Honolulu mayor picks new Chief Medical Examiner

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Monday that Dr. Christopher B. Happy has been selected as Honolulu's Chief Medical Examiner.?

Dr. Happy is currently practicing in California.? He is required to obtain a Hawaii state medical license prior to starting with the City and County of Honolulu.?

"I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Christopher Happy, and I believe he possesses not only the professional expertise and experience required for the Chief Medical Examiner position, but the leadership qualities that are needed to successfully run this critical operation at the City," said Mayor Caldwell.?? ?

The Chief Medical Examiner position has been vacant since November 1, 2009, upon the retirement of Dr. Kanthi De Alwis.? After struggling to find qualified candidates at a salary level considered low, the City proposed to raise the salary to $250,000 which was granted by the Salary Commission.? Board certified forensic pathologists are rare in the United States.? Of approximately 17,000 medical school graduates each year, only 30 to 40 ultimately become forensic pathologists.

Dr. Happy is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Forensic Pathology, and is a Fellow of the National Association of Medical Examiners.? He is currently employed as a consulting Forensic Pathologist in Northern California.? His past experience includes Assistant Medical Examiner at the San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office; serving as the Chief Medical Examiner in the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office; Assistant Medical Examiner at the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner ? Coroner's Office; and City Medical Examiner in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York.

The Chief Medical Examiner must be confirmed by the Honolulu City Council.? Once Dr. Happy is licensed to practice medicine in Hawaii, which is anticipated to take a few months, the City will announce his start date.

Related Story:

City wants $50k salary increase for new Chief Medical Examiner

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Source: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/22786533/honolulu-mayor-picks-new-chief-medical-examiner

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