Kristin Herring, a third-year student at Oregon Health Sciences University Medical School in Portland and a Girod scholarship recipient, has returned to her hometown of Lebanon as part of her medical training.

Herring, who grew up in Lebanon, just began a five-week rotation under Rick Wopat M.D. and Mary Lou Belozer M.D., two family physicians at the Mid-Valley Medical Plaza. Her plan is to return to Lebanon, possibly to practice family medicine, after she graduates and finishes her residency.

"I definitely want to come back here to live and work," said Herring, a University of Oregon graduate. "My family is here, and I like this town. It's a good place to raise kids. It's beautiful here."

She is here for a rural rotation, which is part of her training.

Herring is one of the 18 recipients of a Girod scholarship, administered through the Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation. The program, established in 1998, is in honor of the late Frank Girod M.D., a primary care physician who was instrumental in the establishment of Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.

The hospital foundation awards the scholarships to medical school students from east Linn County.

Scholarship amounts have ranged from $1,500 to $8,000 per year.

The foundation is now taking applications for the 2008 scholarships. The deadline is April 30.

For more information, call the foundation office at 451-6303.