Psychiatrists have a special gift.
Retirement reception
The campus is invited to attend Dr. Greiner’s retirement reception.
When: 2-4 p.m., Wednesday, June 29
Where: Private Dining Rooms A and B, third floor, University Tower
Remarks: Remarks will begin around 2:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
They deal with people having mental issues in a variety of different forms. To do the job right, they need to listen carefully and get people to feel comfortable about sharing their problems. No small task.
For Carl Greiner, M.D., who is retiring at the end of this month after 34 years at UNMC, psychiatry has been a perfect fit.
His boss, Steven Wengel, M.D., professor and chair of the department of psychiatry, said, “If there was one word to describe Carl, it was thoughtful. He was a guy who knew how to think things through.
The Greiner file
- 1950 – Born in San Francisco
- 1972 – B.A., history, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio (summa cum laude)
- 1978 – M.D., University of Cincinnati
- 1978-1981 – psychiatry residency, University of Cincinnati (chief resident, 1981-1982)
- 1999-2008 – forensic fellowship
- 1982 – joined UNMC Department of Psychiatry
- 1994-2001, director, residency education and training, psychiatry
- 1996-present – professor, psychiatry
- 2003-2007 – assistant dean for clinical affairs
- 2005-2007, chief of staff, Nebraska Medical Center
- Multiple recognitions, “The Best Doctors in America”
- 2013 – Fellow, American College of Psychiatrists
- 2013 – Distinguished Life Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
- 2001-2002 – president, Nebraska Psychiatric Association
- Conducted 137 media interviews during his career
- Authored or co-authored 30 articles and chapters in scholarly journals
- Married to wife, Belinda, for 43 years. They have three daughters, one granddaughter and three grandsons.
“Carl has been a trusted friend and colleague. He had a tremendous breadth of experience, serving as vice chair of the department, director of the residency program, and even chief of staff for the hospital.”
I know first-hand what Dr. Wengel means. From 1987-2007, I used to co-host a weekly radio show called “Community Health Line.” I used Dr. Greiner as a substitute co-host on numerous occasions.
I was always impressed with Carl’s skillset. He reminded me of the old commercial — “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.”
When Carl spoke, you always knew something interesting would be forthcoming.
Looking back on his career, Dr. Greiner said he especially takes pride in his work with cancer patients. “You had to listen carefully,” he said. “What is the person trying to tell you? What is it that the person is afraid to say? You had to sort it out – was it grief, depression or delirium?
“You had to help people come to terms with bad news, cope with their grief. You had to give them hope. Get them to connect with some source of hope — whether it was with themselves, their family or their friends.”
The only forensic psychiatrist on the UNMC campus, Dr. Greiner also had a passion for transplant ethics.
After being housed in a former hospital two miles east of the main campus for 13 years, the psychiatry department moved back to campus in 2012 when Poynter Hall was renovated.
“It was really important for us to get back on campus,” Dr. Greiner said. “It helped for us to be seen. We were able to develop much stronger relationships with departments like internal medicine and neurology.”
Dr. Greiner’s retirement will leave a huge void, Dr. Wengel said.
“His shoes will be difficult to fill.”
No doubt.
Carl, congratulations on your retirement. I hope you have some continuing involvement with UNMC. You have contributed so much.
Dr. Greiner: It was a pleasure to know you, be your friend and work with you. You are one of the pleasant memories I have of the many years I had the opportunity to serve the Department and its faculty and staff. I hope retirement brings wonderful new opportunities and joys. Dr. Reba Benschoter
I am so proud of you dad, a truly extraordinary career.