Washington University School of Medicine Oral Histories
Lawrence I. Kahn Oral History
Interviewer
James Carter and William M. Geideman
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Summary
Lawrence I. Kahn was interviewed by James Carter and William M. Geideman on July 23, 1990, for approximately 35 minutes. Kahn discusses his memories of working with Dr. Park White and his recollections of the segregated ward for Black patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Scope and Content
Lawrence Kahn discusses his memories of Park Jerauld White, a pediatrician who served as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Washington University Medical School and the Director of Pediatrics at Homer G. Phillips Hospital.
Kahn describes White’s professional practice, which Kahn joined, and White’s care for his patients. He relates White’s experiences at Harvard University and later the relationship White had with his family. Kahn then discusses White’s role at Homer G. Phillips Hospital. He also relates the role David Goldring and Alexis Hartmann played in desegregating St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and comments on the segregated ward for Black patients at Children’s Hospital, the Butler Ward.
Biographical Information: Interviewee
Lawrence I. Kahn (1921-2022) was born in New York City. He received a B.A. from the University of Alabama, and an M.D. from Louisiana State University. He completed his residency at St. Louis City Hospital No. 1, before working at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for two years. Kahn was accepted into Washington University’s postgraduate program in the Department of Pediatrics as a Fern Waldman Research Fellow, where he worked in the field of pediatric cardiology.
Kahn established a private practice in St. Louis, but returned to Washington University full-time in 1979 to become the medical director of the Medical Care Group (MCG), an experimental prepaid group practice which paired university-affiliated physicians with patients from independent local practices.
Biographical Information: Interviewer
James Carter is an anesthesiologist who received his bachelor's from Washington University in 1989 and graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in 1993.
William M. Geideman is an orthopedic surgeon who graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in 1993. He completed his internship and orthopedic residency training at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Interview Date
1990-07-23
Collection Identifier
OH105 (PC054-S07)
Length
Approximately 35 minutes.
Restrictions
Users wishing to publish (in whole, or in part) content taken from the audio or transcript of this oral history interview must request, sign, and return a Statement of Use form to the Becker Archives. For detailed information regarding publication and use of this oral history, contact the Becker Archives (arb@wusm.wustl.edu).
Recommended Citation
Lawrence I. Kahn Oral History, OH105 (PC054-S07), Bernard Becker Medical Library Archives, Washington University in St. Louis.
Disclaimer
The Becker Archives provides access to this oral history interview as a record of the past. This interview reflects the attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs of the interview participants, which may reflect outdated, biased, and offensive views and opinions. The Becker Archives does not endorse the views expressed in this interview, which may contain materials offensive to some users.
Notes
The interview transcript was edited by Dr. Kahn into an essay format. There are some discrepancies between the audio recording and final transcript.