About me
Jessica Gerdes is the Manager of Outreach and Mentorship at the Washington State University College of Medicine. Since 2016, she has focused on engaging youth in rural schools and building pathways into health science careers. While presenting in Addy, Washington in 2017, the need for a sustained rural mentorship model came into clear focus, leading Jessica to advocate widely for consistent mentorship and connection between youth and health science students. In 2019, she launched the Stevens County Mentorship Program, beginning with four communities. Today, the program—shaped by insightful, highly educated input from both professionals and community members—serves 11 school districts, reaching more than 1,000 students in grades 7–12 each year with the support of approximately 100 annual volunteers.
