LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Following a recruitment process that has lasted close to a year, the Board of Supervisors this week voted unanimously to hire a new Public Health officer.

The Board of Supervisors emerged from a Tuesday morning closed session to vote unanimously to appoint Dr. Erik McLaughlin to the post.

McLaughlin, who now lives in Las Vegas, said he is very excited to join Lake County’s team and take care of the county’s citizens.

He will serve at 80% time and will be on the third salary step, officials said.

A specific date for when he will begin the job was not given Tuesday.

Officials indicated it’s dependent on him receiving state Medical Board licensure.

The Medical Board of California so far does not show a license for McLaughlin in its online records system.

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners’ online record for a Dr. Erik McLaughlin of Las Vegas shows that he has a specialty in family medicine.

He received his medical degree in November 2005 from Saint Christopher’s College of Medicine in Dakar, Senegal, a school that is not included in a list of approved institutions by the Medical Board of California.

His postgraduate training, a residency in family medicine, took place from June 2006 to June 2009 at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

The county has been seeking a new Public Health officer since Dr. Gary Pace announced he was stepping down exactly one year ago.

Pace has since returned to private practice in Sonoma County, although he has continued to offer part-time public health officer duties under contract with Lake County.

Another Sonoma County physician, Dr. Charlie Evans, has provided public health officer-related support to the county over the past year as well.

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