The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Jim Coffee was recently announced as the next Chief Executive Officer for the Cowlitz Family Health Center, which operates the clinic in Cathlamet. He has been the deputy director and chief operations officer at CFHC and will replace CEO Dian Cooper following her retirement.

Cooper was the CFHC founder and served as CEO for 38 years.

“[Cooper’s] vision and leadership has established CFHC as one of the finest, most successful Family Health Centers in the state of Washington,” a press release from the CFHC Board of Directors stated, “with 12 clinical sites providing health care for over 30,000 individuals living in Cowlitz, Pacific, and Wahkiakum Counties.”

Coffee was one of 100 applicants, and was unanimously selected by the board, who cited “his vision, drive, and compassion, combined with a heart to serve this community” as what “set him apart from other candidates.”

“I am thrilled that…Jim Coffee will be FHC’s next CEO,” Cooper said. “Jim’s experience has meshed well with our organizational structure and leadership team. I am sure you will enjoy working with him and that he will lead FHC into the future to continue growing and serving our communities.”

A one time radiologic technologist, Coffee transitioned into administration and information technology, receiving a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Community Health Center Management from Suffolk University, and has been in management for more than 35 years.

“I will work diligently to continue to move Family Health Center along the current strategic plan following the path guided by the board of directors and the organizational mission,” Coffee said. “I look forward to many years of guiding and supporting staff in the work they do serving our patients and communities.”

Cooper and Coffee are working through an approved transition plan and expect no disruption at staff or patient level.