The Founding of Duke Hospital and Schools of Medicine and Nursing: Turning Duke into a Medical Powerhouse
The Founding of Duke Hospital and Schools of Medicine and Nursing Turn Duke into Medical Powerhouse
In 1927, construction began on Duke Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, sparking curiosity and skepticism among the local population. With two existing hospitals in the city and a relatively small population of 47,000, many questioned the need for another medical facility. However, the visionaries behind Duke University had grander plans in mind.
James B. Duke’s generous donation of $4 million in 1925 laid the foundation for the establishment of a medical school, nursing school, and hospital at Duke University. The goal was to create a medical hub that not only provided top-notch care to patients but also trained the next generation of doctors for a state lacking in hospitals, physicians, and medical schools.
Wilburt C. Davison, the founding dean of the Duke School of Medicine and Duke Hospital, envisioned a future where the hospital would serve half a million people within a 50-mile radius of Durham, regardless of their ability to pay. The Duke Chronicle reported in 1930 that the new hospital would be one of the best-equipped in the United States and would establish itself as a leading medical center in the country.
Duke Hospital officially opened its doors in 1930, with 31 full-time medical staff, 88 affiliated physicians, and 50 other employees. The hospital quickly became the largest general hospital in the area, offering a wide range of services and boasting roughly 400 beds.
In its first year of operation, Duke Hospital served 91 patients daily and performed 623 surgeries. By 1937, the hospital was treating an average of 330 patients per day, with people traveling from across North Carolina to seek treatment. The hospital faced challenges in caring for patients with various diseases, including syphilis, tuberculosis, typhoid, and nutritional deficiencies.
As the hospital grew, so did its staff, which included doctors, nurses, technicians, administrators, orderlies, maids, and cooks. Among the dedicated staff was Sallie Wells Lee, who began working as a hospital nurse in 1932. Today, her granddaughter, Anna Collins, continues the family legacy as a clinical nurse at Duke University Hospital.
Reflecting on her family’s connection to the hospital, Collins shared, “To think about her being in this building, taking care of patients, and now me being in the same building, taking care of patients, it definitely makes this job much more special, to know it has a deep connection with my family.”
The founding of Duke Hospital and the Schools of Medicine and Nursing transformed Duke University into a medical powerhouse, setting the stage for decades of innovation and excellence in healthcare.