BLUE HILL – Timothy Garrity has been chosen as Blue Hill Memorial Hospital’s new chief executive officer. Garrity will begin working at the hospital Aug. 8.

Garrity has held executive positions in hospital management and group and academic physician practices throughout his career. In his most recent position, he served as vice president of operations for the Susquehanna Health System, a rural health care system comprised of three hospitals in central Pennsylvania.

Garrity began his career as a hospital corpsman in the Navy. He has held management positions at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Geisinger Medical Center before working at Susquehanna Health System.

He has been active in his profession, serving as president of the Pennsylvania Medical Group Management Association. He has been a community leader, serving on the board for Leadership Lycoming, a leadership training organization, and as a board member and coach for the American Youth Soccer Organization. He also was president of the Strike K-9 Search and Rescue, a wilderness search and rescue team.

Garrity earned his master’s degree in health services administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and his undergraduate degree in health services administration from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill.

“I am grateful for the opportunity,” Garrity said in a prepared statement. “Given the extraordinary pressures on rural hospitals, it is more important than ever that this organization stand out as a national model of preventive and primary health care.

“The board, the medical staff and the employees have demonstrated tremendous competence, pride and commitment. I am sure we can build on the great tradition that’s been established and fulfill our mission to the community.”