following individuals to help staff the program:

Garrett Garceau, Program Assistant, Linfield College, Grants Pass
Tiffany Perry, Counselor, WOU, Grants Pass

Also in attendance were AHEC-SW staff members Raj Rambob, Executive Director and Amy Nelson, Education Coordinator. Scholarships were available for all students selected for the program.

MedStars was an intensive five-day event held at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland. Students participated in hands-on activities such as surgery skills, clinical skills, and dentistry. Students also received a tour of the Shriners’ Hospital for Children.

In addition, students attended lectures by a parasitologist, a pharmacist and a neurologist as well as sessions with a music therapist, Donate Life Northwest, college representatives and allied health professionals. The final activity featured the students, who gave presentations to their families highlighting their favorite experiences of the week.

For an inside look at MedStars, visit www.myspace.com/medstars, where you can view photos and videos from previous programs.

MedStars 2010 will be held July 13th-17th. Students interested in attending should contact Amy Nelson, Education Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Application forms will be available online at the beginning of March.