W. James Hart, D.O., has been elected president of the medical staff of Delaware County Memorial Hospital by the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee, effective July 1.

Hart succeeds Seth Malin, M.D., chairman of the Department of Surgery, whose two-year term as medical staff president expired in June. Hart previously served as the medical staff’s vice president.

“These are exciting times in medicine,” Hart says. “I’m looking forward to continuing the good work done by Dr. Malin in guiding the medical staff through the troubled waters we’re facing in today’s health care environment.”

Hart has been a member of the medical staff at DCMH since 1971, when, along with Robert Madonna Sr., D.O., he became one of the first two D.O.s on staff. A graduate of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (now University of the Sciences in Philadelphia), he originally embarked on a career as a pharmacist, but later chose to practice medicine, receiving his doctorate from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1964.

During his tenure at DCMH, Hart served as chairman of the Department of Family Practice from 1996-2006, and as chair of the hospital’s Medical Records Committee for nearly 20 years. As president of the medical staff, he looks forward to working with DCMH administrators and staff.

“We are very lucky to have a well-motivated and well-educated staff, many of whom have been here a long time,” he says. “It’s a testament to DCMH’s working environment that we have such a low turnover rate. I want to continue to keep the staff we have and keep the lines of communication between administration and medical staff members open so everyone can keep moving forward together.”

Joan K. Richards, president and chief operating officer of Crozer-Keystone Health System, says she also foresees a smooth collaboration.

“Dr. Hart has already taken on many leadership roles at DCMH, and his experience and rapport with physicians and staff alike will help him in his tenure as medical staff president,” Richards says. “He is a valuable asset to DCMH and Crozer-Keystone, and I look forward to working with him over the next two years.”

Among Dr. Hart’s plans as president is a mission to recruit new physicians to the hospital.

“The average age of the medical staff is increasing, and physicians are leaving the area to practice in other parts of the country,” he says. “One of my goals is to actively recruit new blood so we can continue to meet the needs of our patients.”

In addition to his DCMH duties, Hart is deeply involved in his community, serving as chairman of the Board of Health of Middletown Township, where he resides. He enjoys spending time with his five children and seven grandchildren, and is currently awaiting the arrival of his eighth grandchild.

David McCloskey, M.D., DCMH general surgeon, will serve as vice president of the medical staff. John F. Reilly Jr., D.O., chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine, will continue to serve as secretary, and Thomas A. DiLiberto, M.D., chairman of the Department of Radiology, will continue to serve as treasurer.