Health Care in Mobile: An Oral History of the 1940s

Health Care in Mobile: An Oral History of the 1940s

“Health Care in Mobile: An Oral History of the 1940s” presents a small oral history of the delivery of health care in Mobile, Alabama, from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. It includes the beliefs, behaviors, expectations and experiences of individuals whose lives have been entwined with community and health care: men and women from different cultures, social classes, and ethnic and racial groups whose differences and similarities combine to present their memories. Collectively they present common experiences that offer a glimpse of a very real health culture that has been mostly forgotten, as it existed before interstates, insurance, and intensive care units. This is a work of local health and medical history. The spoken memories in this book are faithfully reproduced to allow an understanding of the emotions, thoughts, perspective, culture, and assessment of the times. These narratives provide recollections about self and relationships that are seldom provided in such depth. That is their gift — coming to know each person as if you’d joined them at the dinner table. The individuals profiled in here include: A.A. Wood, MD Marguerite Wiggins Russell Franklin James B. Foster Ernest G. DeBakey, MD Socrates N. Rumpanos, MD Harry N. Webster, MD Samuel Eichold, MD Annelle Woodall Jerome, RN E. Chandler Bramlett Margie Ward Gatti, RN Joy HP. Harriman has worked for over 20 years in the health care industry in library and information management, staff development, marketing, and research. She was formerly the Director of the Medical Library at the Mobile Infirmary, in Mobile, AL, and a consultant with Right Management Consultants, Inc. She was the CEO of InfoResearch, an information brokerage specializing in business, legal and medical information located in Mobile, AL Previously she was the Associate Director, Library of the Health Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) of the Permian Basin, Odessa, TX, and later the Director of Development with TTUHSC of the Permian Basin. She was an adjunct faculty member at the Physician Assistant Program, TTUHSC, in Midland, TX, for five years, teaching research, and writing and communication skills. Currently, she is the medical librarian at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, UT. Ms. Harriman's first book, Creating Your Library's Business Plan: A How-To-Do-It Manual, was released in 2008. Harriman graduated the University of West Florida, Florida State University, and the University of South Alabama. She holds a B.A. in Journalism/Communication Arts, an M.L.S. and an M.B.A. She holds a Distinguished level of certification from AHIP, the Academy of Health Information Professionals and Medical Library Association.