Upon his return home to Honolulu, he was a general and thoracic surgeon in private practice at St. Francis Medical Center. Dr. Ching was also an Associate Professor of Surgery at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii. He was Co-Director of Surgical Education at St. Francis in the 1980s where he trained surgical residents and taught medical students during their surgery rotations. From 1990 to 1994, he served as Chief of Surgery at St. Francis Medical Center. Dr. Ching's research interest established the Hawaii-Biological Response Modifiers Research Program for clinical treatment trials for cancer patients and chronic hepatitis patients. This program was a collaboration with his wife Clara, an Immunologist, in her research laboratory. Many students performed research projects, worked in the lab and were mentored by Drs. Nat and Clara.
After retiring from private practice, he became the medical director of the Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation's Hawaii office. He was a contractor for Medicare's Quality Improvement Organization, charged with ensuring proper medical care for Medicare beneficiaries. Nathaniel was known for his intelligence and compassion as a physician, generosity and dedication to his family and friends and love of travel and history. He was fascinated by computers and electronic gadgets, liked to grow vegetables, and was known for his home-made mango sorbet dessert from mangos he and his wife would carefully pick during mango season. He was also an avid photographer and videographer who chronicled social events and nature with printed photos, slide shows and videos for distribution to family and friends.
He is predeceased by his parents William Mew Kin and Rose Leong Ching. He is survived by his wife Clara Yuen Ching, Ph.D., his daughter Natascha Ching, M.D., son-in-law Joseph Del Rosario and his grandson Jonah Nathaniel Del Rosario. A private service will be held.
In lieu of flowers, donations to honor his life may be made to the Dr. Nathaniel P.H. Ching Memorial Fund at the UH Foundation, John A. Burns School of Medicine at P.O. Box 11270, Honolulu, HI 96828.
Arrangements Provided By: Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary
