MaineHealth names new Chief Medical Officer for its Southern Region

December 19, 2024

Charles Morris, MD, MPH, a practicing primary care physician with strong executive experience will replace Joel Botler, MD, who is retiring after 45 years of service.

Charles Morris, MD, MPH
Charles “Chuck” Morris, MD, MPH

PORTLAND, Maine – MaineHealth has chosen a practicing primary care physician with a history of leadership in quality and safety as its next Chief Medical Officer for the health system’s Southern Region, which includes MaineHealth Maine Medical Center’s Portland, Biddeford and Sanford campuses.

MaineHealth announced today that following a national search, it has selected Charles “Chuck” Morris, MD, MPH, as the new Chief Medical Officer of MaineHealth Maine Medical Center (MHMMC).

Dr. Morris, who is currently Chief Medical Officer of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, succeeds MHMMC’s current Chief Medical Officer Joel Botler, MD, who is retiring in January after 45 years with the medical center.

Dr. Morris will oversee clinical operations in MaineHealth’s Southern Region, working to reduce care variation and promote the highest levels of quality, patient-centered practice at MHMMC. He also plans to continue to practice medicine as a primary care provider in the community.

“Dr. Morris shares our MaineHealth vision of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” said MaineHealth Chief Medical and Transformation Officer Adrian Moran, MD. “His years of leadership experience at a major academic medical center, commitment to quality and mentorship capabilities as a practicing physician, made him stand out as an ideal clinical leader at MaineHealth’s largest hospital.”

A Massachusetts native, Dr. Morris has served as Chief Medical Officer at Brigham and Woman’s since 2022 and was previously their Associate Chief Medical Officer. He was instrumental in leading that organization during the COVID-19 pandemic, has practiced medicine for 25 years and been an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School since 2008.

Dr. Morris received his bachelor’s in psychology from Princeton University in New Jersey, his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Ohio and his Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

He is an outdoor enthusiast who is looking forward to making Maine his home.

“I am excited to join the team at MaineHealth,” said Dr. Morris. “The focus on advancing the health of residents of Maine is ambitious, inspiring and exactly the opportunity I’m seeking.  I’ve spent my career honing my skills of advocacy for patients and providers alike, and there is no better place to put those skills to work than with the team at MaineHealth.”

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About MaineHealth

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include MaineGeneral Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Health System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.