Medical school psychiatrist elected to addiction medicine post

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Tina M Shelton, (808) 692-0897
Director of Communications, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Posted: Feb 14, 2013

Dr. William Haning
Dr. William Haning
Dr. William Haning has been elected to a four-year term as a Director of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Haning is tenured Professor, Associate Chair for Education, and the Residency Program Director for the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) Department of Psychiatry at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa.
 
In addition to Hawai`i, he will represent Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
 
"I started this journey into medicine as a surgical orderly, in Laos in 1970," Haning replied, when asked about what motivated him to pursue JABSOM. The journey has taken him through emergency medicine, addiction medicine, and psychiatry, to clinical service and teaching and research and administration.
 
"I did not expect to receive my present role and I regard it as an undeserved gift," said Haning. "This is pretty much how I also view my mate, as an undeserved gift; but I’m not giving her back."
 
Haning, a graduate of Punahou School and a member of JABSOMʻs first-ever 4-year medical doctor class (1975), is President of the JABSOM Alumni Association and a member of the Board of the University of Hawai`i Alumni Association. He lives in Mānoa with that "mate"---his wife---Dr. Elizabeth Char, also a JABSOM graduate. "Libby" as he and most everyone calls her, serves JABSOM as Assistant Clinical Professor (Surgery), is the past Director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, the current Medical Director of American Medical Response, and President of Hawai`iʻs chapter of the American Heart Association.
 
Haning is certified in Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine, and has received teaching awards including the APA’s Nancy C.A. Roeske Certificate and the University of Hawai`i Regents Medal. He has chaired a number of community service boards including the Life Foundation and the Hawai’i Program for Healthcare Professionals. The past Force Surgeon for U.S. Marine Forces Pacific, and for Marine Forces Central Command in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Haning has also served as the Division Psychiatrist, 4th Marine Division. A Captain in the Navy Reserve, Haning transferred to the Retired Reserve in 2010. His military awards include the Legion of Merit.
 
 

For more information, visit: http://jabsom.hawaii.edu