EUGENE, Ore. -- Oregon Community Credit Union is doing its partto ensure area residents get the best medical care.

The credit union will contribute $1 million to Sacred HeartMedical Center Foundation, to be paid in $100,000 installments eachyear over a ten-year period.

The gift will fund an innovative new program to enableapproximately 80 medical students a year to receive practicaltraining in the form of five-week clerkships at clinics throughoutOregon. Funding for the donation comes from the recurring smallfees merchants pay when credit union members use their debitcards.

"We understand that health care is an important issue thataffects members in every community we serve. With this new program,we have an opportunity to address both a growing physicianshortage, particularly in smaller communities, and the need forbetter access to quality health care throughout the state," saidOCCU CEO Mandy Jones. "We're pleased that, with our support of theSacred Heart Medical Center Foundation, we continue our longtradition of supporting education and we also directly improve thequality of life for members in all our communities."

The first of its kind in Oregon, the Sacred Heart Medical Centeris part of a unique collaboration between OHSU, PeaceHealth and theUniversity of Oregon to advance the medical profession regionallyand statewide.