Guide to the Elizabeth Bullitt Interview, 2005
Abstract:
Elizabeth Bullitt was the first woman to graduate from the surgical residency at Duke University. She later served as the first female neurosurgeon on staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was vice chair and acting chair of the department. Contains audiotapes and transcript of an oral history interview. Major subjects in this interview include the Department of Surgery and Division of Neurosurgery at Duke University; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; women in medicine; and women physicians. This interview was conducted on October 18, 2005 by Jessica Roseberry.
- Contact Information:
- Duke University Medical Center
Archives and Memorabilia
DUMC 3702
Durham, North Carolina
27710 USA
Phone: (919) 383-2653
Fax: (919) 383-1649
Email: dumc.archives@mc.duke.edu - Processing and Encoding Sponsor
- The transcription of this interview was made possible by a 2005-2006 grant from the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Elizabeth Bullitt Interview, 2005
- Extent
-
- .5 record storage boxes,
- 3 items,
- .25 linear feet
- Creator
- Bullitt, Elizabeth
- Repository
- Duke University Medical Center Archives
- Call Number
- BullittE 1
- Location
- Archives Stacks: Oral History Collection
Administrative Information
- Copyright Notice
- Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
- Preferred Citation
- [Identification of item], Elizabeth Bullitt Interview, Duke University Medical Center Archives.
- Processing Information
- Processed by Jessica Roseberry, June, 2006
- Encoded by Jessica Roseberry, June, 2006
Biographical Note
Dr. Elizabeth Bullitt received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University. She received her MD from the University of Colorado, and completed her residency at Duke University, becoming the first woman to graduate from the surgical residency at Duke, in 1981. She then became the first female neurosurgeon on staff at the Mayfield Neurological Institute where she stayed until 1984, and in 1984 became the first female neurosurgeon on staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. From 1989-1990 she was the vice chair of Neurosurgery at UNC, and she served as acting chief of the Department of Neurosurgery at UNC from 1990-1994. In 2002 she left clinical practice to devote her full energies to research. Her lab, the Computer-Assisted Surgery and Imaging Laboratory (CASILab) is an interdepartmental group of researchers designing methods for computer-assisted surgery and medical image analysis.
Dr. Bullitt holds several patents and is the author of numerous articles in her field. She has served as editor and reviewer for numerous journals and conferences. She has maintained continuous NIH funding since 1985.
Collection Overview
Contains audiotapes and transcript of an oral history interview of Dr. Elizabeth Bullitt. Dr. Bullitt discusses her experiences as a female physician in the field of neurosurgery.
Online Catalog Headings
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Duke University. Medical Center. Dept. of Surgery.
- Women Physicians.
- Women in medicine
- Bullitt, Elizabeth
- Oral histories.
- Interviews.
- Transcripts.
Collection Series
Detailed Description of the Collection
Dr. Bullitt discusses her background; her fascination with the brain and neurosurgery; residency at University of Colorado; internal problems in program at University of Colorado; coming to Duke under Dr. Robert Wilkins; military feel of Duke program; rules in Duke program; Dr. Guy Odom; Dr. David Sabiston; hierarchy in Department of Surgery; male presence in neurosurgery, particularly at the time; husband as present chief of Neurosurgery at Duke; being the first female neurosurgeon on staff at both Mayfield Neurological Institute and University of North Carolina; feeling need to survive as opposed to feeling like a pioneer at Duke; treatment as a female neurosurgeon at Duke; her sensitivity to her treatment and dedication to her field; evaluation of her treatment versus current regulations against such treatment; facilities for female neurosurgeons; being overlooked at Duke because female; feeling uncomfortable returning to Duke; uniforms in Duke Department of Surgery; Dr. Robert Wilkins; others in the department who influenced her, including Dr. Blaine Nashold; meeting husband [Dr. Allan Friedman] at this time; time commitment as resident at that time versus the current time commitment; technology at Duke at the time; Carol Ludolph; conservative nature of Duke Surgery Department in terms of operating, flexibility; treatment received from patients; history of career at University of North Carolina; balancing home life and work life; current work with brain imaging at University of North Carolina.
Related Material
Related materials held by Duke University Medical Center Archives include the Blaine Nashold oral history interview; Blaine Nashold papers, Peter K. Smith interview, Walter Wolfe interview, Randall Bollinger interview, Guy Odom papers, Barnes Woodhall papers, and the David C. Sabiston papers.