Dr. Ron Eckoff has been a member of IPHA since 1968, and served as its president in 1972-73. Since 2010, he has written articles as IPHA’s unofficial historian, chronicling major issues of public health’s past. Read the origin of his historical prowess in his own words:
“I came to the Iowa Department of Public Health in 1965 with no particular interest in history. By the 1980s or 90s I was probably the senior member of the senior staff of the department and it seemed like questions about the history of the department got referred to me. The Biennial Reports of the State Board of Health from 1880 through about 1930 were very detailed and provided an excellent resource. I found them fascinating to read and they are the basic source for many of the articles. In addition, some of the individuals in the department when I started in 1965 had joined the department in the 1920s and 30s which provided another connection to the past.”
The Latest Edition
An Editorial on Diphtheria by Ron Eckoff
The October, 2021 issue of Smithsonian magazine includes an article by Perri Klass, M.D., titled “The Plague Among Children: How We Fought Diphtheria.” In the article, Dr. Klass discusses how Diphtheria brought terror to both the richest and poorest families. Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Alice, died of diphtheria at age 35. W.E.B. Du Bois’ son died from diphtheria at age 2. Pablo Picasso’s sister, Conchita died at age 7. President Grover Cleveland’s oldest child, “Baby Ruth,” died at age 12… READ MORE
The Backlog: Ron’s Past Articles
- Local Health Units for the Nation – Fall 2018
- Rubella Hx – Spring 2018
- Is Your Municipal Water Supply Approved by the State – 1930 – PHM Winter 2017/2018
- The 1939 View of Public Health Nursing – PHM Fall 2017
- Public Health Science Heroes – PHM Spring 2017
- 1880-81 Survey Answers – PHM Winter 2016-2017
- 1880-81 Survey – PHM Fall 2016
- Rubella Immunization Program – PHM Spring 2016
- Diptheria Antitoxin Distribution – PHM Winter 2015-2016
- Greater Visibility for Iowa’s Public Health History – PHM Fall 2015
- Investigation of 1914 Typhoid Fever Outbreak in Adel, IA with additional comment by Dr. Russell Currier – PHM Summer 2015
- Open and Read Your Mail – PHM Spring 2015
- Smoking and Health: 50 Years Later – PHM Winter 2014-2015
- Polio – Don’t Let the Scary Times Come Back – PHM Fall 2014
- Is the Football Scene Too Violent: The View from 1902 – PHM Summer 2014
- In Honor of Dr. Walter L. Bierring – PHM Spring 2014
- Health Bill Passes at Last Minute – PHM Winter 2013-2014
- Prevention’s Time Has Come – PHM Fall 2013
- Happy Birthday Dr. Snow – PHM Summer 2013
- Iowa Serum Center – PHM Spring 2013
- Nutrition Surveys: 1948-1952 – PHM Winter 2012-2013
- Open Burning Dumps and Moose Teeth – PHM Fall 2012
- Leprosy in Iowa – PHM Summer 2012
- For Immediate Release: April 3, 1930 – PHM Spring 2012
- Thelma Luther Tribute – PHM Winter 2011-2012
- The Fence or the Ambulance – PHM Winter 2011-2012
- First Annual Meeting of Iowa Health Officers and City Physicians – PHM Winter 2011-2012
- Echoes from the Past – PHM Spring 2011
- PHA History Lesson Continued – PHM Winter 2010-2011
- IPHA History Lesson: 1964-1968 – PHM Fall 2010
- IPHA Annual Meeting History – PHM Spring 2010
- 1924: The New IPHA – PHM Winter 2009
- The Great IPHA History Hunt / The First IPHA: A Brief Look at Our History – PHM Fall 2009