Duke Medicine Timeline

Dr. Charles Johnson, the first Black faculty member, is appointed assistant professor in the Department of Medicine and joins the Duke PDC.

The Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center becomes one of the nation’s first cancer centers to be established with the passage of the National Cancer Act. It is designated a "comprehensive" cancer center by the National Cancer Institute in 1973.

The first computer system for patient care, known as Medidata, is installed.

The Beta Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing, is established at Duke.

Duke starts the first formal university-based training program for pathologists’ assistants under the direction of Thomas D. Kinney.

Duke establishes the Animal and Laboratory Isolation Facility, to allow scientists to work with bacteria, viruses, and chemicals in a low risk environment. It is the first facility of its kind in the Southeast.

North Carolina Cerebral Palsy Hospital renamed Lenox Baker Children’s Hospital.

The Sands Research Building opens. 

The Eye Center, now the Wadsworth Eye Center, opens and is dedicated on 8 November.

Duke Hospital's 1,000,000th patient, a baby girl, is born on May 22nd.

Perry Como joins the Duke community to raise funds for pediatrics through a golf tournament, now known as the Duke Children's Classic.

The Duke Comprehensive Sick Cell Center is established. During the 1980s, Dr. Thomas Kinney starts a program to screen babies for sickle cell anemia that was implemented across the country. 

The Seeley G. Mudd Building housing the Medical Center Library opens.

The Jones Research Building opens.

Dr. Blaine Nashold and Duke staff perform the first DREZ procedure, an operation for the treatment of pain.

The Morris Cancer Research Building opens.

Cultural Services, the arts council of Duke University Medical Center, is established.