La Clinica’s senior leadership provides administrative direction and support as the organization pursues its mission of providing quality, affordable care to all.
Brenda Johnson, CEO
Chief Executive Officer
Brenda leads La Clinica to provide primary medical, dental, and social services for underserved residents across 21 sites in Southern Oregon. She began her career with the organization in 2000 and prior to joining La Clinica’s staff, Brenda was a public health nurse with Jackson County Health and Human Services.
Brenda earned a master’s degree in business administration from Purdue University, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Oregon Health Sciences University, and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Southern Oregon University. In 2016 she was appointed by the governor to the Oregon Health Policy Board, which sets the state’s health policy. She serves on the boards of CareOregon Foundation, Jefferson Regional Health Alliance, a regional collaboration dedicated to healthcare resources and health for Southern Oregonians, and ACCESS, Jackson County’s community action agency.
She has been recognized by Southern Oregon University as a Distinguished Alumni of the Year, named an outstanding regionalist by the Rogue Valley Council of Governments and cited for exemplary leadership by the Oregon Primary Care Association.
Brenda is a Portland, Oregon, native who has lived in Medford since 1985. In her leisure time she enjoys singing, reading, spending time with her husband, and playing with her children.
Her intention with La Clinica is clear.
“I have a deep appreciation and understanding of the importance of diversity and the honor of providing true support and service to others. La Clinica offers me the gift and opportunity to live those values every single day,” she says.
Chris Alftine
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Chris Alftine is La Clinica’s chief medical officer. He also sees patients around the organization, stepping in wherever the need is greatest.
A longtime Medford internist, Dr. Alftine was a founding partner and owner of Medford Medical Clinic in 2000, serving until that organization was integrated into Providence Medical Group in 2016. He continued as a medical director and physician with Providence until 2021. He joined La Clinica’s board of directors in 2014 and served on it until early 2022. He joined the La Clinica staff after that.
“I love the mission, presence, and innovation La Clinica has brought to our valley and am grateful to be able to contribute to these efforts and be surrounded by co-workers who care so deeply for patients and our community,” he said.
Dr. Alftine earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa and holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the school.
He loves to bicycle, ski, play guitar, and spend time with his family. He and his wife Anne have two grown children.
Laura Bridges
Behavioral Health Officer
Laura Bridges oversees La Clinica’s behavioral health services. She started as the behavioral health director in December 2019 and became the behavioral health officer in May 2020. Laura is passionate about improving the well-being of our community and loves the opportunity to engage in and develop programs that are population based, prevention oriented, and focused on wellness.
She has master’s degrees in social work and public health from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. She completed a post-graduate certificate program in the treatment of trauma at Simmons College School of Social Work in Boston. She is a member of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, and since 2018 has been on the Jackson Care Connect board of directors.
Before coming to La Clinica, Laura was chief of social work for three years at Veterans Affairs Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics. She worked at Jackson County Mental Health for six years both in direct care and in management of adult services. Before moving to Oregon, she worked as a clinical social worker at Boston University Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Laura lives in Ashland with her husband, two dogs, and a cat. She enjoys reading, wine tasting, and anything outdoors, especially hiking.
Patty Casebolt
The Learning Well Officer
Patty Casebolt leads The Learning Well, La Clinica’s education and support service that offers classes, workshops, and groups designed to help people enhance their well-being and live healthy and fulfilling lives.
A longtime volunteer for The Learning Well and former chief operating officer for Medical Eye Center in Medford, she has deep experience in personal and professional development work. In addition to being a facilitator for The Learning Well workshops, she is a master practitioner of neuro-linguistic programming, a licensed practitioner for The Human Element, and a certified mindfulness and meditation facilitator.
In working with others, Patty starts from a place of curiosity and empathy. She strives to be clear, direct, and heartfelt in her approach to leadership.
Born in Long Beach, California, Patty grew up in Grants Pass and Rogue River from age 4. She has lived in Medford since 1990. She served on the board of Medford Food Co-op for nine years, including a term as vice-president.
She enjoys travel, reading, cooking vegetarian and vegan food, hiking, and spending time with friends and family and her dog.
Amy Fine
Chief Dental Officer
Amy Fine leads La Clinica’s dental program and works as a general practice dentist at the East Medford Dental Clinic. Dr. Fine joined the La Clinica dental staff in July 2009.
She earned her dentistry degree from Oregon Health Sciences University and her undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon’s Clark Honors College. Previously she worked as a biochemist for Invitrogen/Molecular Probes. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the Oregon Dental Association, and the Southern Oregon Dental Association.
Dr. Fine moved to Medford from Portland. Her favorite pastimes include spending time with her two children. Community work and volunteering are integral to Dr. Fine’s life. She is an advocate for SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) and Friends of Trees, and she has been involved at the state level in improving access to health care.
Traci Fossen
Chief Quality Officer
As chief quality officer, Traci Fossen oversees organizational quality, safety, compliance, and risk management for La Clinica, including standards of care, clinical skills assessments, and emergency preparedness.
Before joining La Clinica, Traci was clinic manager and a case management nurse for the Community Health Center in Medford, and earlier she was part of the leadership team in the rehabilitation programs at Providence Medford Medical Center. She earned her associate degree in nursing from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and her bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Phoenix in Arizona.
Born into a military family in Maine, Traci moved a lot as a child but has called Oregon home for more than two decades. In her spare time, she enjoys golfing, reading, playing with her grandchildren, and spending time with her family.
Mahea Kaeo-Kailehua
Chief Financial Officer
Mahea Kaeo-Wailehua ensures that La Clinica maintains a healthy financial outlook to continue providing exceptional care and services patients deserve. She came to La Clinica as finance manager in December 2017 and became chief financial officer five years later. She has more than 20 years of finance, accounting, and analytics experience and is active in statewide organizations related to healthcare finance policies and practices.
Born and raised in Hawaii, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where she studied political science and computer science. She and her husband moved to the Rogue Valley in 1998. She focused on helping her children thrive in school, sports, and community activities. They are all on the path to success as humble, compassionate, and generous human beings, and she considers this her proudest achievement.
Mahea has served in a leadership role in the homeowners’ association in her Medford neighborhood, built homes on Kauai with Habitat for Humanity, and served food to people without homes. She loves to cook and especially enjoys finding new ways to make healthier versions of favorite foods. She likes hiking and other outdoor activities, road trips, live music, wineries, and spending time with family, friends, and her two dogs. She is an avid softball player, playing on local and travel teams from Medford, Portland, and Vancouver, Washington.
Tara Kirk
Chief Operations Officer
Tara Kirk, who started her career at La Clinica in 2002 as a medical records clerk, transitioned in early 2019 into the chief operations officer role.
Tara has a strong background in operations management and quality improvement, serving as a practice manager and performance excellence director before taking the top operations job.
She is a certified Lean Practitioner in healthcare quality and a certified practice coach for primary care innovation. In addition, she is a Baldrige examiner for Performance Excellence Northwest, an organization dedicated to business effectiveness. She is passionate about empowering teams and individuals, removing barriers, and inspiring innovation.
Karen Sauer, MD
Medical Officer for Clinician Development and Support
Karen Sauer is a family physician at La Clinica Wellness Center and in her medical leadership role is responsible for recruitment and employment of La Clinica’s physicians, family nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, where she was given the Dr. Alexander Major Memorial Award. She completed her residency at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, California, where she was named chief resident her final year and received the Dr. Joseph R. Hannon Memorial Award. Dr. Sauer is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
Dr. Sauer first joined La Clinica in 1996 and returned to our staff in 2005 after a few years away. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, and has worked in migrant health and education since 1986.
Jamie Osborn, MD
Population Health Officer
Jamie Osborn is a family physician at West Medford Health Center and holds a medical leadership role working with teams to plan and manage operations of all La Clinica medical centers to focus on how we can all be as healthy as possible together.
She earned her medical degree at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, in Loma Linda, California, and her bachelor’s degree in biology at Milligan College, in Elizabethtown, Tennessee. She is committed to transforming health care and being in partnership with and for those who struggle to obtain equitable access to health and wholeness.
Maria Ramos Underwood
Chief Development Officer
Maria Ramos Underwood guides La Clinica’s fundraising initiatives and helps community partners join in our work to improve the health and well-being of our community.
Previously Maria served as the organization’s deputy director and wellness and prevention coordinator. Before joining La Clinica, she was Hispanic outreach advocate for Dunn House, Jackson County’s domestic violence shelter. Maria graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She is a member of the boards of the Health Care Coalition of Southern Oregon (HCCSO) and the Gray Family Foundation. She is a steering committee member of All in for Health Care, the team overseeing our regional community health improvement plan.
Maria, born in Mexico, was a child of seasonal farm workers and grew up using community-based health services similar to those provided by La Clinica. She relocated to Medford in 1997 from Tempe, Arizona, when her husband Verne was hired by Rogue Community College. The couple has two adult children. She is an avid reader and enjoys traveling, cooking, and watching movies with her family.
Julie Wurth
Communications Officer
Julie Wurth oversees the organization’s communications with employees and the community.
She turned to La Clinica after a career in journalism, most recently for Medford’s Southern Oregon Media Group, where she was an editor and manager at the Mail Tribune for 18 years and a member of the newspaper’s editorial board for a dozen years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Washington State University in Pullman and has spent time in the community volunteering at schools to help students learn to read. She is a member of the Friends of the Multicultural Fair Planning Committee in Medford.
A Washington native, Julie moved to Southern Oregon in 1992 and lives in Medford with her husband and daughter. She enjoys the outdoors, books, family and friends, and periodic trips to the city.
English 
Spanish 
Russian 
Chinese