CALAIS – Calais Regional Hospital’s board of directors has announced that Michael K. Lally has been named the hospital’s new chief executive officer.

Lally was selected after a national search conducted by the board and Quorum Health Resources, the hospital’s management company. CRH has been under the direction of Harrell Connelly, interim CEO, since April. Lally will take over Jan. 5, 2009.

Lally comes to CRH with more than 17 years of hospital CEO experience at the Westerly Hospital in Westerly, R.I.

For the past two years he has served as the director of clinical business affairs for the Miriam Hospital in Providence, R.I.

“Mr. Lally brings an understanding of the everyday challenges faced by hospital staff, physicians and patients,” Linda Gralenski, CRH board chairwoman, said in a prepared news release.

“This, combined with his experience in organization development, strategic planning, physician recruitment and quality initiatives, gives us a dynamic leader to see Calais Regional Hospital into the future.”

Lally holds a master’s degree of health services administration from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Bowdoin College in Brunswick.

In addition to his career responsibilities, Lally is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Lally and his wife, Rita, who is currently the high school nurse in Westerly, look forward to being involved in the Calais community once settled there.

“My wife and I are thrilled to be joining the Calais community,” Lally said in the release. “During our recent visit, we experienced a very warm and genuine reception. Everything seemed to connect, and the fit is ideal. This is a great opportunity for me to return to a small community hospital setting, one that I really love. We look forward to many successful years together.”

CRH is a 25-bed critical access hospital in Calais Maine.

The hospital provides acute care and swing bed services in addition to providing a 24-hour physician staffed emergency department. The hospital serves northeastern Washington County with an approximate population of 14,000. CRH employs more than 200 people.