Patterson, H. Robert（1921-1996）
Date Updated
10-20-2019
Department
Biological Sciences (Microbiology)
Academic Rank
Professor
Year Retired from SJSU
1979-82
Educational Background
University of Southern California, 1951 Pharm. D.
University of Southern California, 1945 MS
University of Southern California, 1944 BS
Teaching Experience
SJSU, 1948-1982
Administrative and Professional Experience
Registered Pharmacist, California and Hawaii.
Director of Training for Peace Corp.
Chief Pharmacist, Hilo Hospital.
Hawaii State Board of Pharmacy.
Haili Christian School Board President.
Selected Publications
Textbooks:
The Drug, The Nurse, The Patient, textbook for Nursing students.
Current Drug Handbook, also for Nursing students.
Journal Publications:
"An Investigation of the Effect of Two Antihistaminic Agents on the Leukocytes of Peripheral Blood."
"Race‑Specific Erythrocyte Antigen of Chinook Salmon."
"The Impact of Newer Curricula on Science Teaching."
"The Microbiology Curriculum" at San Jose State University.
Files
Personal Commentary
Following in his father's footsteps, Bob began his career as a Pharmacist. In 1948 he was hired to teach Hematology at SJSU and found education to be a rewarding field. Bob returned to USC the next year and became the first person in the U.S. to be awarded the doctorate of Pharmacy degree. For the next 30 years he shared this knowledge with the students at SJSU. The courses he taught were primarily related to medical technology and nursing, some of which were hematology, infectious diseases, epidemiology immunology, and microbiology. He led as Area Coordinator for Microbiology and Chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences. He concerned himself with the quality of his students' skills as well as understanding, and was known to be used by med tech students for blood drawing practice. As a champion for the individual, he developed hospital internship programs in Santa Clara County for SJSU Medical Technology and Microbiology graduates. He taught students to keep abreast of current research and information resources. He co‑authored two nursing books: Current Drug Handbook and The Drug, The Nurse, and The Patient‑‑the latter endured through seven revisions. He was involved in the practical application of courses he taught, and spent several years studying migrating ocean fish by collecting, tagging and analyzing red blood cells. In 1963 his teaching expertise and public health knowledge was needed to train Peace Corps volunteers in Hawaii. This led to serving as Director of Peace Corps Training Programs in Hilo, Hawaii, for two years. Bob later retired to Hawaii and continued his administrative skills as Chief of Pharmacy Dept。 at Hilo Hospital for the next 14 years. He had come full circle, back to being a pharmacist. He again retired in 1994, but continued to volunteer in the pharmacy department until his passing.
Bob has the credentials and noble achievements, but his real accomplishment was the person he was and how he lived each day. A dedicated scholar, caring educator, compassionate administrator, competent author. He was also a devoted husband, loving father, and doting grandfather. His life was an example of integrity, honesty, and kindness. A brilliant mind, yet always humble. A man for doing what was right, self‑disciplined, productive and challenged others to do their best and never give up. For all his wisdom and intellect, Bob was extremely practical minded, very approachable, and down to earth, which is why he easily related to people in all walks of life. People were important to Bob. He was respected and loved as friend and mentor. He never tired of giving of himself or putting others first. He left a rich legacy to his students, friends, and family in the person he was.
Date Completed: 11/96
Adapted from: Biographies of Retired Faculty San Jose State University 1997: A Project of the Emeritus Faculty Association of San Jose State University. San Jose, CA: The University, 1997.