Share Tweet Share Email Print

OHSU Medical Students Get a Dose of Rural Practice

Second-year OHSU medical students spend time on the road, living the life of a rural physician

This summer, 17 Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine students are getting an up-close look at the work and lives of family physicians in communities throughout the state.

Selected members of the incoming second-year class will spend one to two weeks in cities across Oregon, where they will work and live with community physicians. The program, known as the Rural Family Medicine Experience, allows students to experience physician life in areas beyond Portland, where the OHSU School of Medicine is located.

Students interested in participating in the program are matched with a physician who best meets the preference of the student: for instance, one student may be interested in high volume regional medicine while another may be interested in practicing in a very small, rural community.


The community physicians not only supervise the student in their clinics, they also host the students in their homes for the length of the rotation.

The following students will be participating in the 2008 Rural Family Medicine Experience:

Coos County:

  • John Conroy, hosted by Kent Sharman, M.D., in Coos Bay.

Deschutes County:


  • Jeff Loi, hosted by Stephen Knapp, M.D., in Bend.
  • Amy Starr, hosted by Dawna Marie Fixott, M.D., in Redmond.

Harney County:


  • Park Willis, hosted by Kevin Johnston, M.D., in Burns.

Klamath County:


  • Anna Hemphill, hosted by Kathy Bakke, M.D., in Klamath Falls.

Linn County:


  • Gabe Andeen, hosted by Rick Wopat, M.D., in Lebanon.

Marion County:


  • Michelle Monnie, hosted by Tanie Hotan, M.D., and Scott Hadden, M.D., in Aumsville.
  • Gina Miller, hosted by Michelle Rasmussen, M.D., in Salem.
  • Nick Westfall, hosted by Mark Scherlie, M.D., in Salem.
  • Markus Boin, hosted by Sarah Peters, M.D., and Tom Peters, M.D., in Silverton.
  • Geoffrey Maly, hosted by Paul Neumann, M.D., in Stayton.

Morrow County:


  • Jenna Donaldson, hosted by Betsy Anderson, M.D., in Heppner.

Tillamook County:


  • Alexandra Swartzmann, hosted by Harry Rinehart, M.D., in Wheeler.

Wallowa County:

  • Emily Houle, hosted by Renee Grandi, M.D., in Enterprise.
  • Mike Oakley, hosted by Liz Powers, M.D., in Enterprise.
  • Rachel Seltzer, hosted by Liz Powers, M.D., in Enterprise.

Washington County:


  • Miranda Devine, hosted by Tami Rodgers, M.D., in Newberg.


About OHSU

Oregon Health & Science University is the state’s only health and research university, and only academic health center. As Portland's largest employer and the fourth largest in Oregon (excluding government), OHSU's size contributes to its ability to provide many services and community support activities not found anywhere else in the state. It serves more than 184,000 patients, and is a conduit for learning for more than 3,900 students and trainees. OHSU is the source of more than 200 community outreach programs that bring health and education services to each county in the state.

Previous Story OHSU Appoints New University Librarian Next Story Book by Acclaimed Eating Disorders Expert Receives National Praise