Love is in the air! This week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we highlight two notable couples from Duke Medicine’s past. These men and women were not just couples, but also colleagues, committed to the work and mission of Duke Medicine.
First are Dr. Joseph Beard and Dorothy Beard (pictured right). The Beards came to Duke in 1937 after meeting at Vanderbilt University in the late 1920s. Dorothy trained as a surgical nurse and became an important part of Joseph Beard’s research team. Joseph Beard was one of the few Duke doctors at the time to focus entirely on research and teaching. Just one year after arriving at Duke, the Beards developed the first usable vaccine for equine encephalomyelitis, a disease that plagued thoroughbreds. Their vaccine effectively saved thousands of horses. Joseph and Dorothy went on to identify two cancer viruses that cause leukemia in chickens in 1958 (pictured at bottom), and collaborated on over 125 research publications. Outside of work they operated a farm in rural Hillsborough where they raised cattle and chickens.
Next are Dr. Francis H. Swett and Mary Elizabeth Swett (pictured left). Dr. Swett came to Duke in 1930 to build and chair the Department of Anatomy after holding positions at Tufts, Walter Reed Hospital, the Army Neurosurgical Lab, and Vanderbilt University. He was committed to teaching and genuinely cared about the welfare and success of his students. Dr. Swett met students at their level by individualizing his teaching to each student. He also believed in a holistic approach, understanding that a student’s life outside the classroom influenced their success inside the classroom. Elizabeth Swett came to Duke with a background in education and administration which benefitted the young medical school. She became a mother to many of the students, often counseling and advising them on personal issues. After Frank Swett passed away in 1943, Elizabeth held official roles as Secretary to the Admissions Committee and later as Student Advisor. She also helped create the Francis Huntington Swett Memorial Student Loan Fund. So beloved was she by the students that after she passed away in 1955, the 1956 Aesculapian was dedicated to her memory.
These are just two of the many couples who have devoted their careers to Duke Medicine. 
Contact the Archives to discover others or visit the finding aids for the Joseph W. Beard Papers and the Francis Huntington Swett and Mary Elizabeth Swett Papers to learn more about the Beards and the Swetts.