Lebanon community welcomes incoming COMP-Northwest students with medical bags
Each year a new class of future health care professionals descends on the small, tight-knit community of Lebanon, Oregon. In the town that prioritizes friendliness, community, and optimism, these new Western University of Health Sciences students are welcomed in with open arms. This warm welcome is shown through the Tools of the Trade program.
The Tools of the Trade program dates back to before WesternU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) even opened its doors to students. In 2009, Shelly Garrett, an active community volunteer and Executive Director for the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce, met with the founding Dean and current WesternU Provost, Paula M. Crone, DO ’92, looking for a meaningful way to welcome students to the community. Garrett, a tireless supporter and champion for the Lebanon community, was eager to welcome students to their new home. It was decided that providing medical bags for the students would be a fitting gesture, equipping them with an essential tool for their future roles as physicians and community servants. Garrett passed away in 2019, but her legacy continues to impact and support the WesternU community and the city of Lebanon.
Today, WesternU Board of Trustees member Heather McDaniel and community volunteer Doris Modderman oversee the Tools of the Trade program. McDaniel and Modderman, known locally as the “bag ladies,” donate their time to run this program with a committee of local volunteers. Together, they have raised tens of thousands of dollars over the last five years. For the bag ladies, the donations are personal.
“We originally had a list of donors, but we’ve grown our list and built our community through the people we know,” said McDaniel.
“I have our donor list practically memorized,” added Modderman. “They’re very special to us.”
To thank the community for their generosity, McDaniel and Modderman hosted a Tools of the Trade dinner on July 30, 2024, during COMP-Northwest’s Welcome Week. There, donors were able to get to know incoming students and make connections. This is the first time Tools of the Trade donors have had the opportunity to spend quality time with students since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Talking with our donors, they were so excited to get the chance to meet and talk to the students,” said McDaniel.
“Handing out the bags was even more impactful this year because of the dinner event. Witnessing the joy in their eyes as they received their coats and the pride in their families as they achieved this additional step was truly heartwarming. This year felt even more special because our community supporters, who helped purchase these bags, had the opportunity to meet the students,” shared Gamael “Mr. G” Nassar, local business owner and community volunteer. “I participate in this event not only because of its originality and its kindness towards the future doctors of our community, but because of how it connects to people. There is an intrinsic joy in giving a gift to family.” Nassar secured a $3,000 donation from the Lebanon Tourism Council for this unique program.
During the Tools of the Trade appreciation dinner, WesternU President Robin Farias-Eisner, MD, PhD, MBA, encouraged students to enjoy their time in Lebanon, explaining how special this community is.
“There are no other communities that have this type of program,” he said. “It’s Lebanon. This is a unique place. You will be family here.”
COMP-Northwest students were gifted their black medical bags during the white coat ceremony held on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. Each bag was filled with kind notes and words of encouragement from community members and local businesses. In an enduring tradition at the end of the ceremony, the medical students held up their bags as a symbol of gratitude to the Tools of the Trade program and the community of Lebanon.
During the ceremony, WesternU Board of Trustees member Mike Cowgill, JD, introduced the program and spoke about the unique hospitality found in the Lebanon community.
“I’ve found that the bag is a symbol of how much the community cares and loves you,” said Cowgill. “You’re going to find, if you tell anyone in town that you’re a medical student, you’ll get a free lunch, a free dinner, we’ll take you in. We’ve had students join us for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. We get attached.”
Executive Director of the Downtown Association Shellie Jackola was among the community volunteers who handed out the bags to students.
“When I was handing the bags out at the white coat ceremony, I felt so proud of these students,” shared Jackola. “To see the excitement on their faces was so exciting for me. It was truly an honor to be a part of this and I think the students will remember it for a lifetime.”
For McDaniel and Modderman, the best part of the program is getting to know and serve the students.
“My favorite part of the program is when the students all stand up and raise their bags over their heads. It gives me chills,” shared Modderman.
“I’ve had students stay on my property since 2016 and it’s really nice. I love to touch base with them,” shared McDaniel. “I love getting to know our students and being able to pass out the bags.”
The Tools of the Trade program would not be possible without the generous donations from the Lebanon community and other program supporters. If you are interested in contributing to this program, visit our website here.
