James M. Douglas Oral History Interviews, 1994, 2022

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Restrictions:
No release form for the June 24, 1994 interview. For further information consult with the Medical Center Archivist.
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Summary

Creator:
Douglas, James M. (James Marion), 1954-
Abstract:
Dr. James M. Douglas Jr., MD (1954- ), is a cardiothoracic surgeon in Bellingham, Washington, specializing in Cardiothoracic Surgery with the PeaceHealth Medical Group. He graduated from Duke University School of Medicine. This collection contains 2 oral history interviews conducted on June 24, 1994 by Dr. James F. Gifford and February 1, 2022 by Dr. Konstantinos Economopoulos as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the 1994 interview, Douglas discusses his background, how he chose to become a surgeon, the history of and multidisciplinary work in his Clinical Sciences Research Laboratory in the Department of Surgery, and that laboratory's use of clinical outcomes to describe and develop new surgical techniques. In the 2022 interview, Douglas discusses his early life, education, why he wanted to become a surgeon, how he came to complete his residency at Duke, what it was like to be the first African American to complete a surgery residency at Duke, what it was like to be a surgery resident under Sabiston, and his memories of Sabiston.
Extent:
2 Interviews (1 master audiocassette tape, 1 use audiocassette tape, 2 transcripts) and 16.2 MB
Collection ID:
OH.DOUGLASJ

Background

Scope and content:

Includes 2 oral history interviews with Dr. James M. Douglas conducted on June 24, 1994 by Dr. James F. Gifford and February 1, 2022 by Dr. Konstantinos Economopoulos as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project.

In the June 24, 1994 interview Douglas discusses his background, how he chose to become a surgeon, the history of and multidisciplinary work in his Clinical Sciences Research Laboratory in the Department of Surgery, and that laboratory's use of clinical outcomes to describe and develop new surgical techniques.

In the February 2, 2022 interview, Douglas discusses his early life, education, why he wanted to become a surgeon, how he came to complete his residency at Duke, what it was like to be the first African American to complete a surgery residency at Duke, what it was like to be a surgery resident under Sabiston, and his memories of Sabiston.

Biographical / historical:

Dr. James Marion Douglas Jr., MD (1954- ), grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in a family full of medical professionals. His father was a family physician who often made house calls and saw patients in the family's home; his paternal uncle was also a family physician and 2 of his mother's brothers were surgeons. Douglas, a talented drummer, turned down a music scholarship to Furham University to attend Duke University. Douglas received his undergraduate and medical degree (1979) from Duke. He also completed his Surgical Residency at Duke (1979-1989), where he was the first African American to complete his training in surgery at Duke.

At the start of his career, Douglas was an Assistant Professor at Duke University in the Endosurgery Center where he also served as Director of Thoracoscopic Surgery and a Surgical Consultant to the Duke University Endocarditis Service. Douglas went on to become the Medical Director of Cardiovascular Outreach at PeaceHealth in Bellingham, Washington, where he specialized in thoracic surgery.

Douglas has authored journal articles and textbook chapters on topics including mitral and tricuspid valve surgery, ischemic heart disease and thoracoscopic surgery. He was a featured surgeon on the television program "The Operation" which aired on the Learning Channel and the Discovery Channel. Douglas is an experienced practitioner of complex mitral valve repair, performing the procedure since 1989. He pioneered minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery at St. Joseph Hospital in 1995. His current efforts are focused on the critical assessment and advancement of minimally invasive techniques for treatment of valvular heart disease, ischemic heart disease and surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Processing information:

Accession A1994.006 (transferred by James F. Gifford, June 1994), Accession A2022.030 (transferred by Mary-Russell Roberson, May 2022)

Arrangement:
Organized into the following series: Interview June 17, 1994; Interview, February, 1 2022.
Rules or conventions:
DACS

Contents

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Restrictions:

No release form for the June 24, 1994 interview. For further information consult with the Medical Center Archivist.

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], James M. Douglas Oral History Interviews, Duke University Medical Center Archives.