Hans Einstein, MD, has seen a lot of changes in the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis since his early work at the Kern County Sanitorium in 1952. Back then he was just starting his medical career and he was intent on ending the pain and suffering caused by TB.
"The most important change was the development of an effective treatment," Dr. Einstein says. "The sanitoriums closed in the 1960s because they weren't needed any more."
Besides serving as medical director of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Dr. Einstein still finds time to run the County Health Department's TB Clinic. Every week he listens to his patients' chests and hears their stories, making sure they follow their medication schedules and eat properly.
"You could say I am on the frontlines in the fight against tuberculosis," says Dr. Einstein, who has volunteered for the American Lung Association since 1960. "If you work in the area of TB, then you get involved with the lung association."
Even as he prepares to retire from his position as medical director, Dr. Einstein won't end his battle against TB. He will continue to treat his patients at the clinic just as he did last year and many years before that.
"TB is there and it's challenging me to do something about it," he says.