Citrus Memorial Health System today announced the appointment of Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez as Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Martinez-Lopez joins Citrus Memorial with almost 34 years of experience in the medical field.

He comes most recently from Martinez Medical Consulting, LLC, where he served as president. In this role, he provided consultation services for clinical and medical research organizations, helping to identify best practices regarding medical quality improvement, patient safety, medical education and utilization management.

Prior to his work with Martinez Medical Consulting, Dr. Martinez-Lopez was Chief Medical Officer at Brandon Regional Hospital, where he provided leadership in optimizing medical staff performance and participation in patient safety, patient service experience, quality improvement initiatives and regulatory affairs.

In 2005, Dr Martinez-Lopez retired from the U.S. Army with the permanent rank of Major General as the first Hispanic to head the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick, Md. His responsibilities included directing the Army’s worldwide medical research, acquisition and logistics program.

He oversaw a vast research portfolio that included cancer, trauma, infectious diseases, biodefense, chemical defense, nutrition, environmental health, aviation medicine and telemedicine research. In addition, he directed the premier national biological and chemical defense laboratories and research program and led the development of the National Biodefense Campus at Fort Detrick, Md.

Prior to these duties, he was the commanding general of the Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine at Edgewood, Md. In this assignment he directed a worldwide public health organization, responsible for preventive medicine, health promotion and wellness, global medical surveillance, occupational and environmental health and health risk communication.

During his previous military career, he was the commander of three distinct hospitals, oversaw military health support during Hurricane Mitch in Central America and served as the Chief Medical Officer of the United Nation’s Mission in Haiti.

Dr. Martinez received his medical and post-graduate training at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, and received a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.

He is board certified in Family Practice and Aerospace Medicine. Dr. Martinez is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, member of the American College of Physician Executives, member of Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society, board member of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health and vice president of the board of Puerto Rico’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“Dr. Martinez will bring with him a wealth of medical and clinical experience,” said Ryan Beaty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Citrus Memorial Health System. “We’re thrilled to have him join our senior management team, where he will play a key role in the organization.”