Judith Shaplin, a former resident of rural East County for 34 years, has been working with Mountain Health & Community Services (MHCS) since 1985.  Under her leadership, services have increased beyond primary care, moving toward comprehensive health care including x-ray, mental health, and health education.  Teleradiology, with instant read from Mercy Hospital, prevention and education programs, and assistance to families in need of health insurance have been added.   A school-based satellite clinic at Mt. Empire Jr/Sr High School was opened July 2003.

In 1998, Judith accepted the responsibility of operations at Mt. Empire Community Center, located in Campo, when no other community organization was able to provide the necessary infrastructure.  This community center houses the Mountain Empire Senior Nutrition Center offering senior meals at five community sites and delivered to the homebound, a computer learning center (one of San Diego’s 16 Power Up sites), a family literacy program, and hosts community forums and events.  Seniors are provided a “Cool Zone” during the hottest summer months.

Believing that the inclusion of community services enhances medical services and benefits the communities MHCS serves, outreach and education have always been a priority to Judith. This has taken the form of community-specific health fairs, prevention classes, newsletters, and messages home through school bulletins.  Holiday dinners for families (in cooperation with local service organizations), complete with toys, candy, games, and Santa Claus are offered in Jacumba and Campo.
Increasing visibility of rural San Diego County and its many un-addressed issues has been Ms. Shaplin’s trademark.  She has brought warmth, experience, and creativity to the process of bureaucratic advocacy, working tirelessly to ensure a “safety net” of services for isolated communities.  Seldom known to take “no” for an answer, she has spent years at the task of making connections and building relationships that will benefit the Mountain Empire area.

Judith has taken a leadership position in bringing together the disconnected communities of the region through collaboration.  Her efforts include the Back County Revitalization, the Mt. Empire Collaborative, the annual Heart of the Mountain Awards, the Rural Emergency Preparedness group, the San Diego Council of Community Clinics, the Southern California Rural Health Roundtable, and an active membership role in the California State Rural Health Association (CSRHA).

Current professional activities include:

• California State Rural Health Association; Board member 1997-2005; President 2003-2004.
• Council of Community Clinics; Board member; MHCS is a founding clinic member
• Council of Community Clinics Health Network; President 2002-2003
• St. Vincent de Paul's’ Toussaint Teen Center; Board member
• Home of Guiding Hands; Governing Board member
• Health & Human Services Council (East Region); Steering Committee member
• Back Country Revitalization, District 2, Steering Committee member; Chair, Youth & Community Services
• California Public Utilities Commission; Telecommunications Advisory Committee member for the California Tele-connect Fund.