Florida Public Health Oral History Project

Interviewee

Minnie Schreiber

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Interviewer

Prather, E. Charlton

Publication Date

3-1-2016

Date

1999-07-08

Abstract

Minnie Schreiber (1919 – 2010) earned her master’s degree in microbiology at the University of Kentucky. After working for Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, the VA Medical Center in Washington, DC, and John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, she moved to Florida in 1951 and was hired at the Bureau of Laboratories in Jacksonville, Florida. By the time she retired in 1989, Schreiber was section chief, General Bacteriology, for the Florida Health and Human Services Office of Laboratory Services. In this oral history interview, Minnie Schreiber recalls her career as a bacteriologist for the Florida State Board of Health laboratory system. She talks about several of the noteworthy scientists and public health figures she encountered during her career. Schreiber discusses the bacteriological etiology of several conditions she encountered in Florida, including otitis media, typhoid fever, cholera, whooping cough, botulism, food poisoning, and gonorrhea. She also recounts the historical development of Florida state laboratory system, including the development professional standards and quality controls for both medical laboratories and their scientists. Throughout the interview, Schreiber remarks on the development of laboratory technologies that reduced turnaround time and increased our understanding of disease pathogenesis. She finishes her interview by speculating on the future of the medical laboratory and its role in the promotion of public health.

Keywords

Bacteriological laboratories, Bacteriology, Florida. State Board of Health, Laboratory technicians, University of South Florida

Holding Location

University of South Florida

Language

English

Media Type

Oral histories, Online audio

Format

Audio

Identifier

C53-00032

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Rights Statement

In Copyright