About Us

Growing up in Montana as competitive tennis players, Josh and Jake often traveled long distances to attend tennis tournaments, frequently passing through remote areas. They were struck by the beauty of the vast open spaces but also noticed the resilience of families farming and ranching in these solitary Montana landscapes. Later, both brothers enrolled at the University of Montana, where they played on the Division I Men’s Tennis Team while pursuing pre-medical majors.

As a college student, Josh worked per diem as a phlebotomist at Saint Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula. During his time there, he noticed that patients often traveled from all over the state to receive treatment. This made him contemplate the challenges of rural medicine in Montana. He wondered, “How do people manage? Where do they stay? Are there resources near their homes for follow-up treatment and recovery? And what about early detection and ongoing care?”

Josh and Jake shared these concerns with Fiona, a college friend experienced in nonprofit work in rural settings. Together, they brainstormed solutions, and in December 2022, they founded the Rural Montana Medical Foundation. The goal was to devise and implement strategies to extend the reach of existing healthcare providers into rural communities, without harming the environment or altering the rural character of these areas.

In March 2023, Jake, at eighteen years old, received a shocking diagnosis: Stage 3 Burkitt Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma affecting the lymphatic system. This happened just six weeks before he was set to complete his first year of college. Jake underwent four months of intense daily chemotherapy, numerous painful procedures, and several months of physical rehabilitation. The nearest treatment center was in Missoula, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from his home in Whitefish. This experience gave Jake a firsthand understanding of the importance of early detection and competent primary care, as well as the logistical challenges of receiving treatment far from home.

Josh experienced these challenges from a family member’s perspective. While both brothers were still in school, Jake called Josh from his dorm at midnight, complaining of severe abdominal pain. Josh drove him to the hospital, spending the night in the waiting room while Jake underwent emergency surgery. Josh was with Jake when their family learned about Jake’s cancer diagnosis. Despite the hardships, they found hope in the expertise of the doctors, nurses, and medical staff. As pre-med students, the brothers observed many procedures, including bone marrow biopsies and intrathecal (spinal) injections, finding comfort in the science and data behind successful treatments. Fortunately, the treatment was successful, and Jake is now in remission. This experience strengthened their resolve to help other families facing similar challenges.

At the Rural Montana Medical Foundation, we believe everyone deserves the same quality of care, regardless of their distance from a major population center, where medical expertise often resides. Our mission is to advance the goals of the Rural Montana Medical Foundation, extending high-quality care to rural Montana communities without compromising the culture and character of these regions.