James R. Urbaniak Oral History Interview, 2018-2018

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Summary

Creator:
Urbaniak, James R. and Duke University. Medical Center. Department of Surgery.
Abstract:
Dr. James R. Urbaniak graduated from Duke University School of Medicine in 1962 and completed his residency training in Orthopaedics at Duke in 1969. Urbaniak joined Duke's faculty in 1969 as an Assistant Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery and became a full professor in 1977. He became the Chief of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery (1985-2002). In 1991 he was awarded the Virginia Flowers Baker Professorship Chair and, in 1994, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery for Clinical Affairs. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on November 6, 2018 by Dr. Justin Barr and is part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview, Urbaniak discusses his childhood, how he came to Duke, his experiences at Duke, orthopedics and orthopedic surgery, his time as the attending physician to the United States Congress and the Supreme Court during the Vietnam War, general surgery, Dr. David C. Sabiston, Dr. Lenox D. Baker, Dr. J. Leonard Goldner, hand surgery, microsurgery, and vascularized fibular grafts.
Extent:
1 interview (1 CD, 1 transcript)
Language:
English
Collection ID:
OH.URBANIAKJ

Background

Scope and content:

Includes 1 oral history interview with Dr. James R. Urbaniak conducted on November 6, 2018 by Dr. Justin Barr as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project.
In the November 6, 2018 interview, Urbaniak discusses his childhood, how he came to Duke, his experiences at Duke, orthopedics and orthopedic surgery, his time as the attending physician to the United States Congress and the Supreme Court during the Vietnam War, general surgery, Dr. David C. Sabiston, Dr. Lenox D. Baker, Dr. J. Leonard Goldner, hand surgery, microsurgery, and vascularized fibular grafts.

Biographical / historical:

James R. Urbaniak was born in Fairmont, West Virginia, on May 15, 1936 to Cecil and Patricia Urbaniak. He was one of 3 children. Since age 7 he wanted to become a doctor. In high school, he was class valedictorian and lettered in football, basketball, and track. After graduating from high school, Urbaniak earned a football scholarship to the University of Kentucky, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1958 and was honored as an Academic All-American in football. He went on to attend medical school at Duke University School of Medicine, graduating in 1962 and completed his residency training in Orthopaedics at Duke in 1969. Before completion, he served a tour of duty from 1963 to 1965 in the U.S. Navy as the Attending Physician to the United States Congress and Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.
Urbaniak joined Duke's faculty in 1969 as an Assistant Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery. He became a full professor in 1977, and from 1985 to 2002, he was the Chief of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery. In 1991 he was awarded the Virginia Flowers Baker Professorship Chair, and, in 1994, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery for Clinical Affairs.
Urbaniak has received many awards and honors. Some highlights include the AOA-ABC Traveling Fellowship (1972), the Bristol-Meyers-Squibb/Zimmer Award for Distinguished Achievement in Orthopaedic Surgery (2001), the Kappa Delta Award of the AAOS/OREF (1994), the Distinguished Southern Othopaedist Award (1996), the IFSSH Pioneer in Hand Surgery (2007), the Duke Orthopaedic Residents' and Fellows' Teaching Award (2001, 2006), the William G. Anylan Lifetime Achievement Award (2012), and the COS Elmer Nix Award for Ethics (2014).
Urbaniak has educated hundreds of residents and fellows; chaired multiple private industry, medical journal, and academic boards; and served as President of the American Orthopaedic Association, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the Eastern Orthopaedic Society, the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery, the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation and the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. Urbaniak was also instrumental in the concept and development of the Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center.
Urbaniak is known for his innovative work in microsurgery blended with orthopaedics, to give rise to the free vascularized fibular graft (FVFG), a procedure designed to help younger patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. He has performed, with his colleagues, over 3,500 FVFG procedures at Duke.
Urbaniak has presented at over 400 lectures in 29 countries; published over 300 peer-reviewed articles; authored 45 textbook chapters; edited 12 textbooks; and authored 1 book, "A History of the American Orthopaedic Association."
Urbaniak is married to Muff, a Duke nurse by training, and they have 2 children.

Acquisition information:
Accession A2018.092 (transferred by Justin Barr, December 2018)
Processing information:

Processed by Lucy Waldrop: December 2018

Arrangement:
Organized into the following series: Interview, November 6, 2018.
Rules or conventions:
DACS

Contents

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Restrictions:

None.

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 R. Urbaniak Oral History Interview, Duke University Medical Center Archives.