(LML) Dr. Robert Jacobson

Leprosy Mailing List – December 6,  2015

Ref.:   (LML)  Dr. Robert Jacobson

From:  David Scollard, Baton Rouge, USA

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Dear Pieter,

Please share with readers of the LML the notice, below, regarding the passing of Dr. Robert Jacobson, a distinguished leprologist, former Director of the National Hansen’s Disease Programs (USA), and WHO consultant.  I believe that several readers probably knew him.

Sincerely,

David

David M. Scollard, M.D., Ph.D.

Director

National Hansen’s Disease Programs

Tel:  225-756-3713 (Clinical) or 756-3776 (Administration)

Fax:  225-756-3819 or 756-3806

E-mail:  dscollard@hrsa.gov

Web:  www.hrsa.gov/hansensdisease           

NHDP:  Caring and Curing since 1894

 

Col. Robert R. Jacobson, USPHS, Retired, age 83, of Woodstock, GA died peacefully on December 1, 2015. Dr. Jacobson was a physician and international authority on clinical Hansen's disease (Leprosy). He practiced at the Gillis W. Long Hansen’s Disease Center for 34 years where he rose to the position of Director for the center. During his career he pioneered work on drug resistance in Hansen’s disease by introducing Rifampin to the multi-drug therapy for the disease. He published extensively and traveled to places such as the South Pacific, the Philippines, Japan, China, India, Switzerland, Malta, and Venezuela as a researcher and consultant for the World Health Organization, governments and other organizations to help treat the disease worldwide. Dr. Jacobson loved his work and received numerous commendations from the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) including the Commendation, Meritorious Service, and Distinguished Service Medals. He also oversaw the relocation of the hospital from Carville to Baton Rouge, Louisiana before his retirement in 2000.

Dr. Jacobson was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a PhD in Organic Chemistry and of the Medical School - University of Minnesota with a MD. His undergraduate degree was in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Jacobson is survived by his wife of 58 years, Alice Tyykila Jacobson; three children: Michael and his wife Jan, Mark and his wife Tammi, and Eric; three grandchildren: Sabrina, Anna, and Peter; brother Bill and his wife Carol, sisters Mary Wasik and her husband Hank, and Janet Willson and her husband Laird; and many beloved nieces and nephews, friends and co-workers.

 

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LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com

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