US doctor Michael Weitekamp has been appointed chief of staff at the Bermuda Hospitals Board.Former chief Donald Thomas resigned last year after being placed on administrative leave.Dr Weitekamp, who formally assumes his role today, holds responsibility for all BHB physicians.He will serve a three-year contract “pending final immigration processes”, a BHB spokeswoman said, and is tasked with identifying and preparing a Bermudian successor.Along with chief of nursing, quality and risk Judy Richardson, Dr Weitekamp will help develop a “clinical strategy and care model” for the new acute care wind opening next year, she added.A specialist in internal medicine and infectious disease, he has worked for 36 years at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and Milton S. Hershey Medical Centre.The new chief of staff will steward the BHB through “a great time of transformation”, BHB chairman Jonathan Brewin said.“He brings extensive experience in medical and organisational leadership, ensuring patient safety and quality standards, change management and cost control.”An interim chief of staff, Victor Scott, has overseen the BHB for the past nine months, said BHB CEO Venetta Symonds.She said Dr Scott’s tenure had “greatly improved relationships and the focus on quality at BHB”.“I am confident that Dr Weitekamp will build on this legacy as well as play an important role in the strategic planning and transition of services moving into the new acute care wing in 2014. His breadth of experience includes strategic facility planning for new clinical spaces, and this will be a major benefit to BHB and to Bermuda.”The new chief holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Fairfield University. He is a doctor of medicine from Georgetown University, and a master of health administration from Pennsylvania State University, where he received his postgraduate training in internal medicine and infectious disease.Dr Weitekamp is also a graduate of the executive leadership programme from the American Association of Health Plans.