Robert Lahita, MD, PhD--"From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Choices: A Chronicle of Contraception"

Contraception has a long history, dating back to ancient civilizations.  Methods used in ancient times included herbal substances (e.g. pomegranate seeds, Artemnisia, etc.), barrier methods, and planned withdrawal.  

Following the discovery of hormones in the 20^th century, knowledge of endocrinology led to modern contraceptives, like the birth control pill, developed through the ingenuity of such chemists as Russell Marker, and advocates, including John Rock and Margaret Sanger.  

These discoveries led to significant advancements in family planning, despite religious and cultural barriers that remain today.  Today, there exists a wide range of contraceptive options that are effective, inexpensive, and readily available, providing individuals with choices to control their reproductive health.

Robert G. (“Dr. Bob”) Lahita, MD, PhD, is the current President of the Medical History Society of New Jersey.  He is the director of the Institute for Autoimmune and Rheumatic Disease at St. Joseph’s Health in Paterson, NJ.  Dr. Lahita is a Master of the American College of Rheumatology and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians, in London. 

Dr. Lahita’s research interests include the molecular aspects of antigen expression in reproductive immunology, the effects of sex and gender on autoimmune diseases, and the etiopathogenesis of the phospholipid syndrome.  

Dr. Lahita is the author or editor of 17 books and 150 scientific publications on autoimmunity.  He is the editor of the standard textbook, Lahita’s Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, now in its sixth edition, the senior editor of the Textbook of Autoimmunity, and co-editor of the Yearbook of Rheumatology.  He has written several books for lay audiences, including Lupus Q&A: Everything You Need to Know; Women and Autoimmune Disease: The Mysterious Ways Your Body Betrays Itself; and Immunity Strong.

As Professor of Medicine at the new Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Clinical Professor of Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Dr. Lahita has trained countless medical students, residents, and fellows, during a career spanning more than 50 years.  

A reviewer for about 15 medical journals, Dr. Lahita serves on the editorial boards of several major periodicals.  

Dr. Lahita has received many awards, including the Arthritis Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, the Lupus Foundation Summa Award, the Asturia Award (Spain), and others.