Gary Hunninghake pays fine, surrenders Iowa medical license

Former University of Iowa researcher Gary Hunninghake has resigned his Iowa medical license and paid a fine to the Iowa Board of Medicine, according to information released by the board today.

Hunninghake, 65, was charged by the Board of Medicine with inappropriately viewing pictures of nude children and other inappropriate sexual material on the Internet at work; engaging in a sexual relationship with a subordinate female staff member; inappropriately accessing the medical records of a female staff member without her knowledge or permission; and inappropriately prescribing himself steroids and other medications.

Under the terms of the settlement reached Oct. 13, Hunninghake paid a $10,000 fine, was issued a public reprimand and voluntarily surrendered his Iowa medical license. The board sent out a press release today about the agreement.

The allegations occurred primarily between 2006 and 2008, according to the board documents.

In April 2011, the board ordered Hunninghake to complete a comprehensive sexual misconduct and professional boundaries evaluation, which he did May 23-25, 2011, according to the documents. Also in April, the board ordered Hunninghake to complete a physical, neuropsychological, mental health and substance abuse evaluation, which he did June 6-8.

Hunninghake, of Coralville, resigned from the UI effective May 31 after he spent a year on paid leave. He received his $360,000 annual salary while on leave from the university through his resignation date.

Hunninghake was under investigation by UI police for possible child pornography when he stabbed himself in Chicago in April 2010, according to a Chicago police report of the stabbing incident. Hunninghake's Iowa City attorney, Leon Spies, has said the UI investigation found no basis for criminal charges.

Hunninghake was director of the university's Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. He told Chicago police he was stabbed and robbed while jogging in downtown Chicago on April 24, 2010, the day after he was put on leave at the UI. Hunninghake later admitted to Chicago police that he stabbed himself. He pleaded guilty in January to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in Cook County, Ill. He was originally charged with felony disorderly conduct.