We are always learning about interesting new people who came to Saranac Lake, and in honor of Pride Month, we want to share about Dr. Alan Hart! Hart was a physician, radiologist, tuberculosis researcher, writer and novelist. In 1917, Hart became one of the first trans men in the United States to undergo a hysterectomy. Hart devoted much of his career to the study and prevention of tuberculosis, and went on to standardize the use of X-ray photography to detect the disease, which was not common at the time. Hart came to Saranac Lake to study at the Trudeau School for Tuberculosis in 1925 and spent at least six weeks learning from the doctors and researchers here. It is said that Hart’s work has saved countless lives; the widespread application of X-ray as an early detection tool greatly reduced the death toll of the disease. Despite Hart’s important work, he faced many challenges throughout his career and was often forced to leave employment due to being outed as transgender (Photo provided — Historic Saranac Lake)