Bakersfield Memorial Hospital dedicated its new main entrance Tuesday. The new pavilion is named in honor of the late Dr. Hans E. Einstein. He is perhaps best known as the world's leading expert on Valley Fever and for his determined efforts to develop a vaccine for that disease.
Dr. Einstein died last month of of congestive heart failure and kidney failure but his work will always be remembered. Now when you walk into Memorial Hospital you will be welcomed by a tribute to Dr. Hans Einstein.
Work began on the project more than a year ago before Dr. Einstein's passing. After Tuesday's ribbon cutting, his colleagues spoke about the late doctor's achievements and love for helping people.
"There was no more deserving person to name it after other than Dr. Hans Einstein. Dr Einstein was a huge advocate for improving patient care, improving the patient and physician experience at the same time. His work on Valley Fever was world renowned and respected around the world. He was truly a genius in the field," said colleague Dr. Robert Laughlin.
The pavilion stands as a tribute to the physician, the medical mentor, and the researcher who was the driving force behind a campaign to cure Valley Fever.
These thoughts from Dr. Einstein on the pavilion named after him, were recorded several months before his death. "I feel very touched and honored by this. It's not something that's customary, certainly, and it's totally free of ulterior motives. It's very touching."
The more than $1 million raised for the project came from 117 doctors that knew and worked with Dr. Einstein. The lives he has touched reach across the globe, including the people he has touched here, such as Carmen Langfield who was treated by Dr. Einstein for Valley Fever in the 1960s.
"He was caring. He didn't just leave you that way. He checked up on you and he made sure that in the end everything was taken care of. You don't find doctors like that anymore. He gave his all to everybody. He was there and he knew what he was doing. He had a big heart. He took care of everyone," recalled Langfield.
The building will provide a warm feeling when you walk into the hospital, a healing environment. It also features three outdoor water features and music that will sooth patients and change with the seasons.
