Panting’s journey to addiction medicine 

Inspired by his great-grandfather’s work as an apothecary during a yellow fever epidemic in Honduras, Central America, Dr. David Panting’s initial interest in medicine later carved a path toward addiction medicine, which is the treatment of substance use disorders.  

Panting, a psychiatrist who recently joined University Medical Center’s Betty Shirley Clinic, is UMC’s first addictionologist. He is also an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the College of Community Health Sciences, which operates UMC. Panting hopes to soon introduce addiction medicine into his clinical work and the College’s teaching curriculum.  

Addiction is a chronic brain disorder that causes people to compulsively use substances or engage in behaviors despite harmful consequences, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine.  

“Addictions have been around for a long time, but the science behind it has improved in recent decades with research on substance abuse, eating disorders and behavioral addictions,” Panting said.  

He became certified as an addictionologist through the American Society of Addiction Medicine, an organization focused on evidence-based prevention, treatment and recovery for people with addiction disorders. He is also a fellow of the ASAM.  

Prior to pursuing medicine and addictionology, Panting wanted to become a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. After graduating from high school, he moved to New York City, N.Y., and joined the U.S. Air Force ROTC at Manhattan College, but, in the 1970s, there was a height range to become a pilot, and he was too tall. “I never knew that there were such parameters, and I wondered ‘What am I going to do now?’” he said. 

Faced with this obstacle, Panting decided to return to his home in Honduras, where he earned his medical degree through an eight-year program at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras. This included four years of preclinical studies, two years of clinical studies, one year of clinical internships and one year of social service. During this last year, medical students work for the government, often in rural areas.  

It was during his year of social service that Panting had his first experience providing health care in a rural setting. He recalled that at the time, the rural areas of Honduras faced significant health challenges.  

“I was assigned to a small village and was the sole doctor in charge of the health center,” Panting said. “Resources were scarce, one nurse, a couple of voluntary techs, with limited electricity and only kerosene gas refrigerators to keep vaccines cool. The focus of health care was on basic medical care and preventive measures, especially for women and children.”  

After completing medical school, Panting opened his own clinic as a general practitioner in Honduras. He said that in that country, medical school graduates are not required to complete a residency to practice general medicine.    

After practicing in Honduras for three years, Panting moved back to the United States and completed his residency in psychiatry at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa., also serving as a chief resident. His interest in how the brain works led him to choose psychiatry as a specialty.  

During his residency, Panting’s interest in addiction medicine grew while caring for patients at several jails in Pennsylvania. One of his supervising physicians was a substance abuse specialist – a health care professional who treats and supports those struggling with addiction.  

Panting later served 20 years as a medical director of First Step of Sarasota in Sarasota, Fla., establishing the county’s Addiction Receiving Facility for addiction treatment and recovery including court ordered involuntary assessments. He also served as the medical director of the Manatee Memorial Hospital Department of Psychiatry in Bradenton, Fla., teaching mental health to internal medicine, family medicine and psychiatric residents and as an adjunct clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine- Bradenton, Fla., Campus.  

He later opened a part-time private practice in Bradenton, Fla., since 1997, before joining CCHS and UMC.