Dr. William Hablitzel, award winning author, to address Reid Hospital’s 25th annual Humanity in Medicine events
William E. Hablitzel, M.D., award-winning author of Dying Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, will be the 2007 Rhoads Humanity in Medicine lecturer at Reid Hospital & Health Care Services.
Dr. Hablizel will speak Tuesday, Oct. 2 at the 25th annual event for an invited audience of Reid’s leaders and friends and also present his message to the public at a Grand Rounds session at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, in Reid’s Wallace Auditorium. Dr. Hablitzel will also speak to a special Women on Wednesday’s noon audience.
Dr. Hablitzel has cared for patients in hospitals, examination rooms, and even in the back of ambulances. He started his career as a firefighter-paramedic for his hometown of Perrysburg in northwest Ohio. During those five years he was touched by the magic that comes through the service of others and returned to school. He received his baccalaureate degree from Bowling Green State University and his medical degree at the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo.
Completing a residency in internal medicine, Dr. Hablitzel joined the faculty at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and rose to the rank of associate professor. In addition to his academic responsibilities, he maintains a private practice and helps operate a free medical clinic in rural southern Ohio.
Dr. Hablitzel has been recognized by the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine for excellence in teaching and his community service was honored by resolutions passed by the Ohio State Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives. He has been named a Melvin Jones Fellow by Lion's International.
When not seeing patients and teaching, Dr. Hablitzel is drawn to the hills of southern Ohio. There he finds birds, photographs nature, and cherishes the silence.
The Humanity in Medicine award and celebration, authorized as an annual event by Reid’s governing board in 1983, honors the memory of Paul S. Rhoads, M.D., for his services to patients and medicine.
Annually since 1984, Reid has honored a physician as its Humanity in Medicine Laureate. Physicians are nominated by patients, colleagues and members of the community. The Paul S. Rhoads Humanity in Medicine Award is East Central Indiana’s most prestigious recognition of clinical excellence and compassionate practice in medicine.
This year’s winner will be announced Friday evening, Oct. 5, at a reception that also welcomes physicians who have joined Reid’s Medical Staff in the past year.
The 2006 Rhoads recipient was William Black, M.D.,a Richmond pediatric-internal medicine physician. Nominations can be submitted until Monday, Aug. 20, by paper form available in Reid’s cafeteria, at the Information Desk or from Reid’s internet site at www.reidhosp.com.