Search

Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi is a family doctor; fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians; Associate Professor and Director for Health Equity at Duke University's Department of Family Medicine and Community Health; and co-founder of LATIN-19, the Latinx Advocacy Team and Interdisciplinary Network for COVID-19, a multisector group addressing Hispanic health that was created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her areas of focus are Health Disparities, Access to Health Care, Women's Health, Latino Health Care, Chronic Disease Management, Socioeconomic Determinants of Health, and Population Health. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on January 26, 2024 by Fiorella Orozco as part of the Bass Connections Agents of Change Oral History Project. In the interview, Martinez-Bianchi explores her early life and career, and her role as an activist at Duke Health. The themes of this interview include family medicine, health disparities, research, and community-based interventions.

After service in the United States Air Force, Frank Davis pursued a BS in electrical engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. He then worked at IBM and received a MS in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Davis co-founded the Durham Striders Youth Association (DSYA) in 1977 with Herman Graham and Ralph Bullock. Dr. Brenda Armstrong became involved with the DSYA, meeting Davis through her godfather, Russell Blunt. Armstrong, Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Dean of Admissions for the Duke University School of Medicine, and, among other roles, Vice President of the DSYA, and Davis, Co-Founder of the DSYA, worked together for 37 years. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on February 18, 2024 by Ava Meigs as part of the Bass Connections Agents of Change Oral History Project. In the interview, Davis explores the mission and work of the DSYA; Armstrong's extensive involvement with the DSYA as a coach, team physician, board member, and fundraiser; notable alumni of the DSYA; and the organization's relationship with Duke. This interview primarily focuses on Armstrong as a pivotal figure in the founding and work of the DSYA. The themes of this interview include community activism, academic and athletic excellence, physical health, and expanding access to health care.

Patricia Bartlett, a clinical social worker, worked with HIV/AIDS patients in Durham, North Carolina, in the early 1980s at Durham County Regional Hospital (now Duke Regional Hospital). In 1988, she began working with Dr. John A. Bartlett's clinic on the Reynolds grant, which aimed to produce research comparing healthcare costs between home care and hospital care for dying AIDS patients. Her fearlessness and general familiarity with governmental bureaucracy became a lifeline for the AIDS patients at Duke. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on January 29, 2024 by Anthony Zhao as part of the Bass Connections Agents of Change Oral History Project. In the interview, Bartlett discusses her care for a friend with AIDS in the early 1980s; her activism for patients not only at Duke, but also Durham County General Hospital; the negative reputation of John Bartlett's HIV/AIDS clinic at Duke; the extensive resistance she met from community organizations; and memorable experiences with patients at Duke. The themes of this interview include stigmatization and discrimination, community activism, health education, and patient advocacy.

Joyce N. Jiggetts, RN, BSN, CMHRP, is a nurse in the reproductive care sector who is actively involved in reproductive health equity for underserved populations. In 1995, Jiggetts joined the Durham County Health Department, where she became a vocal advocate for maternal health. Around 2017, she joined the Duke University Health System as part of what would later become the Baby-Love/CMHRP (Care Management for High-Risk Pregnancies) program. Jiggetts also serves as a founding member of the Black Maternal Health Equity Initiative, a program that pairs pregnant mothers with high-risk pregnancies with medical students, who can provide support and help explain complex medical conditions. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on February 23, 2024 by Danielle Okotcha as part of the Bass Connections Agents of Change Oral History Project. In the interview, Jiggetts discusses the Care Management for High-Risk Pregnancies (CMHRP) program, her experiences as a LPN, and racial relations in healthcare. The themes of this interview include community and women's health, racial discrimination, and healthcare.

Rebecca Reyes, a social worker, had her journey shaped by her vibrant Hispanic heritage and a deep-rooted commitment to making a positive impact in her community. Reyes witnessed, firsthand, the challenges faced by marginalized groups, fueling her passion for social change from an early age. Raised in a Presbyterian household, she learned the values of compassion, service, and the importance of education, instilled in her by her family. In 1979, Reyes made history as the first Hispanic woman ordained in the Presbyterian Church, a monumental achievement that marked the beginning of her lifelong dedication to social justice. Reyes' career spanned working with the Presbyterian Church to serving as a campus minister at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and, in 2000, she played a pivotal role in establishing Latino Health Services at Duke University, recognizing the urgent need for culturally competent healthcare for immigrant communities. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on January 25, 2024 by Fiorella Orozco as part of the Bass Connections Agents of Change Oral History Project. In the interview, Reyes explores her early life and career, and her role as an activist and social worker at Duke Health. The themes of this interview include heath disparities, community outreach, social work, and Latino health.

Dr. Deanna Wilson Adkins is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Duke. She is Pediatric Endocrinologist, Diabetes and Metabolism Specialist, and director and founder of Duke Child and Adolescent Gender Care Clinic. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on February 12, 2024 by Caroline Overton as part of the Bass Connections Agents of Change Oral History Project. In the interview, Adkins discusses her childhood and family, her pathway into endocrinology, how she became involved in gender-affirming care, her interdisciplinary approach to gender-affirming care, her legal advocacy work, and her advocacy to ensure the Duke Hospital system is welcoming to LGBTQ+ patients. The themes of this interview include medical care for LGBTQ+, trans rights, and the relationship between medicine and advocacy.

Dr. Leonor Corsino, Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences, and Associate Dean for Students Affairs/Advisory Dean Duke School of Medicine MD program, is a Board-Certified Adult Endocrinologist and an experienced physician-scientist, organizational, and health professions education leader. Corsino's journey as a physician-scientist is driven by a genuine desire for change, rooted in her vision to address healthcare disparities, especially within Latino and Hispanic communities in Durham, North Carolina. Since joining Duke University in 2006, Corsino has become a leading advocate for community-engaged research and Latinx representation. Through her various initiatives and leadership roles, she continues to advocate for a more representative and equitable future in medicine. In her role as the Associate Chair of the Department of Medicine Minority Recruitment and Retention Committee, she launched the Latino Initiative, significantly increasing the number of Hispanic/Latino residents and fellows. Corsino also played a key role in establishing the Latino Faculty Group at Duke School of Medicine and serves as an advisor to the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA). Additionally, she serves as the Associate Director for the Duke School of Medicine Master of Biomedical Sciences, actively shaping the educational landscape. This collection contains 2 oral history interviews conducted on January 22 and March 18, 2024 by Fiorella Orozco as part of the Bass Connections Agents of Change Oral History Project. In the January 22, 2024 interview, Corsino discusses her role as an activist at Duke Health. In the March 18, 2024 interview, Corsino discusses her roles as a mentor and her impactful initiatives aimed to increase diversity at the Duke School of Medicine. The themes of these interviews include health disparities, community based research, research, diversity initiatives, and mentorship.

Dr. E. Harvey Estes Jr., MD, was a Durham Veterans Administration Hospital physician and administrator, and chair of the Department of Community and Family Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. This collection contains 4 oral history interviews conducted at separate times. Interviews were conducted in 1990, as part of an oral history project conducted by the Physician Assistant (PA) History Education Division within the Department of Community and Family Medicine at Duke University as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of Duke's PA program; November 30, 1994 by Natalie Holt; April 28, 2004 by Jessica Roseberry; and June 25, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry. In the 1990 interview, Estes discusses his career, his experiences as a faculty member affiliated with the Duke University PA Program, and the development of PA programs in the United States. In the 1994 interview, Estes discusses the development of the PA profession. In the 2004 interview, Estes discusses the history of the Department of Community and Family Medicine at Duke. He also discusses the department's relationship with Watts Hospital, Durham Regional Hospital (now Duke Regional Hospital), and the Duke University PA Program. In the 2007 interview, Estes discusses his experiences with female physicians, employees, and volunteers at Duke University Medical Center, primarily focusing on the Department of Medicine and the Department of Community and Family Medicine. Major subjects include Dr. Grace Kerby, Bess Cebe, Dr. Eva Salber, Dr. Evelyn Schmidt, Connie Service, Becky Heron, Dr. Kathryn Andolsek, Susan Yaggy, Dr. Dorothy Naumann, Dr. Joyce Nichols, and Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans. Other subjects include South African protestors of Apartheid at the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; culture differences in having mostly women in divisions of the department; maternity policies; funding as an issue in the Department of Community and Family Medicine; the Duke Diet and Fitness Center; and the Nearly New Shoppe.

Ewald W. Busse was a early leader in the field of geriatric psychiatry and a founder of the Center for Aging and Human Development, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Psychiatry and Dean Emeritus of Medical and Allied Health Education at Duke University.

Dr. William C. DeVries, MD (1943- ) is a cardiothoracic surgeon, known for the first transplant of a total artificial heart (TAH) using the Jarvik-7 model. DeVries completed his surgical residency at Duke, where he trained under Dr. David. C. Sabiston. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on August 20, 2019 by Emily Stewart as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview, DeVries discusses his education, work at the University of Utah School of Medicine with Dr. Willem Kolff on the artificial heart, his surgical residency at Duke, memories of Sabiston, and his career.