About Francis J. Curry

Francis John Curry, of San Francisco, contributed to the health and welfare of his native city over a long and productive medical career. He was a pioneer in the use of early advances in tuberculosis treatment such as DOTS (directly observed therapy) and outpatient treatment clinics; established neighborhood clinics for poor and elderly; and oversaw the construction of the current San Francisco General hospital.

Curry was born in San Francisco on July 19, 1911, the son of William Martin and Madonna (Burke) Curry. He received his B.S. degree from the University of San Francisco in 1936, his M.D. degree from Stanford University in 1946, and his M.P.H. from the University of California in 1964. He interned at San Francisco General Hospital in 1945-1946, and served residencies at the Fresno (Calif.) General Hospital 1946-1947, at the Ahwahnee Tri-county Hospital in Madera (Calif.) 1947-1950, and at the Santa Clara (Calif.) County Hospital 1951-1953. Dr. Curry served as a captain in the U.S. Army 1953-1955.

Curry began his career in pulmonary medicine in San Francisco in 1956, when he was appointed director of the chest clinic at the San Francisco General Hospital. He served in that post from 1956-1974; was chief of the TB division of the San Francisco Health Dept. from 1960-1974, and was director of health, hospitals and mental health of San Francisco from 1970 until his retirement in 1976. As director of public health he led the effort to build the new San Francisco General Hospital. He also set up clinics in many San Francisco neighborhoods, including Bayview-Hunters Point, Chinatown, North Beach, the Mission, and the Tenderloin.

Dr. Curry held several academic appointments. He was Assistant clinical professor of medicine at Stanford Medical School 1957-1970, and clinical professor from 1970. He was assistant clinical professor at the Univ. of California San Francisco 1958-1968, associate clinical professor 1968-1970. Curry was project director of the TB Control Project for San Francisco, of the U.S. Public Health Service from 1962-1974.

Curry married Beryl Marguerite Swannel on April 10, 1948, and they had eight children: Francis John, Joan F. (Trivison), Elizabeth Anne (Wrigglesworth), Patrick F., Thomas F., Robert F., William F., and James F. Dr. Curry died at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco on August 3, 1996.