The Archives has many publications created over the course of Duke University Medical Center's history. One we're especially fond of is Shifting Dullness, a newsletter produced entirely by Duke medical students.
When Shifting Dullness began in 1968, its earliest issues were often a single page of announcements and events. Over the years, though, it grew, and by the 1990’s the publication had become a space for medical students to discuss professional issues as well as personal interests. Issues averaged 16 pages and included a wide variety of content: articles about the student code of conduct and changes in curriculum ran alongside artwork, humor writing, and poetry. While the primary focus was always the School of Medicine, later issues also contained editorials on topics of a broader interest, such as health care costs, community involvement, and medical ethics.
The publication's title is a play on words: a medical term as well as a playful jab at the life of a medical student. Funded by the Medical Alumni Association, Shifting Dullness was delivered free to all medical students and available to alumni and parents by subscription. It ceased publication in the late 1990s.
Shifting Dullness provides a revealing and fun glimpse into the interests, concerns, and experiences of Duke medical students during the 1970’s, ‘80s, and ‘90s. To learn more, visit the Publications Collections finding aid or browse digitized issues of Shifting Dullness in our digital repository, MEDSpace.