Essays: In our own words

In This Essay: "We decided that what was needed was a major initiative in human genetics across the entire university. This would include not only clinical and basic sciences, but also research on policy and ethics."

In This Essay: "Becker’s fascination with surface anatomy and his particular interest in the use of female nudes would lead to one of the more curious episodes in the history of anatomy textbooks: the 1971 publication of 'The Anatomical Basis of Medical Practice.'"

In This Essay: "Dr. Baker was a wonderful man to work for. As a teacher in his school, I always was treated with kindness and respect by my 'boss.'"

In This Essay: "This led to discussions and a lot of laboratory research, culminating in a paper by Herb Sieker, Henry McIntosh, George Kelser, and me, describing the pathological physiology of the reversible cardiopulmonary syndrome now known as Pickwickian syndrome."

In This Essay: "In the late '80s, [WHO] renewed efforts to destroy [all remaining smallpox] stocks. This did not seem smart to me for several reasons....I pointed out...how shortsighted and self-destructive destruction of the officially sanctioned stocks of smallpox virus would be."

In This Essay: "As a student or resident, I remember faculty often hard at work late into the night and on weekends -- caring for patients, teaching students and residents, and doing serious research. A sense of family permeated the place. A family that worked together, taught, and learned while they all grew and developed."

In This Essay: "My instructions indicated that I should accompany the [Egyptian physician] visitors to Turnage’s for dinner. I had an uncomfortable feeling that the Dean’s office might have overlooked the fact that the visitors were Muslims and did not eat pork nor drink beer."

In This Essay: "Though he didn’t say so, I have no doubt that Gene Stead sometimes prescribed visits to the hairdresser in preference to drugs.”

In This Essay: "In my mind [the admissions] interviews were the Duke version of the Spanish Inquisition. However, we must not have terrorized all candidates, because so many bright and capable young men and women accepted our offer.”

In This Essay: "In the 1950s -- as I recall it -- 'TIME' ran a complimentary article about Duke, ending with the comment that Duke needed only to grow old. Indeed that has happened overnight!"