(BRYN MAWR, PA; November 5, 2007) -- Donald C. Arthur, MD, who recently retired as a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, joined Main Line Health as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer on November 5. Dr. Arthur comes to Main Line Heath following a 33-year distinguished military career. He most recently served as Surgeon General of the Navy and Chief, Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

At Main Line Health, Dr. Arthur will work with the non-profit health system's medical and clinical staff to further improve quality and patient safety initiatives for its acute care hospitals of Bryn Mawr, Lankenau, Paoli and Riddle Memorial, the Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital, and the Main Line Health Centers.    

During his naval career, Dr. Arthur was CEO of two Navy Hospitals, including the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. His medical experience also includes board certification in Emergency Medicine and Aerospace/Preventive Medicine. He has been a director of Graduate Medical Education, conducted and supervised worldwide research, and is widely published. During Desert Storm, he experienced combat in support of the Marine Corps. As Surgeon General, he was responsible for medical and dental services for more than 700,000 active duty service members, and 2.6 million retirees and family members in 30 military treatment facilities, including major medical and teaching hospitals.

Dr. Arthur has received numerous awards and medals, including two Distinguished Service Medals and the American College of Healthcare Executives' Federal Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award. He is past president of the Association of Military Surgeons, the Aerospace Medical Association, and the Society of U.S. Naval Fight Surgeons and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Dr. Arthur earned his medical degree from the College of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark, NJ; served his surgical internship at Bethesda's National Naval Medical Center, and completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at the Naval Hospital in San Diego. He received his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University, Boston, MA.

Published:11-27-2007