Robert Kistner
American physician (1917–1990)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert William Kistner (August 23, 1917 – February 6, 1990) was a gynecologist who specialized in the treatment of endometriosis and was involved in the early development of the birth control pill.[1]
Early life
Kistner was born in Cincinnati, Ohio,[1] the son of Alfred and Gertrude Kistner;[2] he graduated from the University of Cincinnati and from its medical school in 1942.[1][3][4]
Career
Following his internship at Cincinnati General Hospital (now the University of Cincinnati Medical Center), he was a resident at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and Kings County Hospital Center in New York, before moving to Boston Hospital for Women (now Brigham and Women's Hospital).[5] Kistner was a senior attending physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital.[1] He was an associate clinical professor at Harvard Medical School, and specialized in surgery to correct infertility.[3] He was previously a chief of staff at Boston Hospital for Women, and a consultant for the New England Baptist Hospital.[5]
Kistner was named the 32nd president of the American Fertility Society in 1979.[5] He was a member of the American College of Surgeons, and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.[3] He was an advocate of the first birth control pills,[1] not only as a contraceptive, but also for protection against uterine cancer.[5]
Military career
Kistner served in the Pacific theatre of World War II as a flight surgeon for the United States Army Air Corps,[3] and chief of air evacuation.[5] When the war ended, he continued consulting for the Air Force.[5]
Personal life
Kistner was married to Georgia Golde in 1943,[2] and to Janet Langhart in 1978.[6] He had four children with Golde: Dana, Robert Jr., Stephen, and Peter.[1] The Boston Globe "Who's Who" in Boston medicine described Kistner in 1980 as well dressed, a "brilliant surgeon as well as researcher" and "one of the best known gynecologists in the world long before he achieved a special kind of local celebrity with his marriage".[7]
Retirement and death
After 38 years of practicing medicine and teaching, he retired and moved to Wellington, Florida,[1][3] where he died at the age of 72.[1]
Kistner served as a trustee for Noble and Greenough School and was a member of the Harvard Club of Boston.[3]
Works
Kistner was the author of more than 175 articles and numerous books,[5][8] including:[5]
- The Pill: Facts and fallacies about today's oral contraceptives. New York: Delacorte Press. 1969. ASIN B0006C4QSO.
- Gynecology: Principles and Practice 1964. republished numerous times and widely used in medical schools.[3]
- Atlas of infertility surgery. Little, Brown. 1975. ISBN 978-0316496704.
- Progress in Infertility. Little Brown & Co. 1987. ISBN 978-0316087759. (With Behrman SJ, edited by Patton GW.)
According to the Duka and DeCherney, among Kistner's notable journal-published research are three papers published early in his career:[5]
Honors and awards
The Kistner Library at Brigham and Women's Hospital was dedicated after his death to his 34 years of service.[5]