When can I apply to MedQuest? The 2025 MedQuest application is now open! Please click here to apply. Applications are set to close on 04/01 for Rural and 04/15 for Frontier.
How much does MedQuest cost? There is a $25 fee to apply, but otherwise camp will be free this year thanks to funding from the Oregon Health Authority. For MQ Day Camp, organizations may reach out to NEOAHEC at any time to begin planning.
What are the steps in the application process? The 2025 MedQuest application is now open! Please click here to apply. To attend MedQuest, each student needs to complete the following: application, acceptance packet, TB testing (Rural MedQuest only), sign releases & consents, and respond to all other requests in a timely manner. These items will vary camp to camp. NEOAHEC will communicate with you via email, so make sure you are checking your inbox regularly. For directions on the 2025 Application Process.
What is MedQuest? MedQuest is a health career exploration camp designed to encourage high school students to choose careers in rural healthcare. Each camp has a large variety of activities. There are too many to fully list, and we haven't finalized every piece of the agenda yet, but students at both Frontier and Rural MedQuest can expect:
-
4 job shadows at the local hospital and clinics
-
A trip to the fire department to learn hands-on healthcare skills
-
Participating in high-fidelity simulations
-
A Diagnosis Day activity where the students will follow a simulated patient through different departments at the hospital and learn about different careers
-
A Mental Health First Aid training
-
A variety of presentations about healthcare careers
-
Taking home their own suture kits and stethoscopes
-
Recreation activities (these vary camp to camp but include mini-golf at Rural MedQuest and a trip to the Crane Hot Springs at Frontier MedQuest)
Which camp should I apply to? Frontier MedQuest and Rural MedQuest are largely the same! They take place in different communities (Crane/Burns and La Grande), and Rural is a bigger camp. The activities are similar, but they are tailored to the communities that host them. The main reason for having two events is because Rural MedQuest can't support as many people as are interested, so a second event was created to accommodate more students.
How long has MedQuest been around? Rural MedQuest began in 1994, and Frontier and MQ Day Camp in 2023. During the pandemic, MedQuest was virtual!
Who can apply? There are no prerequisites for applying to camp and it is open to all high school students, including those graduating this summer. The acceptance process is based on a variety of things, but largely depends on the essay question and the letter of reference. We also give preference to students who are from more rural areas and who are closer to graduating high school (because they will not have another chance to attend).
How many MedQuest camps are there? There are two MedQuest camps each year: Rural and Frontier. MQ Day Camps are offered to communities that request them. Click on each camp for specific details.
When does MedQuest happen? Rural MedQuest is held at the end of June and Frontier MedQuest is mid-July. MQ Day Camps are scheduled on a case-by-case basis.
Where do the MedQuest camps take place? Rural MedQuest is held in La Grande and Frontier MedQuest is in Burns. MQ Day Camps are normally held in La Grande.
Do I have to stay the whole time? Each student is expected to participate in the entirety of camp--students are not allowed to leave early or skip activities.
Can I be a camp counselor? To be a camp counselor, please fill out a camp counselor application. Ideally, counselors are college students on the path to health career, though all candidates will be considered.
What does TB testing entail? TB testing is required before any participant of Rural MedQuest may enter a hospital during MedQuest. The process takes a couple of weeks, so be prepared to have this done before camp. Please see this document for specific instructions from the Grande Ronde Hospital. The other camps do not require TB testing.
Where can I receive updates about MedQuest? For more information about MedQuest, please feel free to check out our FAQ page. You can also subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Facebook or Instagram if you'd like to see updates.