History of Cancer Care at the University of Virginia project records

In 2006 Morton C. (M.C.) Wilhelm, a retired UVa surgeon, was working in the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library Historical Collections, writing a biography of a prominent cancer physician. He, together with Joan Echtenkamp Klein, Curator for Historical Collections, began to reflect on the cancer program at the University of Virginia and how many individuals had played significant roles in its development over the years. M.C. and Joan then realized that many of their friends and colleagues in this group had died and, except for scattered references, their contributions to the cancer program at UVa were not recorded. Discussions with others about this lack of a historical record led to the formation of a committee to explore the possibility of writing a book which would describe the evolution of the treatment of cancer at UVa over the years. The members of the committee were a brain trust of UVa's stellar surgeons, physicians, researchers, and nurses in the field of cancer care.

In the process of acquiring material and information for the 200 page book,The History of Cancer Care at the University of Virginia, 1901-2011,video-recorded interviews were conducted with 25 individuals who contributed to cancer care at UVa. These interviews are on a DVD included with each book. The book is unique in that it tells the UVa story, but it also sets the UVa history within the broader context of what was happening with cancer care in the nation and the state. A Historical Collections website incorporates the interviews and portions of the book.