Psychiatrist, Nurse Practitioner Join Beaufort Memorial Sea Island Psychiatry

To augment mental health services for residents of Beaufort County and beyond, Beaufort Memorial has brought two new board-certified providers to Beaufort Memorial Sea Island Psychiatry. Dr. Scott Walmer, a psychiatrist, and Haille Riddle, a nurse practitioner, see patients by appointment at the practice location in the Beaufort Medical Plaza on the main hospital campus, located at 989 Ribaut Road (Suite 330).

Board certified in psychiatry and forensic psychiatry, Scott Walmer, D.O., treats a range of mental health disorders, using psychotherapy and medication as indicated to help his adult patients return to health. Among his clinical areas of expertise are mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder; anxiety disorders; suicidal risk assessment and mitigation; psychosis; and personality disorders.

Dr. Walmer came to the Lowcountry from southern Colorado, where he served as medical director of the adult inpatient psychiatric unit and psychiatry consult service for Parkview Medical Center. In that role he also trained dozens of medical students from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, many of whom chose psychiatry for a career. Dr. Walmer spent the last six years running Rocky Mountain Forensic Psychiatry, a private practice in forensic psychiatry. He has extensive experience as an expert witness in both criminal and civil cases in a variety of courts.

The Colorado native graduated summa cum laude from University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, with a Bachelor of Science in medical biology and from its College of Osteopathic Medicine with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed a residency in adult psychiatry at The Institute of Living at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Conn., and a fellowship in forensic science from Yale University School of Medicine, Law and Psychiatry Division.

A board-certified adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, Haille Riddle specializes in the diagnosis of psychiatric conditions in adults and the use of non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapies in the conditions’ treatment.

From 2020 to 2022, Riddle, an Ohio native who grew up in Akron, served as a registered nurse at the Center for Geriatric Psychiatry at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. There she provided comprehensive care to patients over 65 in acute psychiatric crisis with concurrent medical diagnoses. She feels a particular bond with the older patient.

Earlier, she was for two years a colorectal surgery patient care nurse assistant at Cleveland Clinic.

Riddle holds degrees from two Ohio educational institutions: a Bachelor of Science in biology from University of Akron and a Master of Science in Nursing with an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner major from Case Western Reserve Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing in Cleveland.

“We couldn’t be more delighted to welcome Dr. Walmer and Ms. Riddle to our medical staff,” said Russell Baxley, president and chief executive officer at Beaufort Memorial. “Their broad-based experience and expertise will enable us to address the shortage of mental health services in our area, and their patients will surely benefit from their compassionate, insightful care.”

At Beaufort Memorial Sea Island Psychiatry, Walmer and Riddle join board-certified psychiatrist Wynn Hill, M.D., licensed clinical social worker Patricia Rickenbaker and board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Maggie Thompson. The practice offers a full range of general adult mental health care. In addition to outpatient appointments, its clinical team provides services to Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

A provider referral is required for an appointment with Walmer, Riddle or any of the practice providers. For more information, please call 843-522-5600.