Charles Harr, MD, MBA

A devotion to service, a passion for cardiac medicine and a commitment to patient care have helped define the career of Dr. Charles Harr. Not only is he a highly accomplished cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, he is also a retired rear admiral of the United States Navy with more than 23 years of service to this country.

Dr. Harr joined WakeMed from the Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute in Charlotte, N.C, and Charlotte Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates (of the Carolinas Healthcare System), where he spent more than 20 years performing state-of-the-art cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgical procedures.

A respected physician and hospital leader, Dr. Harr has helped develop, implement and maintain systems and processes that have enhanced patient care, improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. Sharing his expertise with medical residents and working collaboratively with multi-disciplinary medical teams for the benefit of the patient are also among his many strong suits.

Prior to his time in Charlotte, Dr. Harr served as a rear admiral of the U.S. Navy and was a recognized medical expert among his military colleagues, performing general, thoracic, vascular and trauma surgery for soldiers both on and off the battlefield. Relied upon for his strategic vision and medical and professional expertise, Dr. Harr was chosen to serve in various leadership positions for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. Awards such as the Legion of Merit, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service Medal were all bestowed upon Dr. Harr and help illustrate his successful military career as well as his commitment to service and professional excellence.