Nelson Jen An Chao Oral History Interview, 2021

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Summary

Creator:
Duke University. Medical Center. Department of Medicine.
Abstract:
Dr. Nelson Jen An Chao, MD, is Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. His leadership at Duke includes roles as Chief of the Division of Cell Therapy in the Department of Medicine and Director of the Global Cancer Program at the Duke Global Health Institute. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on March 25, 2021 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project. In the interview, Chao discusses his upbringing in Brazil, his reflections on his medical training, his observations on transplant as a complex medical issue, and a description of his work leading the Duke Global Cancer Program. The themes of these interviews include leadership, equity in medicine, cancer treatment, and stem cell transplantation.
Extent:
1 interview (1 transcript) and 555 MB
Language:
English
Collection ID:
OH.CHAON

Background

Scope and content:

Includes 1 oral history interview conducted on March 25, 2021 with Dr. Nelson Jen An Chao by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project.

In the interview, Chao discusses his upbringing in Brazil, his reflections on his medical training, his observations on transplant as a complex medical issue, and a description of his work leading the Duke Global Cancer Program. The themes of these interviews include leadership, equity in medicine, cancer treatment, and stem cell transplantation.

Biographical / historical:

Dr. Nelson Jen An Chao, MD, grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he was an avid "tinkerer" with all things mechanical and an enthusiast of the region's natural environments. This combination of interests led him towards a career in the sciences with a "nurturing" college job in a medical lab and excellent mentors. Chao received his MD from Yale University (1981) and completed his Residency in Medicine at Stanford University (1981-1984) and a Fellowship in Oncology, Medicine at Stanford University (1985-1987). While completing his Fellowship, Chao worked with Karl Blume, who founded Stanford's blood and marrow transplantation program, made a deep impression on Chao about the importance of the physicians, nurses, clerical staff, and all the ancillary support services when caring for the patient.

Chao came to duke as a Temporary Instructor in the Department of Medicine, Medical Oncology (1996-1997). In 1997 he was appointed Associate Professor in Medicine, Medical Oncology, and, in 1998, he was made Acting Chief of the Division of Medical Oncology in the Department of Medicine. His leadership at Duke includes roles as Chief of the Division of Cell Therapy in the Department of Medicine and Director of the Global Cancer Program at the Duke Global Health Institute.

Chao's research interests are in two broad areas, clinical hematopoietic stem cell and cord blood transplantation and in the laboratory studies related to graft vs. host disease and immune reconstitution. When Chao came to Duke, he immediately dove into work to rebuild Duke's stem cell transplant program. Now the program is one of the strongest in the country, due in large part to Chao's leadership.

Acquisition information:
Accession A2021.039 (transferred by Joseph O'Connell, April 2021)
Processing information:

Processed by Lucy Waldrop: May 2021

Arrangement:
Organized into the following series: Interview, March 25, 2021.
Rules or conventions:
DACS

Contents

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Terms of access:

Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Nelson Jen An Chao Oral History Interview, Duke University Medical Center Archives.