Search

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Worthington (Sandy) G. Schenk III on April 17, 2021 by Dr. Justin Barr as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project.

Duration: 01:47:44

During the interview, Schenk discusses his early life and education; the impact his father's career as a surgeon had on him; why he decided to join the medical profession; how he came to Duke for his residency and fellowship; his research interests; his memories of Sabiston including his incredible memory, his Socratic teaching style, and the level of professionalism he expected from his residents; and recollections of the people he worked with at Duke during his residency and fellowship. Digital files include transcript (DOCX), interview (M4A), and consent form (PDF).

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Nelson Jen An Chao on March 25, 2021 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project.

Duration: 00:44:48

During the interview, Chao discusses his upbringing in Brazil, his reflections on his medical training, his observations on transplant as a complex medical issue, and a description of his work leading the Duke Global Cancer Program. The themes of these interviews include leadership, equity in medicine, cancer treatment, and stem cell transplantation. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), image (PNG), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Kevin L. Thomas on March 18, 2021 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project.

Duration: 00:48:27

During the interview, Thomas discusses his path to academic medicine, his experiences as a Resident and later Chief Resident at Duke, the intersections of his clinical and research portfolio, and how he approaches leadership and issues of bias and equity in medicine. The themes of these interviews include cardiology, medical training, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), images (JPEG), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

These oral history interviews were conducted with Dr. Thomas M. Bashore on October 12 and 16, 2020 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project.

Duration: 00:30:42 (interview 1)

Duration: 01:25:24 (interview 2)

During the interviews, Bashore discusses his discusses his interest in visuals and history related to medicine, his pedagogical approach, and his thoughts on program leadership and restructuring. The themes of these interviews include cardiology, medical training, and collaboration in medicine. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interviews with stereo (WAV), interviews with mono (MP3), image (PNG), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. David L. Simel on March 5, 2021 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project.

Duration: 01:07:46

During the interview, Simel discusses his early experiences in and around medicine, his research in clinical exam and diagnostic tools, and his work at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center and as Vice-Chair for Veterans Affairs in the Department of Medicine. The themes of this interview include veterans' health, medical training, hematology-oncology, and general practice medicine. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), image (JPG), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Carla W. Brady on March 30, 2021 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project.

Duration: 01:09:16

During the interview, Brady discusses her work with liver transplantation, her development of a hepatology clinic which is focused on the needs of pregnant women, her reflections on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her work, and her leadership work as a member of Duke's Academic Council's Executive Committee (ECAC). The themes of this interview includes transplant hepatologist, gastroenterology, women in medicine and as patients, and clinical care. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), images (JPG), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Marilyn J. Telen on April 21, 2021 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project.

Duration: 01:08:12

During the interview, Telen discusses her path to medicine after a first career in nonfiction publishing, her relationship with mentors and research collaborators at Duke, and her thoughts on the history of women in medicine. The themes of this interview includes medical training, hematology, and academic medical research. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), images (JPG), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

These oral history interviews were conducted with Dr. Joseph O. Moore on November 6 and 9, 2020 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project.

Duration: 01:12:14 (interview 1)

Duration: 01:12:53 (interview 2)

During the interviews, Moore discusses the advent of the specialization of hematologic oncology, Moore's early experiences that inspired his interest in medicine as a career, changes in Duke's facilities and programs over his tenure, and developments in cancer treatment. The themes of these interviews include medical training, the history of Duke Medical Center, and hematologic oncology. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interviews with stereo (WAV), interviews with mono (MP3), image (JPG), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Pamela S. Douglas on September 23, 2020 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project.

Duration: 00:42:28

During the interview, Douglas discusses her career trajectory, her work in protocols and standards related to echocardiography and imaging technologies, and how she has contributed to efforts related to diversity and burnout in the field of cardiology. The themes of these interviews include medical standards, heart disease, and diversity and inclusion in medicine. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), image (JPG), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Ann J. Brown on April 27, 2021 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project.

Duration: 01:01:50

During the interview, Brown discusses her educational background, her development of a women's health series, importance of having women in leadership roles in academic medicine, leadership work within the Duke University School of Medicine, current conversations in academic medicine about work/life balance and appropriate work environments, and the impact of systemic bias on research into women's health. The themes of this interview include endocrinology, faculty affairs and development, and gender in medicine. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), an image (JPG), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

This oral history interview was conducted with Sezer Aksel on September 13, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry as part of the Women in Duke Medicine Oral History Exhibit.
Duration: 00:43:32
Sezer Aksel discusses her background in Turkey; her desire to become a physician even against her family's desires; coming to Duke Medical School; the difficulty understanding Southern accents; the friendly atmosphere at Duke; completing premedical courses at Duke; the new curriculum at Duke Medical School; her interest in physiology and endocrinology; her second year of residency at Johns Hopkins; women in her medical school class; the busy residency schedule at Duke; dressing facilities in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; working twice as hard initially to gain men's respect; her acceptance from the faculty of her department; the reputation of Dr. Eleanor Easley in the department; previous female interns in the department having a difficult time and leaving Duke; support from the nursing staff in the department; support from the department chair, Dr. Roy Parker; the supposition among some in the department that women patients did not like to see female doctors for ob-gyn care and Dr. Aksel's experiences to the contrary; the first baby delivered; endocrinology; endocrinology-related surgical procedures; laparoscopy; the length of residency determined by the department chair; operating as a resident; learning by doing; the growth of department; females who joined the residency in the department after she came; changes due to more females; the male-dominated nature of dressing facilities in department; job opportunities after finishing residency; and establishing the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of South Alabama. The transcription of this interview was made possible by a grant from the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation. Includes 1 master audiocassette tape, 1 master and 1 use CD, and 1 transcript.

This oral history interview was conducted with Nancy Allen on November 10, 2006 by Jessica Roseberry.

Duration: 01:15:02

Nancy Allen discusses her family background; medical education; women in science during time of her education; coming to Duke; her husband being accepted into Duke's PhD program; Dr. Ralph Snyderman as chief of Immunology; Dr. James Wyngaarden as chair of Department of Medicine; Dr. Wyngaarden's emphasis on bench research; her own preference for patient care above research; women in department in 1970s and 1980s; the treatment of females in the department; Dr. Joseph Greenfield as chair of Department of Medicine; support of Dr. Greenfield; her pregnancy; the lack of maternity leave policy in the department; the institution of her proposal for maternity leave in the department; her service on the university campus wide committee to implement maternity leave policy; the chairmanship of Department of Medicine Women's Committee; meeting with women in other medical departments about women's issues; women's networking and advocacy on campus; Dr. Rebecca Buckley's service on the otherwise all-male appointment, promotion, and tenure (APT) committee; her own service on advisory committee to Chancellor William Anlyan on women's issues; women of primarily Caucasian decent on these committees; the difficulty of salary comparisons in medical center due to income from patients; her clinical work as a rheumatologist; work in outreach clinics; patients (without identifying information) who stand out in her mind; high percentage of female patients in her practice; rewarding nature of rheumatology; academic council; Dr. Nannerl Keohane; her service as chair of academic council; Vice Provost for Faculty Diversity and Faculty Development position; other committees to advance the concerns of women on campus; women who might be important to remember; and the support of her husband, Dr. Barry Allen. The transcription of this interview was made possible by a grant from the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation. Includes 2 master CDs, a use CD, and a transcript.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Sheila J. Counce-Nicklas on June 21, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry.
Duration: 1:46:03
Dr. Counce-Nicklas discusses her background; her love of science and of learning; her interest in how things work; her Fulbright scholarship to Edinburgh; her professor suggesting she get a PhD instead of diploma at Edinburgh; studying sex-linked lethal chromosomes in fruit flies; the advantage of being a female in working with males; asking for a promotion in the Duke Department of Anatomy; her reputation in Europe; coming to Duke; other women at Duke: Dr. Lois Pounds, Dr. Jo Rae Wright, Dr. Nell Cant, Dr. Rebecca H. Buckley; women during the time period of late 1960s and early 1970s; the necessity of self-assurance for these women; her husband's work in Duke's Department of Zoology; being the lone woman in the department; not being treated much differently; her continued research on sex-linked lethal chromosomes in fruit flies; this research not enabling her to see the way that the sexes develop, as she had hoped; Duke's increasing emphasis on competing in the research arena; changes in the Department of Anatomy; her research being rewarding; her major contribution as being a two-volume work on insect development; her reputation in Europe as an important factor in her promotion; support from colleagues; the solitary nature of working in the laboratory; the work of other members of the department; teaching; Dr. Montrose Moses; service on Academic Council; the necessity of fairness in appointments; mentors; mentorship; the freedom to explore in her work at Duke; the necessity of grants in research; sharing the workload at home with her husband, Bruce Nicklas; the Promotions and Tenure Committee; the move in the field toward cell and molecular biology; the change in the Department of Anatomy under a new chair; Duke's academic reputation; the increase in the number of women since she first arrived; women in the basic sciences; and being outspoken. 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 a transcript.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Kathleen Clem on June 27, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry.
Duration: 01:15:32
Clem discusses her desire to become an emergency physician; her background as a nurse; her family background; Loma Linda University; starting one of the first international emergency medical fellowships in the country (at Loma Linda); coming to North Carolina; her desire to improve Duke's Division of Emergency Medicine; becoming division chief of Emergency Medicine; having to fire many of the current faculty in the division to ensure the division was staffed by personnel trained to higher standards; recruiting new faculty; the development of the residency program in the division as crucial and her achievement of that goal in 1993; completely renovating the division's physical space; her goals in renovating the space; women's often circuitous careers; her own circuitous career; the importance of embracing the diversity of career experiences; Duke's support of her career path; the difficulties of being a female leader of the Division of Emergency Medicine within the male-dominated Department of Surgery; doing things that were "uniquely feminine"; changing the culture in Emergency Medicine; impacting the Department of Surgery; overcoming the difficulties of being a female leader; maintaining her integrity; her hard work to get changes made to the division; her allies; the female surgeons in the department; the types of patients who access emergency medicine at Duke; overcrowding in emergency departments; Duke's renovation and expansion as part of the solution to overcrowding; the state of Division of Emergency Medicine when she first arrived; educating Duke about what emergency medicine physicians are supposed to do; the role of emergency medicine physicians; why Emergency Medicine is currently a division and not a department, as she would hope it would be; the percentage of her time spent as administrator and career sacrifices she made to be an administrator; the Faculty Women's Committee; topics the committee has dealt with; the women at Duke who inspire her; the exhibit honoring women undertaken by Faculty Women's Committee; other women; embracing the circuitous career paths of women within her division; why women have more circuitous career paths; importance of mentorship; her past and current mentors; her own methods of balancing work and family; the change in culture at Duke in support of families; the differences between nurses and physicians in emergency medicine; collaboration with nursing; the issues of patient flow in emergency medicine; the rapid nature of decision-making in emergency medicine; her book, "Emergent Field Medicine"; and the current state of the Division of Emergency Medicine. 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 a transcript.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Elizabeth Bullitt on October 18, 2005 by Jessica Roseberry.
Duration: 01:15:00
Bullitt discusses her background; her fascination with the brain and neurosurgery; residency at University of Colorado; internal problems in program at University of Colorado; coming to Duke under Dr. Robert Wilkins; military feel of Duke program; rules in Duke program; Dr. Guy Odom; Dr. David Sabiston; hierarchy in Department of Surgery; male presence in neurosurgery, particularly at the time; husband as present chief of Neurosurgery at Duke; being the first female neurosurgeon on staff at both Mayfield Neurological Institute and University of North Carolina; feeling need to survive as opposed to feeling like a pioneer at Duke; treatment as a female neurosurgeon at Duke; her sensitivity to her treatment and dedication to her field; evaluation of her treatment versus current regulations against such treatment; facilities for female neurosurgeons; being overlooked at Duke because female; feeling uncomfortable returning to Duke; uniforms in Duke Department of Surgery; Dr. Robert Wilkins; others in the department who influenced her, including Dr. Blaine Nashold; meeting husband [Dr. Allan Friedman] at this time; time commitment as resident at that time versus the current time commitment; technology at Duke at the time; Carol Ludolph; conservative nature of Duke Surgery Department in terms of operating, flexibility; treatment received from patients; history of career at University of North Carolina; balancing home life and work life; current work with brain imaging at University of North Carolina. The transcription of this interview was made possible by a grant from the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation. Includes 2 master audio cassette tapes, 2 use audio cassette tapes, and a transcript.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Marianne S. Breslin on June 12, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry.
Duration: 01:57:33
Dr. Marianne S. Breslin discusses her background; her father's occupation as a horse breeder in Germany; Germany's political climate affecting her family; Nazi influence in her town; anti-Nazi sentiment after the war; extreme changes in family due to the war and politics; going to medical school in 1941; World War II's impact on her life; becoming a surgeon; her fellowship to go to the United States; coming to the United States (New York); meeting her husband; moving to Chapel Hill; complications of the fellowship program; working at Dorothea Dix Hospital as chief of the female service; choosing to change to psychiatry over surgery; Dr. Ewald Busse persuading her to come to Duke's Department of Psychiatry; heading the Division of Psychosomatic Medicine in Duke's Department of Psychiatry; other people in the department; being the first female in the Adult Psychiatry Department; the positive treatment she received as the only female; being busy; raising a large family alone; her experience with a grateful patient; psychosomatic medicine; the current trend toward medications in the field of psychiatry; Dr. Anna Friedman; Dr. Ruby Wilson; the end of clinical psychiatric nurse position; committees upon which she served in the medical center; her presidency of the North Carolina Neuropsychiatric Society; other people in other divisions in the department; the end of the Division of Psychosomatic Medicine after her retirement; her retirement; the positive aspects and accomplishments of the division; working with a patient who was afraid to fly; the death of her two husbands; her children; psychiatry in Germany; her initial interest in psychosomatic medicine; her popularity; passing the state boards in North Carolina; being the only foreigner to pass the boards in her group; taking the boards; other exams necessary to practice in the United States; her family; and social workers in Duke's Department of Psychiatry. The transcription of this interview was made possible by a grant from the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation. Includes 2 master and 2 use CDs.

This oral history interview was conducted with Rebecca Clayton on March 15, 2007 by Rebecca Clayton.
Duration: 01:02:26
Clayton discusses beginning work as the secretary for Dr. Grace Kerby, in 1960; being pregnant and delivering her first child; there being no maternity leave policy; her care for Dr. Kerby after Kerby's retirement; Dr. Kerby's attention to detail; Dr. Kerby's very private nature; other elements of Dr. Kerby's character; Dr. Kerby's dedication to her work; Dr. Kerby's work on house staff schedules and Clayton's assistance to Kerby in this work; Dr. Kerby's assistance to then-Department of Medicine chair, Dr. Eugene Stead; Bess Cebe, Dr. Stead's assistant; Clayton's close relationship with Dr. Kerby; the interactions of secretaries in the department; Dr. Kerby's materials that Clayton has; Dr. Kerby upon retirement; Clayton's workload under Dr. Kerby; equipment Clayton used at the time; the proportion of work dedicated to house staff schedules; Dr. Kerby's privacy about her own schedule; and Clayton's previous work. Includes a master CD, a use CD, and a transcript.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Robert (Bob) P. Drucker on April 22, 2022 by Josephine McRobbie.

Duration: 01:29:39 (MP3); 01:29:47 (WAV)

During the interview, Drucker discusses his background, work as an advisory dean, the impact of COVID-19 on medical education, and his experiences working in pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases. The themes of this interview includes pediatrics, medical education, and careers in medicine. Digital files include interview metadata and transcript (PDF), interview with stereo (WAV), interview with mono (MP3), consent form (PDF), and TXT files.

This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. James M. Douglas on February 1, 2022 by Konstantinos Economopoulos as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project.

Duration: 00:33:05

During the interview, Douglas discusses his early life; education; why wanted to become a surgeon; his interest in music; how he came to complete his residency at Duke; what it was like to be the first African American to complete a surgery residency at Duke; what it was like to be a surgery resident under Sabiston including Sabiston's militaristic discipline and the different way he treated medical students from surgery residents--especially the surgery chief resident; the overall experience of being a surgery intern at Duke; Sabiston's incredible work ethic; what Sabiston taught Douglas; and other memories of Sabiston. Digital files include transcript (DOCX), interview (M4A), and consent form (PDF).

This oral history interview was conducted with William J. Donelan on March 10, 2020 by Emily Stewart as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project.
Duration: 00:49:39
During the interview, Donelan discusses his early life; educational background; his professional career path at Duke, where he started in 1969 as an insurance office supervisor in the medical private diagnostic clinic; the business administration side Duke's transformation into a premier academic hospital; the growth of Duke University Medical Center; the early days of Duke Hospital North; becoming Chief Operating Officer of Duke University Hospital; his relationship Sabiston; how Sabiston tried to recruit him as the business manager for the Department of Surgery; and Sabiston's legacy at Duke. Digital files include transcript (.DOCX), interview (.MP3), and consent form (.PDF).