Keeping Our Community Safe Lauren Trenkle, Board Member

To the uninformed eye, a mobile morgue unit appears quite unassuming. It looks like a truck trailer and usually has a plain white finish with a discreet logo. But upon opening the doors, the full weight of its purpose becomes apparent. Suddenly, it becomes a haunting and somber sight.

That sight still haunts Lauren Trenkle, who ran a COVID testing site outside Adventist Health White Memorial at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trenkle and her team worked tirelessly to administer tests and keep the community safe. Still, they couldn’t help but notice the nearby mobile morgue units. For them, it was a chilling reminder of the pandemic’s deadly toll on the community.

Trenkle is the Chief Executive Officer behind Total Testing Solutions (TTS). She began her career in healthcare as an Emergency Room Volunteer and Dermatology Medical Assistant, eventually becoming a Physician Assistant. In 2014, Trenkle became the Chief Operating Officer of The Los Angeles Center for Ear, Nose, Throat and Allergy (LA CENTA), where she works alongside her husband, Geoffrey B. Trenkle, MD, who is the CEO and Founder of the Center.

In the early days of the pandemic, LA CENTA locations found themselves eerily quiet. Patients, fearful of the virus, were staying away. But ever the problem-solver, Trenkle refused to sit by idly. She knew there had to be a way to help.

Working in East Los Angeles, she saw firsthand the devastating toll the virus took on underserved and under-resourced communities. For many families, the option to work from home didn’t exist. Instead, they had to go out into the world every day to provide for their loved ones; and in doing so, they were putting themselves at greater risk. Thus, TTS was born.

At first, Trenkle attempted to procure COVID tests from some of the larger testing companies. But she quickly learned that resources were scarce. Through a combination of hard work, ingenuity and a deep commitment to serving those in need, Trenkle and her TTS team quickly established themselves as a vital resource in the fight against COVID-19.

Today, TTS has expanded to include a wide range of patient testing options, including those for COVID-19, flu, genetic, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and drugs. But it’s not just the variety of tests that sets the organization apart. They recognized that many underserved communities can’t afford to pay high prices for medical testing, so they committed to making their services accessible to everyone. They provide custom testing solutions, telehealth services and concierge options that can accommodate the needs of large and small businesses and individuals within underserved communities.

While Trenkle has accomplished much in a relatively short time with TTS, she remains focused on the future. Her vision is to create a system that is both convenient and affordable, allowing patients to get the care they need without breaking the bank. This approach, Trenkle believes, will not only benefit individual patients but will also help to alleviate the strain on the healthcare system as a whole.

Lauren Trenkle joined the Adventist Health White Memorial Charitable Foundation board of directors in January 2023, bringing her extensive healthcare knowledge, experience and passion. Her association with Adventist Health White Memorial began in 2014 when LA CENTA opened a location at the hospital. The hospital’s commitment and dedication to serving the community resonated deeply with Trenkle, motivating her to give back and be a part of it.

Trenkle aims to build connections for physicians to learn about the different programs Adventist Health White Memorial provides patients, enabling them to assist. Although this seems like a relatively simple goal, TTS has taught Trenkle that small ideas and goals can make significant changes. “A little ripple sometimes causes a big wave,” Trenkle said, reflecting on the past three years of TTS and seeing its positive impact on the community. “You just didn’t even realize it was about to happen.”

In her free time, Trenkle enjoys running marathons and spending time with her husband, Dr. Geoffrey B. Trenkle, and their two young children, Hudson and Parker, while frequently traveling to new destinations.