Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics announces changes to its Board of Trustees

By on Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

LA GRANDE – Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics (GRH) is pleased to announce that Teri Champlin, La Grande, was confirmed as the new Chair for the GRH Board of Trustees at the December 2020 meeting. 

Ms. Champlin joined the Board in January 2014. She served as Vice-Chair for two years and as Secretary for two years before assuming the Chair position in January 2021.  

During her tenure on the Board, she has also served on the following Hospital Board committees: the Audit Committee, the Contract & Compensation Committee, the Finance Committee, the Governance Committee, the Quality Committee, the Community Benefit Subcommittee, and the Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee; at times chairing both the Community Benefit Subcommittee and Strategic Planning Ad Hoc committee. In addition, she has served as the Board of Trustees representative on the Foundation Board of Directors since 2017.  

Ms. Champlin is an alumnus of Eastern Oregon University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business before beginning her career at Anderson Perry and Associates. She also worked as the Director of Business Development for two start-up telephone companies in Eastern Oregon. Ms. Champlin has been in the mortgage industry for more than 20 years and is the branch manager at Fairway Mortgage in La Grande. She brings expansive business acumen and a depth of business management expertise to the Board, in addition to her love of Union County. 

A life-long resident, Ms. Champlin has a vested interest in the health and well-being of our communities. In her personal time, she loves to explore the beauty and ruggedness of this special corner of Oregon we call home.  

New additions to the Board include Bob Coulter and Nick Huelter who replace members and both former Board Chairs Brad Trisler (2017-2018) and Libby Goben (2019-2020).  

Mr. Coulter is a local pharmacist and co-owner of Red Cross Drug Store, Red Cross Institutional Pharmacy and Olive Branch Pharmacy. Mr. Huelter is a Lieutenant with the Union County Sherriff’s Office and the Facility Manager of the Union County Correctional Facility.  

The Grande Ronde Hospital Board of Trustees is composed of 13 voting members, which includes 11 volunteer representatives from the community, the GRH Medical Staff President and the GRH President/CEO.  

Trustees are nominated by the Board’s Nomination Committee according to Hospital policy and then elected by the Board of Trustees. Trustees serve in a voluntary capacity for three-year terms with a maximum of nine years of service. Trustees need not be residents of the State of Oregon or of Union County. The Board of Trustees meets monthly, with the exception of the months of July and August, and may meet at other times as needed. It is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees to set policy and direction for the organization. Collectively, these representatives comprise the governing body of Grande Ronde Hospital, Inc. which includes a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital and 12 primary and specialty care clinics.