A new chief of emergency has been appointed for Bermuda Hospitals Board, it was announced today.

Chikezie Dean Okereke takes up the post for three years next week, replacing Edward Schultz, who has retired from BHB.

He has worked in the emergency department of King Edward VII Hospital for two years, and his background includes study at the University of Nigeria College of Medicine as well as postgraduate medical training in the UK.

Michael Richmond, BHB chief of staff, said: “We are very pleased to announce Chikezie Dean Okereke as the new Chief of Emergency and Hyperbaric Services.

“We are grateful to Dr Schultz, not only for his long service at BHB, but for continuing in position until this transition could take place.

“Dr Schultz will be missed by the community and staff and we wish him the very best for the future. “We now look forward to Dr Okereke providing clinical leadership in ED and hyperbaric services to continue improving this busy service at the frontline of care, as we evolve to meet the complex demands of an ageing, increasingly unwell population.”

Dr Okereke has a fellowship in surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and a fellowship in emergency medicine from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, both in the UK.

He has also completed a masters in medical education from the University of Leeds.

Before joining BHB, Dr Okereke worked as a substantive consultant in emergency medicine at the Mid-Yorkshire NHS Trust, also in the UK, for over 16 years.

During that time, he held a number of senior medical leadership and training positions within the Trust, the West Yorkshire region and nationally.

Dr Okereke, whose main interests are in medical education and training, as well as trauma and critical care, is a member of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and regularly examines for the College of Emergency Medicine.