Centura Health-Mercy Regional Medical Center has announced that Christopher M. Hudson, M.D., has been named chief medical officer.

As chief medical officer, Hudson will share his passion for health care by providing leadership, strategic direction and overall operational management of physician services and medical staff administration.

Before joining Mercy, Hudson served as a physician in the United States Air Force for 22 years. He finished his Air Force career as the commander of the 2nd Medical Group at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

Hudson received both his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and medical degree at Vanderbilt University. He is a graduate of the Saint Louis University Family Practice Residency Program. Hudson completed his master of public health at the Harvard University School of Public Health. He is a 2010 graduate of the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Residency in Aerospace Medicine. Hudson is board certified in family medicine, aerospace medicine, preventive medicine and public health, as well as a certified physician executive.