Dr. Edwin Cadman, who came here from Yale University in 1999 and developed a world-class University of Hawaii medical school, is retiring Oct. 31, the UH announced.

Cadman was dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine until 2005. He stepped down from that position because of a progressive neurological disorder but continued on the faculty as a professor.

“;The University of Hawaii and our entire state owes Dr. Cadman a deep debt of gratitude for his outstanding service and we wish him well,”; UH President David McClain said in a news release.

Added UH-Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw: “;Our UH Medical School's Kakaako campus was built as a direct result of Ed Cadman's energy, passion and vision.

“;Thanks to him, the Medical School's Class of 2009 is graduating this month after studying for the past four years in one of the most modern medical schools in the country.”;

Dr. Gary Ostrander, vice chancellor for research and graduate education, said, “;We very much appreciate the passion and dedication that Dr. Cadman brought to JABSOM and to Hawaii and we wish him the best in his retirement.”;

Two UH faculty committees said before Cadman was recruited that the medical school was a drain on the university's budget and should be closed.

The new dean worked to increase faculty and funding and develop a new school on a 10-acre Kakaako site.

Touring the building while it was under construction in 2004, he said in a Star-Bulletin interview he had no idea it would turn into “;the most modern medical school in the country.”;

Revenues, grants and contracts and research funds greatly increased under his leadership.

Last year, Cadman, a professor of medicine, received one of the highest honors given by a medical organization. He was designated by the American College of Physicians as a master of his specialty.

The former chief of staff and senior vice president for medical affairs at the Yale-New Haven Hospital Health System disclosed in 2005 that he was suffering from primary progressive aphasia, a subtype of a disorder known as frontotemporal dementia. He said his symptoms began in early 2003.