Mini-Post: The Doctor

The Doctor... no not that "Doctor" 

X-rays, TB, and Connecticut.

What do those three things have in common.

Well the doctor was a TB doctor here in Connecticut.

He was the Director of Connecticut’s Office of TB Rehabilitation.

Facts about the Doctor:

• Born October 4, 1890 in Halls Summit, Kansas. 
• Trained as a physician and radiologist: he earned an M.S. in Radiology (University of Pennsylvania, 1928/30) and later an M.P.H. (Yale, 1948). 
• He had a varied career: working in sanatoria, X‑ray clinics, public health TB control programs in states like Washington, Idaho, and Connecticut.

He was one of the pioneers in using X-rays in medicine and there was one other fact... he was trans.

PubMed writes about him...

Alan L. Hart: An Innovative Pioneer in Radiology and Transgender Rights

Athena Reich 1, Katharine A Colbert 2,3,

Abstract

Robert Allen Bamford Jr., also known as Alan L. Hart (1890-1962), was an American physician, radiologist, researcher, and novelist who developed and implemented the gold standard for tuberculosis (TB) screening using chest radiography, two decades before epidemiological tools became widespread. His groundbreaking medical contributions were made despite facing systemic discrimination as one of the first transgender men in the United States to undergo gender-affirming surgery. This article explores Dr. Hart’s achievements in medicine and public health, his gender transition, and his lasting impact on both healthcare and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other non-binary or non-heterosexual identities (LGBTQIA)+ history.

Introduction and background

Alan L. Hart was born biologically female as Alberta Lucille Hart in Halls Summit, Kansas, in 1890 [1]. After his father died of typhoid fever, Hart’s mother relocated the family to Oregon, where he was raised. Hart exhibited a persistent male identity from early childhood, expressing a preference for boys’ clothing and toys made by his grandfather. While his mother reportedly dismissed his gender expression as “foolish”, his grandparents referred to him as their grandson in their obituaries - a remarkably affirming act, especially for that era [2].

[...]

Review

Medical contributions and public health impact

Hart developed a specialty in radiology at a time when tuberculosis (TB) was one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Recognizing that X-rays could identify TB before symptoms appeared, he pioneered the use of chest radiography as a screening tool. This was revolutionary: before Hart, chest X-rays were primarily used only after serious symptoms had developed [3,6].

He earned a Master’s in Radiology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1928 and, later, a Master’s in Public Health from Yale in 1948. As Director of Hospitalization and Rehabilitation for the Connecticut State Tuberculosis Commission, Hart oversaw statewide screening programs, using mobile X-ray units to detect asymptomatic TB cases. These initiatives led to earlier treatment and lower transmission rates - saving countless lives [1,4,6].

As seen in Figure 4, Hart was directly involved in operating X-ray technology at Tacoma General Hospital.

You know when the Republicans say were are new phenomenon... tell Bull Sh*t!