William Hamman, a pilot from Michigan, fooled the American Medical Association, hospitals and physicians into thinking he was a physician with proper medical training for almost 20 years, according to a Washington Post report.
Mr. Hamman, whose pilot qualifications are in order, attended medical school only but for a few years before he dropped out. He never returned to graduate education nor underwent medical residency or fellowship training. However, he lied about his credentials, claiming he had received his medical and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and had 15 years of clinical experience, according to the report.
Starting in 1992, Mr. Hamman's claims of being a physician awarded him opportunities at various universities and organizational meetings, including as a session leader for teamwork training at a 2009 annual conference for heart specialists. He also videotaped heart attack treatment drills and spoke at Northwestern University,for the AMA and for the American College of Emergency Physicians. In 2009, he became an educator and researcher at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. That same year, the staff at William Beaumont Hospital discovered he lacked the medical credentials he claimed he had when he checked on a grant proposal he wanted to submit. Following the discovery, Mr. Hamman resigned in June.
Mr. Hamman apparently never treated patients, although he videotaped training in emergency rooms and other healthcare settings where patients were being treated.
Read the Washington Post news report about Mr. William Hamman's fake medical credentials.
Read other coverage about physician fraud and abuse:
- Idaho Psychiatrist Accused of Bilking $30K From Medicaid
- Florida Eye Physician Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy in "Pay-to-Play" System With Politicians
Mr. Hamman, whose pilot qualifications are in order, attended medical school only but for a few years before he dropped out. He never returned to graduate education nor underwent medical residency or fellowship training. However, he lied about his credentials, claiming he had received his medical and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and had 15 years of clinical experience, according to the report.
Starting in 1992, Mr. Hamman's claims of being a physician awarded him opportunities at various universities and organizational meetings, including as a session leader for teamwork training at a 2009 annual conference for heart specialists. He also videotaped heart attack treatment drills and spoke at Northwestern University,for the AMA and for the American College of Emergency Physicians. In 2009, he became an educator and researcher at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. That same year, the staff at William Beaumont Hospital discovered he lacked the medical credentials he claimed he had when he checked on a grant proposal he wanted to submit. Following the discovery, Mr. Hamman resigned in June.
Mr. Hamman apparently never treated patients, although he videotaped training in emergency rooms and other healthcare settings where patients were being treated.
Read the Washington Post news report about Mr. William Hamman's fake medical credentials.
Read other coverage about physician fraud and abuse:
- Idaho Psychiatrist Accused of Bilking $30K From Medicaid
- Florida Eye Physician Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy in "Pay-to-Play" System With Politicians