[Pioneers' work against odds resulted in two new medical specialties]
Torsten Gordh Sr and Ragnar Berfenstam are two influential Swedish doctors, who have worked in medical specialities of quite different character, namely social medicine and anaesthesiology. Still they have much in common: both introduced a new medical speciality in Sweden and both continued with research for many years after retirement. Two physicians with this background should have much to offer young doctors of today. We therefore performed an interview study to describe Torsten Gordh's and Ragnar Berfenstam's experiences as researchers and physicians. The study was based on in-depth interviews. The thematic analysis of the interview texts showed that the two pioneer physicians had to fight an uphill battle to introduce their new medical specialities. Both started new fields of scientific research; at the same time both were dedicated to their professional work. Torsten Gordhs and Ragnar Berfenstams were not only successful researchers but also proficient and considerate doctors for their patients.