Skyline Foundation grants scholarship to CHS grad bound for medical school

During college, her major contribution to the campus community at Oregon State included her work with Peer Health Advocates, a public health promotion and education organization. Her specialty focus in the organization was on preventing alcohol and drug abuse and promoting safer sex practices among college students.

In addition to that, her favorite project was teaching middle school students how to critically analyze media messages through the Media Literacy Project.

She also did research through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute summer undergraduate research program during the summers of 2003 and 2004. She worked with OSU professor, Dr. Luiz Bermudez, on identifying genes associated with biofilm formation in mycobacterium avium and regulation of those genes using subinhibitory concentrations of several antibiotics.

Mycobacterium avium is in the same family as the bacteria that cause tuberculosis and leprosy and is especially problematic for patients with compromised immune systems, such as AIDS patients.

M. avium utilizes its biofilm forming capabilities to establish infections in these fragile patients which are very hard to treat with conventional antibiotic therapies.

Her research will contribute to the development of a method for preventing biofilm formation, and thus preventing M. avium infection.

Molly told the foundation, "I am looking forward to the challenges that medical school will bring and I am especially thankful for Wayne M. Henkle Scholarship and the support of the community in chasing my dream."

Wayne M. Henkle scholarships were established in memory of a much-admired, long-time White Salmon physician.

The Skyline Foundation is a non-profit public benefit corporation that was formed in 1986 to improve health care in western Klickitat and eastern Skamania counties, the Skyline Hospital service area.