Our Team

Erin Thompson, MD, FACS, FASMBS, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgeon

Dr. Erin Thompson joined the surgery staff at Willamette Valley Medical Center in 2018 with special interests in bariatric surgery, antireflux surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, gallbladder surgery, hernia repair and endoscopy. She received her medical degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, Alabama. She then completed a general surgery residency at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California, as well as a Fellowship in Minimally Invasive and Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery, including bariatric surgery, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Dr. Thompson has published and presented her research on weight loss surgery at national meetings and is committed to ongoing improvement in the field. She believes in empowering patients through shared decision making and patient-centered care.

Dr. Thompson performs Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, as well as revisional bariatric surgery, including Gastric Band Removal, on a case-by-case basis.

She is board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery. She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. She is also a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.

Outside of work, Dr. Thompson enjoys being outdoors and reading a good book.

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Ellen Plaia, RD, CSOWM, Bariatric Coordinator

Ellen Plaia, Program Coordinator and Registered Dietitian, joined the Willamette Valley Medical Center team in 2018 to pursue her desire to work with obesity and weight management. She is a board-certified specialist in obesity and weight management and holds a Certificate of Training in both Adult Weight Management and Obesity Interventions.

Ellen’s goal when working with patients is to make nutrition feel simple and easy instead of overwhelming and complicated. She loves helping patients find balance in healthy eating so that food can still bring joy while making lifestyle changes to lose weight.

In her spare time, Ellen spends lots of time with animals – those of her own and volunteering at the local animal shelter. She also enjoys cooking, playing board games, yoga and doing laundry (Yep! You read it right!). We love her energy and know you will too!