LAKEPORT— During this week’s meeting, the Lake County Board of Supervisors emerged from closed session to announce Erik McLaughlin, MD, MPH, as Public Health Officer. District 4 Supervisor Tina Scott’s motion noted this appointment is at an 80% time-base (32 hours per week).
McLaughlin, who is a board-certified family medicine physician and actively licensed in eight states, is completing the California licensure process. County officials are hopeful this will come in time to facilitate a March 1 start date.
“This is a really exciting hire,” notes Eddie Crandell, Chair of the Lake County Board of Supervisors. “Few people have had as well-rounded a view and experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the changes in Public Health policy direction it has brought, as Dr. McLaughlin.”
Crandell continues, “He has served as a County Medical Director in Arizona, and, as a business owner, provided leadership and clinical engagement on six continents. His two decades of continuous medical study, research and practice have uniquely prepared him to provide high quality public health leadership in Lake County. He brings both global insights and deep understanding of rural medicine.”
According to a county press release, McLaughlin’s experience has encompassed directing public health responses in humanitarian crises, working with underserved communities, and supervising the delivery of medical services.
McLaughlin is originally from San Diego, California and grew up in Tucson, Arizona. He completed his medical degree in November 2005 at St. Christopher’s College of Medicine in Dakar, Senegal, and Cambridge, England, and a Master’s in Public Health from Tulane University in New Orleans. After a residency in Family Medicine in the Chicago area, where he was honored as chief resident and received advanced leadership training, McLaughlin went to Queensland, Australia to complete a fellowship in Rural and Remote Medicine and advanced specialist training in emergency medicine.
Previous experiences include work as both a direct federal employee and contractor for Indian Health Services (IHS) and the Veterans Administration. He has worked with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), multiple private medical groups, and humanitarian organizations. McLaughlin has likewise been a consultant for governmental agencies, sovereign nations, agencies, private security groups, tribal organizations, counties and non-governmental organizations including humanitarian responders.
Throughout his career, Dr. McLaughlin has demonstrated a pattern of progressive medical
leadership.
“I have been privileged to enjoy a very broad set of experiences,” relates McLaughlin. “From leading departments to facilities to regions, I’ve been trusted with caring for individual patients and caring for populations. Rural health is a particular passion of mine.”
As is very common practice for medical professionals serving in Public Health leadership capacities, McLaughlin will perform much of his County work remotely, but he also looks forward to spending time in Lake County, developing relationships within our richly diverse communities.
When not working, Dr. McLaughlin enjoys mountain sports including trail running, climbing and mountain biking. He is married, and a proud father to adventurous twins.
