Capt. Dale M. Molé relieved Capt. Kathleen O’Farrell as commander of Naval Hospital Naples, Italy, at its Gricignano headquarters Friday morning.

The hospital also runs three branch health clinics at bases in the Naples area and two in the United Kingdom. It also operates dental clinics at these facilities.

Medical services for U.S. military personnel in Naples have been around at various locations in the Naples area since 1951, when a dispensary was opened in the city. In 1967, Naval Hospital Naples was established at the newly constructed hospital in Agnano.

O’Farrell assumed command in April 2003, moving the hospital from its old Agnano home to its current location at the Gricignano site. She leaves Naples for duty at Naval Medical Center San Diego. O’Farrell is board-certified in general surgery and colorectal surgery.

Molé, who was born in Beirut, Lebanon, as the son of a Navy chaplain, arrives in Naples from serving as executive officer of Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan. He is board-certified in emergency medicine and has subspecialty boards in undersea and clinical hyperbaric medicine.