Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport recently named an emergency department medical director.

Joseph Hatem, a 26-year veteran of the Dosher staff, succeeded James Weingarten, who stepped down from the post Sept. 30.

Weingarten, who served as emergency department medical director for 25 years, remains a treating physician on the emergency department staff, officials said.

Hatem “has been a highly visible physician for emergency services, the Dosher Memorial Hospital Foundation Board and other parts of the organization,” according to a hospital news release.

“Dr. Weingarten gave consistent, high-quality care to literally thousands of patients in this time, and we’re pleased that he will continue to serve patients in this busy department,” Tom Siemers, Dosher president and CEO, said in the news release. “Dr. Weingarten led the physicians and nursing team that implemented a customer service improvement program four years ago, which resulted in Dosher now ranking in the 90th percentile for patient satisfaction scores among emergency departments nationally.”

Hatem joined the Dosher Memorial staff in 1990.

After studying at Notre Dame University for undergraduate education, Hatem earned a Doctor of Medicine degree at UNC-Chapel Hill Medical School. He performed a medical internship and residency at New Hanover Regional Medical Center before joining the Dosher staff.