Anthony Hajna

Science: Bacteriology

Anthony Hajna was born in Chicopee, Massachusetts on March 21, 1907. He went to school at the Mystic Oral School for the Deaf. When he graduated (MP4) he worked at the school for a few years.

Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital. Credit: Lizardraley99 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

Then he decided to go to Gallaudet College. He graduated in 1930. He wanted to continue school. He went to Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health (MP4). While he was a student he wrote many papers about bacteria (MP4) that spread from person to person quickly. He graduated with a Master's degree in Hygiene (MP4).

An Education Hierarchy Tree Showing, from the Bottom up, High School Diploma, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, and Doctorate Degree
Levels of Education Including High School Diploma, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, and Doctorate Degree
An Illustration of parts of bacteria including Pilus, Cytoplasm, Ribosomes, Plasma Membrane, Cell Wall, and Flagellum
Bacteria. Credit: Ali Zifan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

After graduation he started working at the Maryland State Department of Health. He was the assistant bacteriologist (MP4). He studied the kind of bacteria that causes typhoid fever (MP4). He discovered how to figure out what it was faster. He also discovered how to take it out of the animal or person that had it in their body. He had this job for seventeen years.

Bacteria in a Dish
Bacteria. Credit: Graham Beards https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

He went through a few jobs quickly after this. After working for several different places he became the head of bacteriologist at the Indiana State Board of Health. He studied bacteria that spread easily. This is called epidemic-type (MP4) bacteria. He had special interest in bacteria in food and water.

He wrote many articles on his research. He was on the "Laboratory Digest" Editorial Board. Many of his articles were published (MP4) in this journal . He did a lot of work with the military (MP4). Most of his writings were about laboratory techniques (MP4) that can help bacteriologists identify different kinds of bacteria faster.

Mr. Hajna was very involved with the Deaf community (MP4). He talked with students a lot about becoming scientists. He encouraged (MP4) deaf people to become scientists. He was also a good leader. He was the president (MP4) of the Baltimore Nation Fraternal Society of the Deaf, the Indianapolis Gallaudet College Alumni Association, and the Indiana Association of the Deaf.

Mr. Hajna died on March 14, 1992.

Awards

  • Indiana State Achievement Award
  • Honorary doctorate from Gallaudet

Memberships

Read More About Anthony Hajna

PBWorks Wiki - Anthony Hajna

References

Lang, H. G., & Meath-Lang, B. (1995). Anthony Hajna. In A Biographical Dictionary: Deaf Persons in the Arts and Sciences (pp.166-168). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Page last updated 11:35 AM, April 20, 2023