South Peninsula Hospital is getting ready to welcome a new medical director into its midst.

Dr. Christopher Landess will join the medical staff as its new director — in place of Hal Smith — of the hospital’s emergency department. He is Board Certified in family medicine, specializing in emergency medicine.

Landess is no stranger to Alaska, having been raised in Sterling. He moved to Homer from his most recent location in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Landess “is excited about the opportunity to return home to share and explore the great land with his wife and teenage son,” according to a press release from the hospital.

Landess started his career in medicine as a Medical Sergeant in the U.S. Army Special Forces. He earned his medical degree at East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine, and his Physician Executive MBA at University of Tennessee, Knoxville College of Business.

He completed his family practice and surgical residencies at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center and Johnson City Medical Center.

In all, Landess has been practicing medicine in Virginia and Tennessee for 20 years. He served as regional medical director for Team Health in Knoxville for the last six years.

Landess will be taking over as medical director of the emergency department from Hal Smith.

After serving in that role for 31 years, Smith is set to retire on Sept. 1.