Stuart M. Sessoms Records, 1952-1980

Using These Materials Teaser

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

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...
More about accessing and using these materials...

Summary

Creator:
Sessoms, Stuart M., 1921-1997
Abstract:
Contains the working files of Stuart M. Sessoms (1921-1997), Director of Duke Hospital (1968-1976). Types of materials include memorandums, correspondence, legal cases, annual reports, minutes, grant applications, theses, brochures, draft legislation, diagrams, charts, forms, contracts, and a photograph. Major subjects include the Duke Hospital, Duke Hospital departments, clinics, business and finance, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sea Level Hospital, Lincoln Hospital, Highland Hospital, the VA Hospital, Methodist Church Hospital and Homes, Hillhaven Convalescent Center, and State agencies and boards. Materials range in date from 1952 to 1980.
Extent:
9.5 Linear Feet (6 cartons, 1 manuscript box)
Language:
English
Collection ID:
AR.0062

Background

Scope and content:

Contains files from the office of Stuart M. Sessoms during his tenure as director of Duke University Hospital from August 1, 1968 to December 31, 1976. In addition to physical growth and expansion, Sessoms oversaw Duke Hospital and its affiliates during a period of turbulent social change. Duke Hospital navigated new legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the application of Affirmative Action and the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. Major court cases such as Roe v. Wade, Griggs v. Duke Power, and changes in the Involuntary Commitment Statute of North Carolina had obvious impact on the running of Duke Hospital. Duke Hospital also experimented with the use of computers in a clinical setting, "the interview conducted by the computer is an enjoyable part of your hospital visit," touted a 1970 brochure. Additional challenges included the Vietnam War, Sexual Revolution and Women's Liberation movements which all effected emerging ideas of patient and employee rights in the nine years the Stuart M. Sessoms Records incorporate.
Types of materials include memorandums, correspondence, legal cases, annual reports, minutes, grant applications, theses, brochures, draft legislation, diagrams, charts, forms, contracts, and a photograph. Major subjects include the Duke Hospital, Duke Hospital departments, clinics, business and finance, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sea Level Hospital, Lincoln Hospital, Highland Hospital, the VA Hospital, Methodist Church Hospital and Homes, Hillhaven Convalescent Center, and State agencies and boards. Materials date from 1952-1980.

Biographical / historical:

Stuart McGuire Sessoms, was born in 1921 to Edwin Tate Sessoms, MD and Lillian Howard Sessoms in Roseboro, North Carolina. . He received his BS in Pharmacy from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) (1943) and his MD from the Medical College of Virginia (1946). He completed his internship and residency at the US Marine Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and received post-graduate training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Prior to his tenure at Duke, Sessoms was Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, for six years. He retired from government service in 1968 with the rank of Assistant Surgeon General.
After retiring from government service, Sessoms became the director of Duke Hospital [Medical Center]; a position he held from 1968 to 1976. During that time he also held positions at Duke School of Medicine as Associate Dean for Clinical Sciences, Professor of Medicine, and Professor of Health Administration.
As director of Duke Hospital, Sessoms succeed Dr. Robert Whalen who held the hospital directorship for a year, but left to continue his full-time duties in cardiology. At the time of his appointment as director in 1968, Sessoms reported to Dr. William G. Anlyan, Dean of the Medical School, and Charles H. Frenzel, administrative director of Duke Medical Center. While at Duke Hospital, Sessoms' primary responsibilities included the management of the 866-bed Duke Hospital as well as the hospitals at Sea Level and Asheville. In addition, Sessoms oversaw the expansion of Duke Hospital during a period of rapid innovation. This included the creation of a 604-bed Duke North hospital, the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lincoln Hospital Comprehensive Health Center, Sea Level Hospital, and the helistop (heliport). As well as further forays into medical research including a relationship with the Whitehead Medical Research Institute.
In December 1976, Sessoms resigned from the Directorship of Duke Hospital to accept a senior vice presidency at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, a position he held until he retired in 1987. In 1977, Sessoms was succeeded by John D. Shytle. Director, pro tem, who served as director for one year.
Sessoms received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a Meritorious Service Medal from the U.S. Public Health Service, the 1957 Distinguished Service Award for Public Service from the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, as well as being the first ever recipient of two Distinguished Service Medals from USPHS. Addionally, he belonged to the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association, was listed in Who's Who in America, and served on the Board of Visitors of the School of Public Health at UNC-CH.
Sessoms was married to Thelma "Teen" Call Sessoms. They had two children. He was reported to have been active in PTA work, with Cub Scouts, US Junior Chamber of Commerce, and was an active member of the Triangle Presbyterian Church. Sessoms died in 1997.

Acquisition information:
Source unknown
Processing information:

Processed by Archives staff; encoded by Dawne Howard Lucas: October 2012; reprocessed by E. Durocher: February 2017

Arrangement:
Organized into the following series: Subject Files, 1952-1980.
Fileplan:

HC 28

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Duke University Medical Center Archives.
Rules or conventions:
DACS

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

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.
Materials in box 7 are restricted and can only be accessed with the permission of 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], Stuart M. Sessoms Records, Duke University Medical Center Archives.