Oregon Pacific Area Health Education Center

09/18/2026

Some training with our local Fire Department Drill night with a volunteer high school football player to simulate proper helmet and gear removal from a possible injury and how to carefully treat our patients with a gentle hand and swiftly.

06/28/2026

Day 4 - Summer Steps Health Care Career Camp

Working as a team is the fundamental building block of healthcare, as the delivery of high-quality patient care relies on the seamless integration of diverse medical expertise and collaborative communication. Engaging in team-building exercises, such as the adventure high-rise challenge course at Oregon State University, allows students to transform from individual contributors into effective leaders by honing their ability to delegate, trust, and motivate others under pressure. These experiences provide a vital foundation for a future healthcare career, where the ability to offer and receive support directly impacts clinical outcomes and staff resilience. By navigating these heights today, students learned that success in a high-stakes environment is not a solo endeavor but a collective achievement rooted in mutual support and shared goals.

An amazing way to end OPAHEC First Steps Healthcare Career Camp!!!

I am so proud of all of you for such an incredible last 4 days. All of these students are going to go so far and I hope this experience you will remember for the rest of your life and the skills you gained help to develop a pathway into healthcare!

Sincerely,
Jaime Montgomery
OPAHEC Director

06/27/2026

06/27/2026

Day 3 - Summer Steps Heathcare Career Camp!!!!!!!

Such a fun filled day of learning! Today students visited Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, we started our day with a morning walk through the Japanese healing garden to practice breathing, and grounding to prepare and focus, stdents worked on taking. Vitals, and building a strong resume. The also worked together on a medical escape room activity!!!!

The second part of the day included a visit to Western University Physical Therapy medical school to learn about careers in Physical therapy and learn from current students and recently graduated and new DPT.

It was a great day of learning for our scholarship campers!!!! Great work Everyone!!!!!!!!

06/26/2026

Day 2 - Summer Steps Healthcare Career Camp!!!

🔥 🚒 👨‍🚒 LEBANON FIRE 👩‍🚒 🚒 🔥

Summer Campers participated in a fun packed day of:

✔️ Stop-The-Bleed
✔️ Forceable Entry prop
✔️ Search and Rescue (full smoke and gear)
✔️ Hose handling soccer
✔️ Vehicle Extrication

Students were provided full PPE for this amazing immersive camp full of firefighter activities. From Feeling the full weight of not just the full gear but the intense responsibility and lifesaving heros right in Their own communities! So many wonderful conversations, questions and sparked interests in becoming the future candidates for Fire Academy or EMS!

Thank you to our special guest Dr. GABE ANDEEN from OHSU for joining us today and being a fantastic sport! Gearing up for the first time and doing search and rescue in a fully smoked out container!!!

Wonderful Work everyone! I KNOW WE ALL WENT HOME EXHAUSTED & SWEATY!!! 😆

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO Lebanon Fire District for an amazing day full of inspiration, leadership, and learning!!!💧

06/24/2026

Day 1 - Summer Steps Healthcare Career Camp!!!! 🌞

OHA Healthcare Career Pathway scholarship recipients from multiple Oregon high schools participating in 4-days of healthcare career activities and workshops!!

OPAHEC partnering with COMP-NW medical school & LBCC

- Anatomy lab
- LBCC Health OCC tours
- Simulation labs
- Ultrasound

Shaved ice to close a hot Summer day?? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!

Great work Everyone!!!!!!

06/19/2026

DAY 4 - Final day of Clatsop County First Steps EMS Academy!!

All students were interviewed with EMS WORLD!!! We had a video crew with us all 4 days (video to come!!!)

Students each were provided their own bag complete with medical equipment for vitals.

✔️ BP cuff
✔️ Stethoscope
✔️ Pulse Oximeter
✔️ First Aid Kit
✔️ Trauma Shears

Students learned how to safely obtain vitals and use their trauma shears.

Today also included a tour of LifeFlight with staff including a flight paramedic a flight RN and their pilot. Students also participated in ride-a-longs with current staff from Medix Ambulance Service which was a fantastic end to camp!!!

New friendships were made over the last 4 days of camp!! Goodbyes are always bitter-sweet!!

👏 AMAZING JOB EVERYONE!!! 👏

06/18/2026

DAY 3 - Clatsop County First Steps EMS Academy!!!! Medix Ambulance Service

EXCELLENT WORK TODAY!!!!!!

Students went to Providence Seaside Hosptial today along with a HUGE shout out to the amazing crew from Cannon Beach RFPD for their hands-on Rope rescue training with the academy students today!

06/17/2026

Day 2 - Clatsop County First Steps EMS Academy!!!

Amazing day for these high school students!

Huge shout out Medix Ambulance Service Knappa Fire District Columbia Memorial Hospital MERTS and so many volunteers, staff and professionals who have made this day one to remember! Students were provided an immersive insider look at medical systems, professions and received hands-on training.

FANTASTIC DAY EVERYONE!!!