Leadership Team

Erin received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Wright State University, her 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).  Her 18+ year nursing career has been spent in a variety of roles.

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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.  Erin has spent the past six years as a clinical leader for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and joined La Pine Community Health Center in October 2019 after relocating to Oregon from southern Ohio.

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When not in the office Erin and her husband enjoy exploring the beauty Central Oregon has to offer and visiting their two adult children back in Ohio.

Marie has worked in the healthcare field for the over 20 years and has worked for La Pine Community Health Center since June of 2009. She graduated from The University of Phoenix in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She continues to gain knowledge of business management within health care and enjoys working with her staff as well as the patients.

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Marie relocated to Central Oregon from California in July of 2005 and appreciates the benefits of living in a small town rather than the rush of a big city. She enjoys spending time with her family and a variety of outdoor activities.

Karen holds an accounting CPA license, Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification, and SHRM Certified Professional certification. She loves working for a nonprofit organization because she has a passion for helping others and understands that at La Pine Community Health Center she is helping to touch the lives of patients, as well as our community! Karen is a California native but was raised in Salem Oregon, having lived in several states as a military spouse.

Quilting, reading a book by her favorite author, and camping in the beautiful wilderness of Central Oregon are her utmost favorite things to do!

Dr. Lion completed medical school at Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. His philosophy in patient care can be summed up by a quote from Baba Hari Dass, “Work honestly, meet people without fear, meditate every day and play.” Dr. Lion enjoys surfing, yoga and coaching baseball!

James Strohschein, JR., DDS, has more than 25 years of experience in dentistry and is La Pine Community Health Centers first dentist! He completed a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1996. His entire career has been dedicated to three areas: Tribal dental programs, education and mentorship, and leadership in Federally Qualified Health Centers. Dr. Strohschein served as a Commissioned Corp Officer in the United States Public Health Service for four years, has provided oral health screenings at the Special Olympics, and has delivered care to the far reaches of the Amazonas Rainforest with Tribal Outreach Medical Assistance (TOMA).

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His goal and passion are to develop whole-system healthcare that incorporates oral health into the overall wellbeing of patients by preventing dental disease and creating accessible care.

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Dr. Strohschein is working alongside the LCHC leadership team to develop the new dental program that is part of the Wellness Center expansion project.

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When not at work, Dr. Strohschein enjoys being outdoors, hiking, climbing, fishing, kayaking, reading and traveling the world.

Erin received a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from the University of St. Francis in Albuquerque, NM after having earned a degree in psychology and biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She practiced as a Physician Assistant for 10 years in women’s and reproductive health in Southern California before deciding to pursue a career in quality improvement. In 2016, Erin visited Central Oregon for vacation and loved it so much that she moved here just months later. When not in the office, Erin enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband and children.

Shawnacy had the incredible opportunity to grow up overseas in Saudi Arabia and Germany as a child.  Her family then settled in the small town of Page, Arizona, where she met and married her husband and had four wonderful children.  Her passion for helping others and a strong desire to enter the healthcare field led her to Boise, Idaho, where she received her bachelor’s degree in health science studies in 2006 from Boise State University and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Idaho State University in 2008. Shawnacy has worked in various nursing fields over the past fifteen years, including hospice, school nursing, pediatric and medical oncology and apheresis.  

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Prior to coming to La Pine Community Health Center, she spent 10 years as the pediatric oncology department manager and the nursing manager at St. Luke’s Cancer Institute, in Boise, Idaho.  Shawnacy is excited to return to a rural setting to serve the people of La Pine and to spend time with her oldest daughter and baby granddaughter.  She loves being outdoors where she enjoys hiking, fishing, kayaking, and camping.

Amy “AJ”, graduated from Grand Canyon University and holds two degrees: Master of Science in Clinical Counseling, Substance Use Disorder, and Master of Science in Psychology. She is also a certified addictions counselor.

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AJ’s primary approach to counseling is an integration of person-centered, mindfulness-based, and cognitive behavioral therapies. In essence, this integrative counseling approach strives to balance mindful awareness, a genuine and empathic relationship with patients, and a collaborative effort at identifying what changes a patient can make to minimize emotional and behavioral disturbances.

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As a behavioral health consultant, AJ aids patients when habits, behaviors, stress, trauma, or emotional concerns about physical, mental, or other life problems interfere with the pursuit of an overall healthy life. While working with your Primary Care Provider (PCP), she will evaluate the mind-body-behavior connection to provide brief, solution-focused interventions and help determine a course of action that will work best for you through brief counseling and referral process.

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Amy Millikin, BHC, MS, CADC I is supervised by LPC Megan Chaloupka.

Amber pursued a degree in Human Services and subsequently gained a decade of managerial experience. With a background in clinical support, the combination of her practical expertise and educational foundation directed her towards a career in Human Resources within the medical field.

Her philosophy is that if she “takes care of the people who take care of the people, the patients will benefit”!

Outside of work, Amber enjoys being outdoors, especially near the water. Some of her hobbies are fishing, road trips, crafting, kayaking, camping, cooking, trying new foods, and spending time with her family.

April moved to Central Oregon from the Portland area with her husband in 2008 then joined La Pine Community Health Center in 2010 as a Medical Receptionist. Although she was new to the medical field, April felt that this was her calling. She was promoted to Lead Receptionist in February 2015 and spent a great deal of time organizing the processes which improved efficiencies and flow throughout the organization. In September 2016 April advanced to a role in management. She enjoys working with patients and employees in each of these communities in Central and Eastern Oregon. When not at work, April spends time with her husband and two daughters enjoying the outdoor activities offered in our beautiful region.

Courtney is a Texas native but became a proud resident of beautiful Central Oregon in 2015.  She joined the LCHC team in 2016, bringing years of administrative support experience and a special interest in graphic design and marketing.  Her love for people is what motivates her to support the organization’s efforts in creating a healthy community.  Courtney also serves as a City Councilor for the City of La Pine.  When not in the office, she enjoys searching for new fishing holes, creating new meal recipes, and camping with her husband.

Echo is an Oregon native and has been part of the La Pine Community Health Center (LCHC) team since 2013. She is passionate about her career at LCHC, as well as promoting healthy goals, while maintaining exceptional patient care. Echo enjoys spending time with her family while hunting, fishing, hiking, and kayaking.

Jamie joined our team in 2016 as a Front Office Representative after relocating to the area from New Jersey.  With a passion for our underserved patients, she transitioned into the Outreach department in 2018 where she worked under and was mentored by our very first Outreach employee and eventual Director, Shelly McKittrick.  Jamie was promoted to Community Outreach Manager in the Fall of 2021.  When not in the office, she enjoys napping in her hammock, taking a kayak ride on one of our beautiful lakes or rivers, camping and traveling with family.

Bio coming soon.

Kindra started at LCHC in 2004 as a medical assistant/lab tech, ultimately finding her passion in our x-ray department. Additionally, Kindra has served as the Vaccine Coordinator for our Vaccine for Children Program for the past ten years.

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Kindra is committed to all of the unique communities of southern Deschutes County and its surrounding areas, this shines through her compassionate approach to all patients. She eagerly anticipates the launch of the new imaging center slated to open in 2025.

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During Kindra’s off time, she chases sunsets, loves hiking with her family, spending time in her garden, and loves taking pictures of the beautiful outdoors and wildlife every chance she gets.

Soffia is committed to investing her time and expertise to ensure a safe and well-maintained healthcare environment for both patients and staff. She assists in facilitating and coordinating day-to-day operations across multiple health center sites and manages building maintenance, security protocols, and the fleet of company vehicles.

Outside of her professional life, Soffia finds the time to joy DIY projects, cultivating gardens, preserving food, and cherishing moments watching her grandchildren participate in sports.

Terra joined La Pine Community Health Center in 2018 as a Medical Receptionist and advanced to Front Office Lead in 2019. Her skills and dedication to our patients led to a promotion to Front Office Manager in 2023. With a background in caregiving, Terra is especially passionate about helping our elderly community members.

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Outside of the workplace, Terra enjoys the tranquility of the outdoors. She cherishes moments by campfires, exploring the wilderness on hunting expeditions and fishing in serene waters. For Terra, each outdoor adventure becomes a celebration of life’s simple joys when spending time with her husband and two children.

Bio coming soon.