By Katie Tabeling

LEWES — After a nationwide search that lasted almost a year, Dr. David Tam will become Beebe Healthcare’s president and CEO on April 1.

Tam, 57, most recently served as the chief operating officer at Providence Saint John’s Health Center, an acute-care hospital with 266 beds that serves the eastside of Los Angeles. He succeeds Jeffrey Fried, who abruptly left Beebe Healthcare after 24 years in April 2019.

The doctor will helm Beebe during a period of great change, amid building a new surgical hospital campus off Del. 24 and new emergency department and satellite cancer center in Millville.

“Beebe’s independent 104-year history and ability to adapt to the evolving health care industry with its strategic expansion speaks to the strength of the leadership team and medical staff,” Tam said. “I look forward to continuing that momentum as the health care needs of the community continue to grow.”

Tam retired as a captain in the U.S. Navy after 24 years of service. He has been on multiple national boards, including the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity of the American Hospital Association.

Previously, he served as COO for the western region of TriCare, the U.S. military’s health insurance program. He was also formerly deputy commander, chief operating and strategy officer at Naval Medical Center in San Diego, the military’s largest academic tertiary medical center. 

Contact Katie Tabeling at ktabeling@delawarebusinesstimes.com