ABC News has named a new chief medical correspondent following the exit earlier this year of Dr. Richard Besser, who left the network.

TVNewser reports that Dr. Jennifer Ashton was promoted to the position. “Dr. Ashton, who has been with ABC for the last 5 years, is a board-certified OBGYN and last year got her master’s in Human Nutrition,” the report notes.

ABC News President James Goldston made the announcement, commenting: “From breaking down a health warning for parents about child sleep apnea to analyzing the latest developments in cancer research to explaining the effects of mental illness to dissecting the benefits and risks related to a popular diet trend her knowledge knows no bounds.”

The report notes that Ashton has recently covered medical issues related to a series of devastating hurricanes, including reporting from Houston and Puerto Rico. “She also reported from Las Vegas where she interviewed a surgeon who treated the victims of the mass shooting earlier this month,” the report adds.

Goldston noted: “Her incredible work on the ground has elevated our breaking news coverage as evidenced by ABC News’ recent Emmy Award for our coverage of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando last year, which Dr. Ashton was an important part of.”

Dr. Jennifer Ashton (Twitter)