As good as it gets--training with Henry Kaplan and Saul Rosenberg during the Stanford studies on Hodgkin's disease and lymphoma.

Abstract

The Stanford team of Drs. Henry S. Kaplan and Saul A. Rosenberg churned out an extensive amount of clinical research on the evaluation and treatment of Hodgkin's disease and other lymphomas throughout the 1960's, 70's and 80's. After Dr. Kaplan's death in 1983, Dr. Rosenberg continued clinical research in this area. A training experience under these physicians was both exhilarating and productive, as the discipline with which Drs. Kaplan and Rosenberg approached patients actually eclipsed the individual studies which were carried out. The overall product of their efforts, in conjunction with that of other investigators throughout the world, changed the mindset of physicians to approaching these patients with curative intent, rather than traditional palliation which had been the general policy up to the late 1950's. Today the vast majority of Hodgkin's patients who are treated get cured, although there is still some room for further improvement. The strong character traits of Drs. Kaplan and Rosenberg left lasting impressions, not only on other staff, but most especially on the young trainees who learned to accept and appreciate their efforts at excellence. Their method of approach and the gains achieved by it became the paradigm for the study of other malignant diseases.