Students and faculty bridge Portland’s healthcare gaps at annual equity fair

For the fifth consecutive year, Western University of Health Sciences’ Heatherington College of Osteopathic Medicine teamed up with Oregon Health & Science University to host the day-long clinic. The operation relied on a massive interdisciplinary effort, with students from nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry schools managing everything from logistics and inventory to direct patient care. By pooling resources, they created a rare environment where future providers could learn to navigate the systemic hurdles that prevent many residents from accessing standard primary care.

For many participants, the fair served as a sobering introduction to the realities of medical inequality. OHSU student Merel De Leenheer noted that the event provided a firsthand look at the significant barriers patients face, while highlighting the profound gratitude expressed by those receiving basic health supplies. This practical experience is a cornerstone of the program’s mission, encouraging students to carry a focus on accessibility into their future medical practices.

Faculty involvement remains a stabilizing force for the initiative. Dr. Gina Miller, an assistant professor of family medicine at WesternU who helped launch the fair in 2008, continues to serve as a bridge between the event’s history and its current student leaders. While the fair provides a critical safety net, Miller noted that the presence of recurring patients underscores a persistent need for more consistent, long-term health solutions. Building on this momentum, WesternU expanded the model to Lebanon, Oregon, in 2025, with the next Rural Health Care Equity Fair scheduled for May 1, 2027.