The Daily Alaska Empire

U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH FIELD STATION TO BE GIVEN NORTHLAND

Dr. Jack C. Haldeman Will Be Medical Officer in Charge Says Albrecht

The Surgeon General of the U. S. Public Health Service, Dr. Leonard A. Scheele, has advised Dr. C. Earl Albrecht, Territorial Commissioner of Health, that a Field Station of the U. S. Public Health Service will be established in Alaska. This is in line with the action of the recent Congress to establish an expanded public health program throughout the Territory of Alaska.

The purpose of this office will be, as stated in the Act appropriating $1,150,000 for Alaska, "To co-operate with and assist the Territory of Alaska in the conduct of activities necessary in the investigation, prevention, treatment and control of diseases and the establishment and maintenance of health and sanitation services."

Dr. Jack Haldeman will be the Medical Officer in Charge, with headquarters at Anchorage. He was with the Territorial Department of Health for 18 months in 1938-39, when he served as Tuberculosis Consultant, and comes to Alaska from Washington, D. C., where he was Executive Officer in the Division of Hospital Facilities in the Public Health Service. After leaving Alaska in 1939, Dr. Haldeman was local health officer in The Dalles, Oregon, and Christian County, Kentucky, over a period of the succeeding three years. He received his Master in Public Health at the University of Michigan, and served as a generalized Public Health Consultant in the Public Health Service District Office, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and New Orleans, Louisiana during the war years.

He was transferred to Washington in 1946 to assume the position of Executive Officer in the Division of Hospital Facilities. This division is responsible for the administration of the Hospital Survey and Construction Program. He has repeatedly expressed a real interest in Alaska and has indicated enthusiasm over the prospects of returning to Alaska to assist in further developing the Territory.

Mrs. Haldeman and their two sons will join Dr. Haldeman in the near future.

One of the specific responsibilities of the Field Station established by the U. S. Public Health Service will be the development and direction of an active program of research investigation. Dr. Haldeman will serve in a liaison capacity with the Armed Forces and other Federal agencies.

Dr. Albrecht stated: "That Alaska is most fortunate in obtaining the services of Dr. Haldeman who has had outstanding experience in the past ten years which will be of great value to Alaska."