Neural specialist honored

Star-Bulletin staff

Dr. James F. Craine is the 1999 recipient of the Vikki Lianne Moritsugu Public Health Leadership Award in recognition of his pioneering work in developing treatment services for brain-injury victims.

Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu, deputy surgeon general of the U.S. Public Health Service's Department of Human Services, established the award to honor his daughter, Vikki.

She suffered a mild brain injury at age 12, made significant strides with neuropsychology rehabilitation, then was hit by a car at age 22 while walking in a crosswalk. She gave the gift of life as an organ donor.

Craine has devoted a lifetime to developing neuropsychology and neurotraining services. After retiring from private practice and moving to Hawaii, he was asked to develop a neuropsychology assessment battery to identify brain injuries.

He developed the state Health Department's neurotraining services to address specific deficits caused by damaged brain tissue -- a program developed in the 1970s when regaining brain functions was believed unlikely.

He voluntarily provided weekly consultation and training to the department after a second retirement nine years ago.

Craine is contributing his $1,000 award to the Hawaii Medical Association's Hawaii Neuropsychology Community Research Bureau for a Center for Integrated Neuropsychology Community-based Healthcare Hawaii.