Western Tidewater Free Clinic has announced its new medical director.

Dr. Steven P. Greer will begin his full-time responsibilities this August. He currently works as a hospitalist at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and comes to the clinic to serve every chance he gets.

“I’m excited to be working here and looking forward to just being able to develop relationships with patients,” he said.

Greer is a native of Syracuse, N.Y., and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Clarkson University. He entered in Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1997 and graduated in 2001. He then completed post-graduate residency training at EVMS and practiced for five years in North Carolina and three years in Delaware. He returned to EVMS in 2013.

He has been acknowledged in the medical community for his work, including being honored with the EVMS James P. Baker Award as the outstanding graduating resident in internal medicine in 2004 and receiving first place in oral presentation at the Virginia Chapter Scientific Meeting of the American College of Physicians.

Greer said his post in North Carolina was especially similar to Suffolk and Western Tidewater in that it was a rural area with an underserved population. He said that during his hospital work, he has missed developing long-term relationships with patients.

“All the patients are very appreciative,” he said of those at Western Tidewater Free Clinic. “They’re always thanking you.”

Greer said he is eager to build relationships that will help patients of the free clinic gain access to even more needed medical care.

He said he wants to find a way to give patients access to sleep studies as well as low- or no-cost supplies for treating sleeping issues.

“Everybody who walks through here that has obesity probably has sleep apnea,” he said.

Greer also said he wants to find a way for patients at the free clinic to be able to have colonoscopies to screen for colon cancer.

“We are thrilled to have him on board,” said Chet Hart, executive director of the Western Tidewater Free Clinic. “He will be a great addition to our clinic team and believes in the mission of our staff and volunteers to provide our patients with the best medical care possible.”

Greer, his wife and their three children reside in Suffolk.

Greer replaces Dr. April Foster, who was medical director for about a year and a half until the U.S. Air Force transferred her husband to Hawaii. She left in February.