“The senseless murder of George Floyd gave birth to a movement — around the globe and right here at Duke Health.”
In the summer of 2020, Duke University and the School of Medicine took steps to acknowledge and address systematic racism, both within their institutions and across the nation. Emphasis was given to the effects racism has on Black communities and individuals. On June 16, 2020, Duke University held "Living While Black," an all-day symposium bringing together distinguished Black faculty, students, and staff. Speakers discussed the history of race and racism within Duke and the United States, their personal perspectives as Black individuals at Duke, and steps to chart a path toward an equitable, anti-racist future. Later that day, Dean Mary Klotman, MD, addressed race and racism within the Duke University School of Medicine with "Turning a Moment into a Movement: Dismantling Racism in the Duke University School of Medicine." Klotman acknowledged the grief and anger Black individuals and communities feel and vowed that the School of Medicine would make structural changes to become a more equitable institution.
- Following the "Living While Black," symposium, Duke Health created Moments to Movement (M2M), which is Duke Health’s collective stand against systemic racism and injustice. Beginning in the summer, Duke Health launched a four part M2M a Series on Race and Social Justice. The series includes the following panels:
6/25/2020, Virtual Leadership Briefing: Black Men @ Duke and in America - 7/23/2020, Virtual Leadership Briefing : Black Women @ Duke and in America
- 9/17/2020, Stand By Me: Allies on Racism and Social Injustice
- 11/12/2020, Clinicians on Racism and Health Inequities
In addition to the above mentioned series, virtual town halls were held where leaders in Duke University Health System (DUHS), Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON), and Duke University School of Medicine (DUSOM) discuss Duke Health’s M2M. These videos, as well as “M2M The Journey Continues” a video documenting the first year of M2M released in May 2022 are available in the Office of Creative Services and Marketing Communications Records and Dean's Office (School of Medicine) Records.
Over the past two years, M2M and Duke’s stand against systemic racism and injustice has given Duke Health, its employees, and community the space to speak, talk, listen, and learn. From these shared moments, Duke Health has focused on a single value: respect for one another. To learn more about Duke Health Moments to Movement, visit the website.
To learn more or view the Moments to Movement materials held by the Duke University Medical Center Archives contact the archives staff or visit the finding aids for the Office of Creative Services and Marketing Communication Records and the Dean's Office (School of Medicine) Records.
This blog post was contributed by Medical Center Archives Assistant Director Lucy Waldrop.
