Walter G. Wolfe Records, 1965-1998

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Summary

Creator:
Wolfe, Walter G.
Abstract:
Dr. Walter G. Wolfe, MD, Emeritus Professor of Surgery and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Chief of Surgical Services at the Durham VA Medical Center was a cardiothoracic surgeon, clinician researcher, teacher, and mentor during his more than 50 year career at Duke. In 2015, by virtue of his exceptional contributions to Duke Surgery, Wolfe was designated a Master Surgeon. This collection includes Wolfe's professional materials. The bulk of the materials are slides documenting his pathologies and surgeries. The collection also contains photographic prints, negatives, and a small amount of correspondence, printed materials, and presentations. Materials date from 1965 to 1998.
Extent:
1.5 Linear Feet (1 carton)
Language:
English
Collection ID:
MC.0176

Background

Scope and content:

Includes Dr. Walter G. Wolfe's professional materials. The bulk of the materials are slides documenting his pathologies and surgeries. The collection also contains photographic prints, negatives, and a small amount of correspondence, printed materials, and presentations. Materials date from 1965 to 1998.

Biographical / historical:

Dr. Walter George Wolfe, MD was born on March 22, 1937 in Corry, Pennsylvania to Harold and Charlotte Wolfe. He received his BS from Denison University (1959) in Granville, Ohio, where he also played football and ran track and received a scholarship. He obtained his medical degree from Temple University (1963) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and completing an Internship year in Surgery at Philadelphia General Hospital, followed by Residency in General and Cardiothoracic Surgery at Duke University (1964), where he was both a Chief Resident and an Academic Scholar in surgery. Upon completion of his surgical training, in 1972, he became a professor in General and Cardiothoracic Surgery at Duke. During his more than 50 years at Duke, Wolfe was a cardiothoracic surgeon, clinician researcher, teacher, and mentor.

As a surgeon, Wolfe was the go-to attending for complex thoracic and cardiac cases, he was known for exceptional pre-operative judgment and decisive intraoperative skill. He was a member of the Society of Clinical Surgery, was board certified in both surgery and thoracic surgery, and was the proud owner of the last permanent certificates awarded in these disciplines.

As a clinical researcher he was a fellow at the University of California's San Francisco Cardiovascular Research Institute (1967-1968), and during his career as an academic professor of cardiothoracic surgery he wrote 186 peer reviewed publications, 85 book chapters, and three books. He was a member of the IRB at Duke through his entire career until 2019.

He was a leader in resident education and mentorship serving as Program Director of the Thoracic Residency Program at Duke University for 8 years, and as the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Durham Veteran's Administration Medical Center for 30 years.

Duke University recognized him with many awards for teaching, including the Residency Teaching Award in Surgery, and the STSA Inspiration Award in recognition of exceptional efforts in motivating, inspiring and cultivating clinical and research talents of future cardiothoracic surgeons. He was designated a Master Surgeon at the university in 2015.

Wolfe was married to his wife Jackie for 42 years. They had 5 children together. He enjoyed gardening and his dogs, as well as being an avid sports fan and outdoorsman. Wolfe died from complications of ALS on April 13, 2020.

Acquisition information:
Accession A2020.066 (gift by Jackie Wolfe, November 2020)
Processing information:

Processed by Lucy Waldrop: February 2022

Arrangement:
Organized into the following series: Records, 1965-1998.
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.
Materials in box 1 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], Walter G. Wolfe Records, Duke University Medical Center Archives.