Encinitas resident Dr. Megan Hamreus has been named chief of staff for Scripps Mercy Hospital’s San Diego and Chula Vista campuses, Scripps Health announced Jan. 17.

Hamreus was elected by Scripps Mercy physicians and took over as head of the 1,100-member physician team Jan. 1.

In her new position, Hamreus serves as a medical staff liaison to Scripps Mercy San Diego’s administrative staff and Scripps Health’s board of trustees, a news release from the health system explained. She succeeds outgoing chief of staff Dr. Michael Sise.

“In addition to the outstanding care she delivers to our patients at Scripps Mercy, Dr. Hamreus has demonstrated exemplary leadership that has strengthened Scripps as a great place for physicians to practice medicine,” Tom Gammiere, Scripps Health’s corporate senior vice president and regional chief executive, said in the news release. “We’re delighted to welcome her to this new role.”

Hamreus, an osteopath and hospitalist, has spent 10 years as a member of the Scripps Mercy Hospital medical staff and previously worked at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Hospitalists are physicians who focus on general medical care of hospitalized patients, the announcement explained.

Hamreus is co-medical director of Scripps Health Inpatient Providers Medical Group and Scripps’ systemwide behavioral healthcare line. She also serves on the physician professional practice review committee and bylaws committee at Scripps Mercy Hospital. She is the former chief of family medicine for Scripps Mercy Hospital’s San Diego and Chula Vista campuses and was named physician of the quarter three times at Scripps La Jolla, according to Scripps Health.

Scripps Health has campuses and facilities throughout San Diego County, including Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas.

Hamreus holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from CSU San Marcos and a doctor of osteopathic medicine and surgery from De Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Iowa. She completed her family medicine residency and served as chief resident at the Ventura County Medical Center. Hamreus is board certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine.