Robert Kistner
Encyclopedia
Robert William Kistner was a well-known gynecologist who specialized in the treatment of endometriosis
and was involved in the early development of the birth control
pill.
Kistner was born in Cincinnati, Ohio
, the son of Alfred and Gertrude Kistner, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati
in 1938 and from its Medical School in 1942. He served in the Pacific as a flight surgeon during World War II
. Following residency in Cincinnati, Baltimore, and New York he moved to Boston in 1952 and became a professor at Harvard Medical School
, where he was an early advocate of the first birth control pills. He was also a senior attending physician at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston.
Kistner was the author of numerous books and articles, most notably The Pill: Fact and Fallacy, published in 1969, which has subsequently been translated into six languages, and Principles and Practices of Gynecology, which has been republished numerous times and is still a major textbook used in medical schools.
Kistner was married twice, first to Georgia Golde, in 1943, and secondly to Janet Langhart
, in 1978. He had four children with his first wife, Dana, Robert, Jr., Stephen, and Peter. In 1986 he retired and moved to West Palm Beach, Florida
. He committed suicide a year after his divorce with Janet Langhart at the age of 72.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...
and was involved in the early development of the birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
pill.
Kistner was born in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, the son of Alfred and Gertrude Kistner, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
in 1938 and from its Medical School in 1942. He served in the Pacific as a flight surgeon during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Following residency in Cincinnati, Baltimore, and New York he moved to Boston in 1952 and became a professor at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, where he was an early advocate of the first birth control pills. He was also a senior attending physician at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston.
Kistner was the author of numerous books and articles, most notably The Pill: Fact and Fallacy, published in 1969, which has subsequently been translated into six languages, and Principles and Practices of Gynecology, which has been republished numerous times and is still a major textbook used in medical schools.
Kistner was married twice, first to Georgia Golde, in 1943, and secondly to Janet Langhart
Janet Langhart
Janet Langhart Cohen is an American model, television journalist and author. She serves as President and CEO of Langhart Communications and is the spouse of former Defense Secretary William Cohen...
, in 1978. He had four children with his first wife, Dana, Robert, Jr., Stephen, and Peter. In 1986 he retired and moved to West Palm Beach, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He committed suicide a year after his divorce with Janet Langhart at the age of 72.