Following the announcement of Charla DeHate’s retirement, the other Directors and I knew we had our work cut out for us. Finding the right person to fill Charla’s shoes would certainly be a challenge. This was a duty that none of us were prepared for. We posted the position, reviewed several resumes, and were all pleasantly surprised when Erin Trapp, current Director of Nursing, asked to be considered for the position. We quickly learned that she was very qualified for the job! After extensive conversations between the Board of Directors, Erin, and the rest of the La Pine Community Health Center (LCHC) Director team, it is my great pleasure to announce that Erin Trapp has been chosen to fill the CEO role upon Charla’s retirement.
– Dave Gosser, LCHC Board President
"It is an honor to be chosen by the Board of Directors and it will be a privilege to lead this talented team. I would like to thank Charla for introducing me to Oregon and the opportunity to work for La Pine Community Health Center. I would also like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career. I look forward to continuing the mission and vision of the clinic."
-Erin Trapp, BSN, RN
Meet Erin
Erin Trapp, who currently serves as the Director of Nursing, joined the LCHC team in October 2019 after she and her husband Mark relocated from Ohio to La Pine. She has more than fourteen years’ experience in leadership of healthcare organizations, including three years as a director at a Federally Qualified Health Center.
Erin earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Wright State University, an Associate Degree in Nursing from Southern State Community College and is recognized as a Patient Centered Medical Home Certified Content Expert (PCMH CCE) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Erin’s 18+ year nursing career has been spent in a variety of roles. She began her career in Oncology, completing an Oncology Internship from the James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State University and as an Oncology Director led a clinical team in the development of a new oncology facility for a hospital system in Ohio.
During the interview process Erin expressed, “I couldn’t bear the thought of someone who doesn’t know and understand the needs of our community to come in and potentially uproot all that we have worked so hard to accomplish. Charla has done such an amazing job during her career at LCHC. I simply want to carry the torch for the next leg of our journey,”
What Others Are Saying
‘Strong and dedicated leader’, ‘helping hands and listening ears’, ‘pride for our community’ and ‘dedication to our organization’ are phrases used by LCHC’s Directors and Senior Leadership Team to describe Erin as they speak of their support for her advancement.
Charla DeHate, current CEO, stated, “Working with Erin the past two and a half years has been so rewarding. It was clear from the time of her arrival, that she was the right person for the job--she completed our director team. Only three months after Erin arrived, the pandemic hit. Erin took the medical leadership role to guide us through the many changes during the two years that followed. I watched Erin lead and support her staff and the community—and she did it well. When I announced my retirement, Erin let me know that she was interested in becoming the CEO of LCHC so that she could continue the work that we all have done through the years. My heart is at peace knowing that Erin will be caring for the employees and the people of the communities we serve. I am pleased and proud to give my full support to endorse Erin as the next CEO of La Pine Community Health Center.”
What Comes Next
In the coming months, Erin will work to fill her current position as Director of Nursing. Once that position has been filled, she and Charla will work on the transition of the CEO role.
You can expect to see Erin out and about in the community during various events and meetings as we introduce her to our wonderful collaborative partners, leaders, and wonderful members of the communities that we serve!