Dani Bolognesi received his PhD from Duke in virology in 1967, and he joined the faculty at Duke as an Assistant Professor in Virology in the Department of Surgery in 1971 and became an Associate Professor of Surgery in 1972. Bolognesi held other positions at Duke: Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery (1994-1999), Professor of Virology in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology (2001-2002), Professor of Virology in the Department of Microbiology (1994-2002), Professor of Surgery (1977-2002), and Professor Emeritus of Surgery (2002-present). While at Duke, his laboratory did the early work on identifying anti-HIV activity in what would become AZT, the first drug developed against the disease. This collection contains 2 oral history interviews conducted on September 29, 1994 by Dr. James Gifford and May 29, 2019 by Taylor Patterson and is part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the June 29, 1994 interview, Bolognesi discusses his educational background; working with Dr. Joseph Beard at Duke; and his research, particularly the work of the laboratory he directed. In the May 29, 2019 interview, Bolognesi discusses his early life and education; his studies and work at Duke, where he was a student under Dr. Joseph Beard; professional and personal memories of Dr. David Sabiston, including Sabiston's interest in grants; Sabiston's stoke; Sabiston's Christmas parties; translational research; the Department of Surgery; and Bolognesi's HIV research.
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.