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This oral history interview was conducted with Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans on July 27, 2006 by Jessica Roseberry as part of the Women in Duke Medicine Oral History Exhibit.
Duration: 1:41:06
Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans speaks about her memories of what health care was like when she was a young woman; health care for her mother; the former chair of Medicine, Dr. Frederick Hanes; the Hanes family; her interest in, but not necessarily involvement with, the Duke Department of Psychiatry; Dr. H. Keith H. Brodie, former president of Duke University; Dr. Josiah Trent, her first husband; collecting medical history items; the preservation of rare books of this nature; Dr. Trent's appreciation for Duke; Dr. Trent working with conscientious objectors at Duke during WWII; her work in the Department of Social Services; Reba Hobgood, head of the department; socialization within the hospital; the Duke family's involvement with Lincoln Hospital, Durham's hospital for African-American patients; the integration of Lincoln Hospital and Watts Hospital, the hospital for Durham's white patients; the possibility that Dr. Wilburt Davison, former dean of Duke School of Medicine, would become president of Duke University; the relationship between Duke Medical Center and Duke University; Dr. Davison's involvement with the Duke Endowment; Dr. William Anlyan, former leader of Duke Medical Center; Dr. James Semans, her second husband; Dr. Semans's work with sexual dysfunction; Dr. Semans's work with the North Carolina School of the Arts; Dr. Semans's work with the Cultural Services program at Duke Hospital; Dr. John Dees; and Dr. Susan Dees. The transcription of this interview was made possible by a grant from the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation. Includes 2 master CDs, 2 use CDs, and 1 transcript

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Hilliard Seigler on July 18, 1994 by Dr. James Gifford
Duration: 00:30:00
Hilliard Seigler discusses the Melanoma Immunology Laboratory. Includes a master audiocassette tape, a use audiocassette tape, and trasnscript.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Bruce Schirmer on November 30, 2018 by Dr. Justin Barr as part of the Dr. Sabiston Oral History Program.
Duration: 00:43:13
Schimer discusses his experiences at Duke University School of Medicine and the Department of Surgery, his time as a practicing doctor at Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, his experiences with Sabiston, working in Dr. R. Scott Jones' lab, clinical experience, and key mentors at Duke.
Includes transcript and Use CD. Digital files include transcript (.DOC), interview (.WAV), and consent form (.PDF).

Ms. Robinson she discusses how she got into the physician assistant field and why she has stayed in it. She also explains the roles and responsibilities of the physician assistant in today's hospitals and how she operates here at Duke. In this context, she also elaborates on what it takes to make a good physician assistant, and how Duke is training physician assistants to have these skills. With regards to the job of physician assistant, she discusses some of the history of the field, the current state and the potential future of the physician assistant as a major source of primary care. Finally, in regards to her interest in obesity and family care, she expresses her concern over the changes in the demographics and spread of obesity she has observed during her career.

This oral history interview was conducted with Jane S. Richardson on November 9, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry as part of the Women in Duke Medicine Oral History Exhibit.
Duration: 01:16:22
Jane S. Richardson discusses her background; her interest in astronomy; her interest in philosophy; working in the same lab where her husband, David Richardson, was getting his PhD; in 1969, the laboratory solving the structure of the Staphylococcal nuclease, the tenth protein structure to be determined; her enjoyment of being unknown; working as a technician in the laboratory; what the structure of a protein might tell about that protein; solving the crystal structure of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase at Duke; learning about the geometry of the active site of this enzyme; the significance of knowing the structure of proteins; X-ray crystallography as the technique used then and still used to solve protein structures; the current worldwide Protein Data Bank, which stores about fifty thousand protein structures; her work as a technician; working on computer models of proteins as early as 1960s; current work of the Richardson lab: building tools for determining and analyzing RNA structure; all-atom contact analysis; other people at Duke currently actively working on protein structure, although not the Richardson lab; Jane Richardson being most noted for ribbon drawings of proteins; ribbon drawings outlining the schematics of all known protein structures in 1980; she and her husband not being able to be in the same department due to nepotism rule at the time; creating a uniform set of conventions for the protein ribbon drawings; the freedom to do this work because she was "invisible"; Duke giving her tenure when she became a member of the National Academy of Sciences; common structures depicted in the ribbon drawings; subjectivity of representing protein structures because she outlined the conventions of the drawings; the ubiquitous nature of the ribbon drawings due to computer graphics; current use of the same conventions; her original method of drawing on top of a computer printout of a very simplified protein structure; the laboratory's invention of Kinemages, one of the first molecular graphics systems available on personal computers; the current size of the laboratory; Duke in the 1970s; Dr. Robert Hill; women as being "on the edges" of the department; her own unusual career track; not getting a PhD; this fact embarrassing the university once she became well-known; receiving a MacArthur Fellowship because of the ribbon drawings; her own circuitous route as being useful; the collaborative nature of her work with her husband; the difficulty in current scientific culture of collaborating, since the tenure emphasis is on receiving credit for something; change in the nepotism rule; pairs of scientists; the connectivity of the current field due to computers; pressure as one result of connectivity; and her enjoyment of having many female colleagues currently. The transcription of this interview was made possible by a grant from the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation. Includes 1 master CD, 1 use CD, and 1 transcript.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Joseph (Jerry) G. Reves on July 30, 2019 by Emily Stewart as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project.

Duration: 00:38:00

During the interview, Reves discusses his education; how he became interested in a career in medicine after thinking he would become an attorney; how he came to Duke; his first interaction with Sabiston during his interview; Sabiston's unwavering support for research; his many positions at Duke; leaving Duke for MUSC, Sabiston's leadership and how Duke benefited enormously from Sabiston, and his memories of his professional relationship with Sabiston, as well as their personal friendship. Digital files include transcript (DOCX), interview (MP3), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

This oral history was conducted with Dr. Carl E. Ravin on May 20, 2019 by Emily Stewart as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project.
Duration: 00:51:26
During the interview, Ravin briefly discusses his early life, education, military service during the Vietnam War, and his early career as a chest radiologist; memories of Dr. David Sabiston including the time Sabiston would not greet him because he was not wearing a white coat, as well as how Sabiston negotiated behind the scenes and controlled the environment by setting an example of how he thought the environment should operate; becoming chair of the department of surgery and changes he made; writing a chapter on imaging for Sabiston's surgery textbook; how Sabiston created an atmosphere at Duke with a superb quality of care from top rate doctors that also heavily focused on academics; Sabiston's commitment to the institution of Duke; and Ravin's relationship with Sabiston after his retirement.
Digital files include transcript (.PDF), interview (.MP3), and consent form (.PDF).

Elizabeth "Chi" Pulley speaks about how her parents, Dr. Susan and Dr. John E. Dees, first met; her parents living with Dr. Barnes Woodhall; the difference in payment for Dr. John E. Dees and Dr. Susan Dees; other women on the Duke faculty; the distinction between Dr. Susan Dees at work and Mrs. Susan Dees at home; patient loyalty to Dr. Susan Dees; Pulley's perceptions of her mother; other mothers not working; going with her mother to Duke Hospital; Pulley playing in the hospital; the maid at home; the maid giving Pulley her nickname, "Chi"; Pulley's perception of Dr. Susan Dees's treatment at Duke; Dr. Susan Dees beginning a school for children in the hospital; Dr. Rebecca Buckley; Dr. Susan Dees's multiple retirements; Dr. Bailey Webb; Dr. Susan Dees's training residents; Dr. Susan Dees as an individual; Dr. John Dees; and Dr. Susan Dees's enthusiasm.

Pugh-Myers' recollections of her days as a member of the first class of practical nurses at Duke Hosptial, 1949; working as an African-American practical nurse at Duke and beyond.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Philip H. Pearce on May 25, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry as part of the Women in Duke Medicine Oral History Exhibit.

Duration: 01:42:03

During the interview Pearce discusses beginnings of his interest in medicine; Air Force leadership coercing him to choose obstetrics and gynecology; medical school at Duke; residency at Duke; his rotation with Dr. Eleanor B. Easley; Easley starting a physician partnership with Dr. Richard Pearse (no relation) during World War II; Easley's hardworking nature; Easley's intelligence; Easley having to prove herself as a woman physician; the good reputation of the Durham Women's Clinic; Pearce's choice to join Durham Women's Clinic instead of staying at Duke; the partnership affiliation with Watts Hospital; partners' appointments at Duke Hospital; the eventual competitive relationship with Duke's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; some women choosing Durham Women's Clinic even when their health plan restricted them to Duke; Easley's business acumen; Pearse's lack of business acumen; Pearse's persona; Easley sometimes scolding Pearse; Pearse's expertise at hypnotism; other partners in the clinic using hypnosis, although not to as great effect as Pearse; Easley's relationships to patients; Easley's frankness with patients about health issues; Dr. Robert Ross; Easley advocating to the legislature for the legalization of safe abortions; Easley potentially performing abortions; Nancy Carreras, a nurse midwife hired by Easley; the practice's tendency to adopt progressive methods; Easley's tendency to adopt progressive methods; Easley as a speaker on sex education; the payment system at the Durham Women's Clinic set up by Easley; other partners in the clinic; Easley never having children in order to commit to her profession; her husband, Dr. Howard Easley; the Easley's donation of land to the Eno River Association; Easley's encouragement of young doctors; Easley's encountering opposition to abortion; working at Lincoln Hospital and the Salvation Army Home for unwed mothers; changes in the field; women as ob-gyn physicians; some people's confusion between Dr. Philip Pearce's name and Dr. Richard Pearse's.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Theodore N. Pappas on May 20, 2021 by Dr. Konstantinos Economopoulos as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project.

Duration: 00:43:54

During the interview, Pappas discusses his surgical training; how he came to Duke and the details of being hired by Sabiston, including being only the second non-Duke trained person hired by Sabiston in 15 years; Sabiston's incredible memory and how he used it as a recruiting tool among Duke medical students; Sabiston's calculated social interactions; the annual Sabiston Christmas party; observations of how Sabiston interacted with residents and how he ran the Department of Surgery; changes in the Department of Surgery after Sabiston retired; other memories of Sabiston. Digital files include transcript (DOCX), interview (M4A), and consent form (PDF).

Ms. Nichols speaks about growing up in rural North Carolina; her family structure; her aunt as a matriarch; her marriage and move to Durham; her husband's desertion of new family; her financial situation; public housing; Operation Breakthrough; her complaints to the Housing Authority over living conditions; eviction; other struggles; fighting eviction; suing the Housing Authority; others' help in taking care of children; the media attention over the lawsuit; studies to be a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at Duke Hospital; her work on the cardiac intensive care unit; other possible opportunities for upward mobility at Duke; application to physician assistant (PA) program; her rejection from and ultimate acceptance into the program; balancing her work as an LPN and studies in PA program; teaching without a degree; requirements of the LPN program; her personal motivation to succeed; work as an LPN; studies to be physician assistant; classmates in third physician assistant class; her treatment by classmates as the only female and only African-American in class; her work in Lincoln Hospital; the current status of Lincoln Community Health Center; her upcoming presentation to county commissioners on behalf of Lincoln Community Health Center; working at Duke; Dr. Harvey Estes; the treatment of African-Americans at Duke Hospital before the integration of the wards; the integration of the wards; the previous integration of the CCU (cardiac care unit) before the official integration of the wards; the current status of family land; the support of others throughout her career; the subtle discrimination against her as an African-American; the interactions between nurses and physicians assistants; teaching; her daughter running for district court judge; her own remarriage; her second husband's support; her family; balancing her family life and her career; her contributions as a physician assistant to the profession.

Nevidjon discusses her background; desire to become a nurse; career choices for women in the seventies; choosing to be a nurse instead of a doctor; diploma programs versus college-based programs; deciding on Duke School of Nursing; curriculum at Duke; schedule of Duke classes; curriculum changes in her second year; visionary nature of school of nursing faculty at the time; specific women in the faculty at the time; expectation of faculty that students would attain an advanced degree; male students in graduate program as opposed to undergraduate; males on the nursing service; Wilma Minniear; nursing service's view of school of nursing graduates; working as a ward clerk the summer of sophomore year and as a professional nursing assistant (PNA) the summer of junior year; advantages of getting to know the staff in these positions and then come on staff after graduation; relationship with physicians; tight-knit nature of unit; activism of her class; black studies class; master's program at University of North Carolina; psychiatric nursing; move to Switzerland; working as oncology nurse in Switzerland; advantages of oncology nursing; becoming an administrator; Morris Building; nature of nurse management role upon her return to Duke; difference in Duke and West Coast healthcare; dysfunctional nature of nursing upon her return; changes due to external regulatory environment; chief operating officer role; Mike Israel; Ralph Snyderman; Duke Medical Center becoming a health system; political flak due to acquisition of Durham Regional Hospital; difficulty of integrating two hospitals; being female in upper management at Duke Medical Center; breaking barriers as nurse in advanced leadership position; possibility of nurses unionizing; assessment of current status of nursing school; variety of opportunities within nursing; thoughts about Duke.

This oral history interview was conducted with Ann Milligan-Barnes on October 5, 2022 by Josephine McRobbie as part of the Duke Midwifery Service and Durham Maternal Health Oral History Project, which was funded by The Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation Endowment Fund.

Duration: 02:01:42

During the interview, Milligan-Barnes discusses her early professional years at Watts Hospital, her role as a Labor and Delivery nurse at Durham/Duke Regional Hospital, her time serving in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps, as well as her experiences in the Durham County Department of Public Health, where she worked as a Public Health Nurse and the Coordinator for the Centering Pregnancy Program associated with the Duke Midwifery Services. The themes of this interview include community healthcare, health disparities, and pregnancy and postpartum care. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), consent form (PDF), an image (JPG), and TXT files.

This oral history interview was conducted with Helen Mikul on October 17, 2022 by Josephine McRobbie as part of the Duke Midwifery Service and Durham Maternal Health Oral History Project, which was funded by The Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation Endowment Fund.

Duration: 00:55:45

During the interview, Mikul discusses her role as a midwife with Duke Midwifery Service, her dedication to working with Spanish-speaking clients, and the uniqueness of midwifery as a healthcare profession. In this interview, Mikul speaks vividly of the skills that Duke Midwifery Service midwives provided to Duke clients, and also shared with their Duke colleagues in the teaching hospital environment. She shares how she and her Duke Midwifery Service colleagues taught students and trainees the strengths of different birthing positions, maneuvers for safe birth during shoulder dystocia, strategies for postpartum care and the delivery of the placenta, as well as approaches to caring for clients experiencing stillbirth or the the loss of a pregnancy. Mikul reflects on how receptive the students were to this information and describes how during her time at Duke, more trainees began encouraging clients to try hands and knees and side-lying positions for birth (as opposed to the medically-standard stirrups position). The themes of this interview include medical training, midwifery, and family planning. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), consent form (PDF), an image (JPEG), and TXT files.

Major subjects in this interview include Dr. Meriweather's experiences integrating the Duke University School of Medicine.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Diana B. McNeill on March 1, 2021 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project.

Duration: 00:53:46

During the interview, McNeill discusses the treatment of diabetes and the idea of "Type 3" support people surrounding people with diabetes, McNeill's experiences related to work-life balance for physicians, her leadership of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and the work of Duke AHEAD to support faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic. The themes of this interview includes diabetes and diabetes in pregnancy, maternity leave policies in medicine, mentorship, and faculty development. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), images (PNG), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

This oral history interview was conducted with Stacey R. McCorison on October 12, 2021 by Josephine McRobbie.

Duration: 01:47:48

During the interview, McCorison discusses her early life in the Northeast, experiences with higher education, positions held within Duke University and the Duke University School of Medicine, contributions to the planning for the Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Center for Health Education, as well as the her reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on medical education. The themes of this interview include educational access and choice, medical education, financial aid, and student support services. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

Dr. McCarty speaks about how she came to know Dr. Grace Kerby; Dr. Kerby as her mentor and colleague; Dr. Kerby as a stalwart of Duke's Department of Medicine; others' impressions of Dr. Kerby gathered from Dr. McCarty's own oral research about Kerby; Dr. Kerby's educational background; Dr. Kerby doing clinical trials in the 1950s; Dr. Kerby as director of house staff scheduling in Duke's Department of Medicine; Dr. Kerby's importance to the Department of Medicine; Dr. Kerby's publications; Dr. Kerby's thoroughness; Dr. Kerby's hearing loss in one ear; misunderstandings about Dr. Kerby due to her hearing loss; others' memories of Dr. Kerby (Dr. William Stead, son of Dr. Eugene Stead, and Dr. Ralph Snyderman); Dr. Kerby as wearing a short white intern's coat as opposed to a long physician's coat; Dr. Kerby sharing equipment; Dr. Kerby's background in athletics; misunderstandings about Dr. Kerby due to her reticent nature; misunderstandings about Dr. Kerby due to other causes; Dr. Kerby's enjoyment of life; Dr. Kerby's hobbies; Dr. Kerby having cancer at the end of her life; Dr. Kerby's research; and Dr. Kerby's legacy.