John D. Kovac, M.D. will be the newest member of the Geary Community Hospital Board of Trustees.

Florence Whitebread, Geary County Commissioners, made that announcement Tuesday during the boards monthly meeting.

Dr. Kovac is a retired family physician living here in Junction City with his wife of 43 years, Helen (Ascher). The couple were married in Junction City in 1971.

He practiced in medicine in the Family Medicine Department of Kaiser Permanete of Southern California. He also was on the staff of UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine for 21 years as assistant professor of Family Medicine.

Kovac retired in August 2012, and moved to Junction City where his wife was born and where her mother and many of her family still live. The Kovacs reside in Junction City and have a farm south of the city.

He will assume his duties October 1, replacing longtime trustee Kevin Connell.