[caption id="attachment_30572" align="aligncenter" width="1800"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Christopher_Ketchie_BMH_VP.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-30572"><img class="size-full wp-image-30572" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Christopher_Ketchie_BMH_VP.jpg" alt="Christopher Ketchie" width="1800" height="2700" /></a> Christopher Ketchie[/caption]

Christopher Ketchie, an experienced healthcare administrator from Pennsylvania, has been named Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s vice president of physician services, responsible for managing the largest multispecialty physician group in Beaufort and Jasper counties.

As head of Beaufort Memorial Physician Partners, Ketchie will oversee 14 medical practices with 45 doctors and more than two dozen advanced practice providers.

Prior to joining BMH, he held a similar position with Lancaster Medical Group/Community Health Systems, a 32-practice multispecialty medical group in South Central Pennsylvania.

A native of North Carolina, Ketchie earned  a B.S. degree in Health Promotions/Biology from Appalachian State University and a master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of South Carolina.

He began his 10-year career as a medical service corps officer in the U.S. Navy. Stationed at the Naval Health Clinic in Great Lakes, Ill., and later Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, he served in various posts, including assistant director for administration for Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune and commander/executive officer for the 2D Medical Battalion Charlie Surgical Company.

During his seven years of military service, he was deployed for 10 months to Afghanistan to help develop a medical clinic for detainees and another 11 months in the Mediterranean, North Africa and Middle East with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Ketchie started his new job with Beaufort Memorial Nov. 14.

“I look forward to working with our physicians and support staff to plan the future growth of our practice network,” Ketchie said. “My role is to ensure we provide the community with timely access to medical services and quality care.”

To find a Beaufort Memorial physician, visit www.beaufortmemorial.org.