DOI: 10.25549/cswa-c34-129
title: Elsbeth Kahn interview, 1990

description: Kahn, Elsbeth - Oral History Interview - CSWA ❧ Interviewed by Elizabeth McBroom on November 27, 1990. An interview with Elsbeth Kahn as she discusses her entrance into social work; development of interest in medical social work; Red Cross social worker; medical social work at LA County Hospital; National Association of Medical Workers and National Association of Social Workers; work at Hospital Rancho Los Amigos; decision to earn Ph.D.; course work at Brandeis; dissertation on aging; work at Vanderbilt; move to USC School of Medicine; medical school committee work; reflections on career; Hospital Rancho Los Amigos; development of programs and experiences at Rancho; experiences at USC medical school; Department of Community Medicine; subjects and teaching of medical seminars; approaches to AIDS and cancer; counseling; volunteer work with outside agencies; hospice movement; influence of professional social workers on medical programs and policies; cancer education; changes in field of social work. ❧ Dr. Elsbeth Kahn was a pioneer social worker in the field of health care. Prior to obtaining her doctorate at Brandeis University, she was director of social services at the Los Angeles County Rancho Los Amigos, a major rehabilitation hospital. Here she was innovative and influential in developing processes and resources for providing patients with home care when they no longer needed hospitalization. She subsequently worked with the American Red Cross in the military hospital, taught early interdisciplinary courses in the Vanderbilt Medical School, then joined the University of Southern California School of Medicine, working with physicians in the teaching of students about the impacts of health conditions on the patient and the patient's family, as well as on the emerging physician. Her contributions to medical social work and doctor-patient relationships have been considerable, in the institutions where she was employed as well as in her volunteer activities with cancer, heart, and other health-focused agencies. At her retirement from the USC School of Medicine, she held a joint appointment with the USC School of Social Work. ❧ Elsbeth Kahn. USC School of Medicine. Adjunct professor, USC School of Social Work. Medical social work. Interviewed by Elizabeth McBroom. Date of interview: 11-27-90. 1 cassette tape (1 duplicate tape). Length of interview: 1 hour and 30 minutes. Transcript of interview: 21 pp. CD containing interview and transcript. ❧ INTERVIEW TOPICS: Entrance into social work; development of interest in medical social work; Red Cross social worker; medical social work at LA County Hospital; National Association of Medical Workers and National Association of Social Workers; work at Hospital Rancho Los Amigos; decision to earn Ph.D.; course work at Brandeis; dissertation on aging; work at Vanderbilt; move to USC School of Medicine; medical school committee work; reflections on career; Hospital Rancho Los Amigos; development of programs and experiences at Rancho; experiences at USC medical school; Department of Community Medicine; subjects and teaching of medical seminars; approaches to AIDS and cancer; counseling; volunteer work with outside agencies; hospice movement; influence of professional social workers on medical programs and policies; cancer education; changes in field of social work. ❧ ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: 1. Papers and articles written by Elsbeth Kahn. 2. Invitation to Department of Family Medicine reception on 13 June 1991 honoring Elsbeth Kahn on her retirement. 3. Curriculum Vitae. 4. 1 diskette of transcript of interview.