O. Michael Colvin Papers, 1957-2009, undated

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Summary

Creator:
Colvin, Michael
Abstract:
Dr. O. Michael Colvin (1936-2013) served as director of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center from 1995 to 2002, and as William Shingleton Professor of Cancer Research from 2002 to 2008. In addition to his administrative and educative roles, Colvin conducted pioneering research on cyclophosphamide and other alkylating agents, in the pursuit of bettering chemotherapy and tumor treatment. Among other materials, the collection contains correspondence, clippings, committee and conference materials, research notes, writings, photographs, awards, and digital files. Major subjects include Colvin's research and positions in professional organizations. Materials range in date from 1957 to 2009, with the bulk dating from 1987 to 2009.
Extent:
8 Linear Feet (5 boxes, 1 card box) and 19.6 MB
Language:
English
Collection ID:
MC.0154

Background

Scope and content:

Contains materials related to O. Michael Colvin's professional career at Johns Hopkins University and Duke University School of Medicine. The collection contains correspondence; colleague files; calendars, clippings; certificates and licenses; committee and conference materials; research notes; writings by Colvin; grant drafts and edits; photographs; awards; and digital files on CDs, 3.5, and 5.25 floppy disks relating to research. Major subjects include Colvin's research and positions in professional organizations. Materials range in date from 1957 to 2009, with the bulk dating from 1987 to 2009.

Publications by Colvin in this collection were turned into a bibliography using EndNote, titled "O. Michael Colvin Publications Bibliography." See the Medical Center Archivist for access.

Biographical / historical:

Dr. O. Michael Colvin (1936-2013), renowned oncologist and educator, was born in Princeton, Indiana, on June 15, 1936 to parents Jack G. and Evelyn Colvin. In 1957, he earned a BA in Chemistry from Indiana University, where he wrote his senior thesis "Human Lipoprotein Lipase." In 1961, he received an MD from Washington University, St. Louis.

After graduating from medical school, Colvin completed his residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He then served a two-year appointment as a clinical associate for the National Cancer Institute before returning to Johns Hopkins University. He served as a fellow in pharmacology (1966-1968); physician (1968-1995); and assistant professor to professor of medicine (1968-1995). Colvin joined the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center in 1975, its founding year, and later served as the Center's Chief of the Division of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. He also served as Associate Dean for Research at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

While Colvin worked at Johns Hopkins University, the second director of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center (DCCC), Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr., left Duke for another position, and the DCCC began its search for a new director. The DCCC was founded in 1971 by Dr. William Shingleton as one of the first cancer centers in the United States. In 1973, the National Cancer Institute, recently bolstered by the National Cancer Act, recognized the Center as "comprehensive." The Center continues to be a hub for cancer research, treatment, and training, supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute.

After a nine month national search for a director, the DCCC selected Colvin because of his experience with program-building and interdisciplinary collaboration. Colvin served as the third director of the DCCC (1995-2002). While serving as director, Colvin restructured administration and appointed senior leaders to manage the core goals of the Center: basic research, clinical research, cancer prevention, detection, and control. After stepping down from the position in 2002, Colvin became the Duke University School of Medicine's William Shingleton Professor of Cancer Research. He retired from Duke as director emeritus in 2008. After his death in 2013, the Duke Cancer Institute established the annual Michael Colvin Memorial Lecture in Developmental Therapeutics.

Colvin represented the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center on the national and international stage. In 1998, he testified in front of Congress on behalf of patients at the DCCC, highlighting the refusal of many medical insurance companies to cover cancer research treatments. He implored Congress to increase governmental funding to assist cancer centers' ability to help patients. In 2000, he attended the World Summit Against Cancer in partnership with UNSECO, where, representing the DCCC, he signed the Paris Charter Against Cancer alongside other renowned oncologists.

Throughout his career at Johns Hopkins and Duke, Colvin conducted pioneering research into the forms of and cellular resistance to cyclophosphamide and other alkylating agents, which are used in cancer treatment therapies to damage cancer cells. He was among the first to use high doses of cyclophosphamide in treating solid tumors, a practice which has now been widely adopted. He worked with Dr. Henry Brem at Johns Hopkins to develop polymers for the treatment of brain tumors. He also collaborated with Drs. Henry Friedman and Darell Bigner, both Duke affiliated, to research the use of alkylating agents on pediatric central nervous system tumors.

Colvin held leadership roles in national professional organizations. He served on the advisory boards of the International Oncology Network Hematology division, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memorial Children's Hospital, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and the Washington University Siteman Cancer Center. He assisted in producing the field's national publications, serving on the American Association for Cancer Research publications committee; the Journal of the National Cancer Institute editorial advisory board; and the Cancer Chemotherapy & Pharmacology board of editors. Colvin and his wife, Macey, served on the Duke Caring House board and the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program advisory board.

Colvin received many honors from Duke, from the field of oncology, and from the wider scientific community. He received a Career Development Award from the National Cancer Institute, providing funding and research support from 1975 to 1980. In 2000, he was nominated and accepted into the Association of American Physicians for his work in stem cell purification. And, in 2004, he and his wife received the Light of Hope Award for their service on the Duke Caring House board and the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program advisory board. Other honors include membership in Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha; Recognitions of Contribution from the National Cancer Institute (1966-1996); an Acknowledgement of Service from the American Cancer Society (1998); an Outstanding Leader, Physician and Scientist Appreciation of Service from Duke University (2002); and the R. Wayne Rundles Award for Excellence from Duke University (2003).

Colvin passed away in 2013 at the age of 77. He was survived by his wife Arline Macey (Lockerbie) Colvin, who in 2019 received the Duke Cancer Institute Shingleton Award for Distinguished Service for her volunteer work with the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program. He also was survived by 4 children and 5 grandchildren. In his free time, Colvin enjoyed running, reading, and fly fishing. His advice to students was to "pursue your dreams and don't worry about the future."

Acquisition information:
Accession A2016.006 (gift by Macey Colvin, January 2016), Accession A2020.065 (gift by Macey Colvin, November 2020)
Processing information:

Processed by Lucy Waldrop: January 2016; updated by Emma Eubank under the supervision of Lucy Waldrop: July 2024.

Arrangement:
This collection is organized into the following series: Biographical Materials, 1996-2004, undated; Professional Files, 1988-2007, undated; Writings, 1957-2007, undated; Subject and Research Files, 1967-2009, undated; Printed Materials, 1990-2005; Photographic Materials, 1987-1991, undated; Awards and Plaques, 1990-2005, undated; Correspondence, 1987-2007, undated; and Digital Files, 1979-2009.
Rules or conventions:
DACS

Contents

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Restrictions:

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals or IRB approval may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which Duke University assumes no responsibility.

Contains Medical Center Administrative records. These include records of the officers of the University, as defined in the Bylaws, the deans of schools and colleges, and departments, institutes, and other offices as designated by the President. For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the director of the office of record and the Medical Center Archivist is required for use. After twenty-five years, records that have been processed may be consulted with the permission of the Medical Center Archivist. (Issued by the Office of the Chancellor, December 1, 1975).

Materials in boxes 1-5, and the digital files on the server contain materials that are restricted at the folder and file level and must be screened for sensitive or confidential materials before being accessed.

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], O. Michael Colvin Papers, Duke University Medical Center Archives.