Collections

Pastoral services are available at all Duke Health hospitals any time of day or night. The chaplaincy program at Duke Hospital was started by P. Wesley Aitken shortly after Aikten's graduation from Duke Divinity School in July 1956. Contains a portrait of P. Wesley Aitken. Portrait is undated.

Dr. W. Gerald Austen, MD, a pioneer in the field of cardiac surgery, was the chief of the Surgical Services at Massachusetts General Hospital for 29 years, as well as a friend and colleague of Dr. David C. Sabiston. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on September 9, 2019 by Emily Stewart and is part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview, Austen discusses his early life and education; his work at Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. David and Agnes Sabiston, including first meeting David Sabiston and his first stroke; his wife, Patty Austen; the history of open heart surgery; and the Duke Department of Surgery.

Dr. Pamela Susan Douglas, MD, a cardiologist, specializes in diagnostic imaging of the heart. Her research has been instrumental in setting standards for the application and interpretation of echocardiograms. Douglas is the Ursula Geller Professor of Research in Cardiovascular Diseases in the Department of Medicine at Duke University, as well as the Director of the Multimodality Imaging Program at Duke Clinical Research Institute. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on September 23, 2020 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project. In 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.

Alfred Gras (1920-2007) was a graduate of Duke University Medical School in 1944. He went into internal medical practice in Newark and Nutley, New Jersey; and Vermont. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on September 23, 2005 by Jessica Roseberry. Gras discusses his medical education and his experience of being the first student at Duke to receive penicillin.

George W. Newton was the former head of Duke's surgical instrument shop.

Dr. Jack Hughes, MD, served the Durham, North Carolina community in private urological practice from 1950 until his retirement in 1988. His work bridged his specialty in urological surgery with an interest in the medical science of stone disease. His clinical practice, research, and service to medical societies often involved collaborating with colleagues in academic medicine, especially at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on October 3 and 4, 2019 by Joseph O'Connell. The October 3 and 4, 2019 interview with Hughes moves more or less chronologically through Hughes' upbringing and education, his military service during World War II, his residency and training in Minnesota, and his experiences at the intersection of academic and private practice medical communities in Durham, North Carolina.

Jean Spaulding, MD (1947- ) is the first African-American female to graduate from the Duke University School of Medicine, a member of the Duke University Health System Board of Directors, and a member of the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on October 3, 2006 by Jessica Roseberry as part of the Women in Duke Medicine Oral History Exhibit. In this interview, Spaulding discusses her experiences as a woman and an African-American in Duke University's Department of Psychiatry and the Durham community, as well as her administrative roles in the Duke University Health System.

Melvin Berlin was the first medical team physician for the Duke athletic program.

John Robinette, a Duke University Hospital administrator, was recruited to Duke University by then Chancellor, Dr. William Anlyan, to become his administrative assistant after meeting him at an Association of American Medical Colleges meeting. This was the start of Robinette's long career at Duke that saw him move in the role of a hospital administrator for Duke University Hospital. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on October 22, 2019 by Taylor Patterson as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview, Robinette discusses his education; career at Duke, starting as an administrative assistant for Dr. William Anlyan and eventually moving into the role of a hospital administrator; his role in building the new Duke Hospital; the Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC); working with Sabiston in the role of an administrator; and personal memories of Sabiston.

Dr. Elizabeth Bullitt was the first woman to graduate from the surgical residency at Duke University. She later served as the first female neurosurgeon on staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was vice chair and acting chair of the department. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on October 18, 2005 by Jessica Roseberry. In this interview, Bullitt discusses her experiences as a female physician in the field of neurosurgery; the Department of Surgery and Division of Neurosurgery at Duke University; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; women in medicine; and women physicians.

Dr. Thomas M. Bashore, MD, a cardiologist, has been on faculty at the Duke University Medical Center since 1985. He's an expert in the treatment of complex cardiovascular conditions, and was instrumental to establishing programs in valvular heart disease and adult congenital heart disease at Duke. His additional achievements include earning repeat awards for his role as a teacher of cardiology fellows. He holds positions as a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine and the Senior Vice Chief in the Division of Cardiology. This collection contains 2 oral history interviews conducted on October 12 and 16, 2020 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project. In the interviews, Bashore discusses his interest in visuals and history related to medicine, his pedagogical approach, and his thoughts on program leadership and restructuring.

Dr. Irwin Fridovich is emeritus James B. Duke Professor of Biochemistry.

Jane S. Richardson (1941- ) is a James B. Duke Professor of Biochemistry. She is known for her work with protein structures. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on November 9, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry as part of the Women in Duke Medicine Oral History Exhibit. In this interview, Richardson discusses her work with her husband in the Department of Chemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Department of Biochemistry at Duke University Medical Center, including her work with protein structures and her ribbon drawings.

Dr. Joseph Odell Moore, MD, an oncologist, has worked within the Duke University Medical Center system for 45 years, first as an internal medicine fellow and finally as Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine. As a specialist in hematologic malignancies, he focuses on the understanding and treatment of cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. His many achievements include advancing clinical research on myeloid leukemias and serving as a founding board member of the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. This collection contains 2 oral history interviews conducted on November 6 and 9 2020 by Joseph O'Connell as part of the Department of Medicine's Oral History Project. In 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.

J. Michael Slaughter attended Duke University for undergraduate, graduating circa 1975. After graduation, he worked in Dr. Dani Bolognesi's laboratory, overseeing surgical admissions and assignment of the operating rooms for about 3 years, and as the business manager for the Department of Surgery for 20 years under Dr. David Sabiston. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on November 6, 2019 by Emily Stewart as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview Slaughter discusses his early life and education; memories of Dr. David and Agnes Sabiston; and working as the business manager for Duke Department of Surgery and all the duties that came along with that job, including managing payroll and planning all departmental social functions.

Frances K. Widmann (1935-2013) was a former director of the Durham Veterans Administration Hospital blood bank and faculty member in Duke's Department of Pathology. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on November 28, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry as part of the Women in Duke Medicine Oral History Exhibit. In this interview, Widmann discusses her experiences as a woman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University Medical Center, and the Durham Veterans Administration Hospital.

Herbert A. Saltzman was a director of the F.G. Hall Lab for Environmental Research at Duke, now part of the Duke Center For Hyperbaric Medicine And Environmental Physiology.

Charles Peete was a physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke University.

Dr. Doris Howell is a former member of Duke's Department of Pediatrics and the first woman to receive the Distinguished Duke Medical Alumni Award. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on November 12, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry. In this interview, Howell discusses her experiences as a female pediatrician at Duke, in San Diego, and in Pennsylvania.

Contains audiotapes and transcript of an oral history interview with Nannerl O. Keohane, professor of political science and president of Duke University from 1993 to 2004.

Dr. Philip H. Pearce was a partner in the Durham Women's Clinic from 1967 to 2004.

Joanne A. P. Wilson was the second African-American woman to graduate from Duke University School of Medicine. She later became a full professor in Duke's Department of Medicine. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on May 24, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry as part of the Women in Duke Medicine Oral History Exhibit. In this interview, Wilson discusses her experiences as a woman within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke and establishing the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of South Alabama.

Dr. Fred A. Crawford, MD, attended Duke University for undergraduate and Duke University School of Medicine for medical school. Crawford's residency at Duke was interrupted by the Vietnam War, where he served in the United States Army as a surgeon. Afterwards, he returned to Duke and completed his residency. Crawford served as Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Mississippi (1976-1979) and Professor and Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina (1979-2009). This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on May 22, 2019 by Taylor Patterson as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview Crawford discusses his early life and education, his experience at Duke University and Duke University School of Medicine, working for Dr. Will C. Sealy, memories of Dr. David and Agnes Sabiston, his residency, leaving his residency at Duke to serve in the Army during the Vietnam War, and his career after Duke at the University of Mississippi and the Medical University of South Carolina as a thoracic surgeon.

Retired U.S. Army Colonel, Dr. Norman M. Rich, MD, a vascular surgeon, refined vascular surgical techniques as a young surgeon in Vietnam. His expertise and techniques saved many soldiers from limb amputation or death, which led him to be known as the surgeon who heralded a new age in vascular injury management, with particular focus on venous reconstruction. After Vietnam, Rich went on to a long academic career in the field of vascular surgery. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on May 21, 2019 by Dr. Justin Barr as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview, Rich discusses his early life in a copper mining town in Arizona; early interest in the repair of blood vessels; education; decision to become a surgeon; military service as a surgeon in Vietnam and later running the vascular service at Walter Reed and running the vascular fellowship program; Rich and Sabiston's friendship and warm working relationship; Rich's career in medicine after retiring from active duty; attending conferences, domestic and international, with Sabiston; and Rich's commitment to teamwork.

Hilda P. Willett (1923-2013) was the first female in Duke's Department of Microbiology (now the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology) and the first person to receive a PhD from that department, later becoming a full professor. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on May 21, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry as part of the Women in Duke Medicine Oral History Exhibit. In this interview, Willett discusses her memories of being a female in Duke's Department of Microbiology.

Dr. Carl E. Ravin, MD (1942- ) is a Duke Professor of Radiology and former Chair of the Department of Radiology (1985-2008). This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on May 20, 2019 by Emily Stewart as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In 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.

Wilhelm Delano Meriwether was the first African-American to graduate from the Duke University School of Medicine.

Frederick Bernheim and Mary ("Molly") Bernheim were original faculty members at Duke University School of Medicine.

Rebecca Clayton worked as Dr. Grace Kerby's secretary in Duke University's Department of Medicine from the 1960s until Kerby's retirement. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on March 15, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry. In this interview, Clayton discusses beginning work as the secretary for Kerby, in 1960; being pregnant and delivering her first child; there being no maternity leave policy; her care for Kerby after Kerby's retirement; Kerby's attention to detail; Kerby's very private nature; other elements of Kerby's character; Kerby's dedication to her work; Kerby's work on house staff schedules and Clayton's assistance to Kerby in this work; Kerby's assistance to then-Department of Medicine chair, Dr. Eugene Stead; Bess Cebe, Stead's assistant; Clayton's close relationship with Kerby; the interactions of secretaries in the department; Kerby's materials that Clayton has; Kerby upon retirement; Clayton's workload under Kerby; equipment Clayton used at the time; the proportion of work dedicated to house staff schedules; Kerby's privacy about her own schedule; and Clayton's previous work.

Dr. Gale McCarty is the president of Rheum. Ed Consulting and an alumna of the Duke University School of Medicine.

Dr. Marianne S. Breslin is a former head of the Psychosomatic Division of the Department of Psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on June 12, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry. In this interview, Breslin discusses her experiences as a woman and mother practicing psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina Hospitals.

William Henry Muller, Jr., attended Duke University School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins University and was the head of the Department of Surgery at the University of Virginia from 1954 to 1976. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on June 28, 2005 by Jessica Roseberry. In this interview, Muller discusses his background, education, medical career, and his recollections about student life during his time as a medical student at Duke.

Dr. Kathleen Clem was the first chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine within Duke University's Department of Surgery. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on June 27, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry. In this interview, Clem discusses women's issues in the medical field, including her own experiences as a female leader in Duke University Medical Center's Division of Emergency Medicine in the Department of Surgery.

Doyle Graham was a professor of pathology and dean of medical education at Duke, chair of the Pathology Department at Vanderbilt University, and chair of the toxicology study section of the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Bernard M. Jaffe, MD, is a general surgeon and Professor of Surgery, Emeritus at Tulane University Medical Center. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on June 24, 2019 by Emily Stewart as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview, Jaffe discusses, as part of the recorded interview, how he helped locate the grave of Dr. William Stewart Halsted, a role model for Dr. Sabiston, when Sabiston was a visiting professor at the medical school at the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. There are additional notes about 2 Sabiston stories made during a phone conversation with Jaffe that were not recorded about how Jaffe met Sabiston and Sabiston's niece only calling him "Dr. Sabiston" and not "Uncle Dave".

Charles B. Hammond is professor emeritus of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke University.

Dr. Sheila J. Counce-Nicklas was one of the first women in Duke University's Department of Anatomy. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on June 21, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry. In this interview, Counce-Nicklas discusses women's issues in the medical field, including her own experiences as a female staff member in Duke University Medical Center's Department of Anatomy.

Dr. Andrew S. Wechsler, MD, emeritus professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine, was the Stanley K. Brockman Professor and Chairman of the Department of from 1998 to 2011. Wechsler completed his Residency in General and Thoracic Surgery at Duke University Medical Center (1973) and afterwards joined the faculty (1974-1988). This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on June 18, 2019 by Emily Stewart as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview, Wechsler discusses his early life, education, decision to enter the medical profession, decision to switch from cardiology to cardiac surgery, experiences with Sabiston as a resident and faculty member at Duke, what is was like to move from the North to the South in the seventies, Sabiston's rigid but principled manner, experiences offered to him because of Sabiston's support, reestablishing the cardiac surgery program at the Durham VA, leaving Duke to become a professor and chair in the Department of Surgery at the Medical College of Virginia, and other memories of Sabiston and his wife, Aggie.

H. Keith H. Brodie is a former chair of the Department of Psychiatry, chancellor, and president of Duke University.

Dr. Allan Douglas Kirk, MD, PhD, is Chair of the Department of Surgery in the Duke University School of Medicine and Surgeon-in-Chief for Duke University Health System. He is also the David C. Sabiston Jr. Professor of Surgery and a professor of immunology and pediatrics. Kirk is a transplant surgeon and physician, specializing in kidney and pancreas transplantation. He is internationally recognized for work in transplant immunology, pioneering the use of costimulation pathway blockade to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on June 12, 2019 by Dr. Justin Barr as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In this interview, Kirk discusses his early life; education; background in music; how he came to be a transplant surgeon; memories of Dr. David Sabiston from his time as a student and resident; becoming a surgeon; his interest in immunology as it related to the field of transplantation; Dr. Robert Anderson taking over as Chair of the Department of Surgery; Kirk's and Sabiston's shared military experience; Kirk's relationship with Sabiston after leaving Duke; and how Sabiston helped shape Kirk's time as Chair of the Department of Surgery at Duke, as well as their different styles of leadership.

Dr. Lois Pounds was an assistant professor in Duke's Department of Pediatrics, as well as the former associate dean for medical education and director of medical school admissions. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on July 3, 2007 by Jessica Roseberry as part of the Women in Duke Medicine Oral History Exhibit. In this interview, Pounds discusses her experiences as a woman at Duke University Medical Center and the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Walter J. Pories, MD, Professor of Surgery, Biochemistry and Kinesiology at East Carolina University is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, and received his MD with Honor at the University of Rochester where he also completed his surgical training in general and cardio-thoracic surgery. He served on the faculties of the University of Rochester, Case Western Reserve and East Carolina University where he served as the founding Chairman of Surgery for 19 years. He is currently the Director of the Bariatric Surgery Research Group. This collection contains 1 oral history interview conducted on July 30, 2020 by Taylor Patterson as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the interview, Pories discusses his early life; education; decision to enter the medical profession; his career; how Sabiston helped him recruit for the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University (ECU) when it first started; Sabiston's contributions to the field of surgery through his skill as a surgeon, training surgeons, and his leadership in the American College of Surgeons; and other memories of Sabiston and his wife, Aggie.

Louise Williams Dennis graduated from Duke University School of Nursing in 1948.

Martin Marc Cummings graduated from Duke University School of Medicine in 1944. He was the director of the National Library of Medicine from 1964 to 1984.

Brenda Nevidjon is a clinical professor in Duke University's School of Nursing and former chief operating officer of Duke University Hospital.