Dr. Louis Wade Sullivan (Finding Aid)

Dr. Louis Wade Sullivan

1933 -

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Food: Fish

Favorite Time of Year: Spring

Favorite Vacation Spot: Martha's Vineyard

Interview Length: 378 minutes

Interview Date(s): March 11, 2002, November 6, 2004, November 29, 2004

Interview Location(s): Atlanta, Georgia, Atlanta, GA, Chicago, Illinois

Abstract

Medical school founder Louis Sullivan describes his mother's and father's backgrounds and details his life growing up in rural Georgia. Sullivan talks about his father's funeral home business and his mother's experiences as a school teacher. Sullivan also describes his childhood personality and outlines his favorite hobbies and activities while he was in school. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan shares memories from his childhood, including his elementary school and high school experiences. Sullivan describes his early interest in becoming a doctor, which led to his decision to attend Morehouse College on a pre-medical track. Sullivan talks about his experiences at Morehouse, describing notable professors, the social climate, and the influence of the black community in Atlanta. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan explains his decision to attend medical school at Boston University and describes his experience there as being overwhelmingly positive, despite it being a mostly white environment. Sullivan discusses his career after graduating from medical school, and discusses his decision to return to Atlanta to found Morehouse School of Medicine. Sullivan explains the historical significance of the Morehouse School of Medicine, and talks about how it originated with a need for more black doctors in the South, particularly in Georgia. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan discusses the various strategies used to build Morehouse School of Medicine, including a detailed look at private fundraising and his attempts to secure federal funds. Sullivan then explains how he befriended Vice President George H. W. Bush in the 1980s, which led to Sullivan's eventual appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sullivan discusses his experience at that post, citing his greatest successes as increasing diversity in the department and raising awareness about nutrition in America. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan details his experience at Boston University Medical School, naming some of his influential professors and commenting on the academic challenges he faced. Sullivans explains why he became interested in internal medicine and hematology, and comments on various advances in the field of hematology. Sullivan also talks about why becoming a doctor was so important to his family and his community. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan details his experience as an intern at New York Hospital, naming the doctors who influenced and encouraged him, despite his being the first African American to intern there. Sullivan then explains why he decided to return to Boston to perform research in the field of hematology, and talks about his most important contributions to the field, including the results of his study of the effects of alcohol on bone marrow. Sullivan also discusses his research about sickle cell anemia. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan continues to discuss the formation of the National Center for Sickle Cell Disease and also explains why he chose to focus on medical research instead of becoming a general practicioner. Sullivan then describes how he developed administrative skills and put them to use during the founding of Morehouse School of Medicine. Sullivan explains the history behind the founding, including the role of the Atlanta University Center consortium. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan explains why he accepted the offer to become Morehouse School of Medicine's first dean, and outlines the strategy he used to build a faculty, raise funds, and gain full accreditation for the school. Sullivan details the school's relationship with the Atlanta University Center consortium and names the many sources of funding from which Morehouse School of Medicine has benefited. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan details the founding of the Morehouse School of Medicine, pointing out key sources of funds, individuals instrumental in the development of the school, and the financial challenges that he and other administrators at the school had to overcome. Sullivan also talks about recruiting the first students to attend Morehouse while it was still a two-year school. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan discusses how the Civil Rights Movement brought on a change in the educational climate in Georgia, which allowed for the founding of Morehouse School of Medicine. Sullivan then discusses the school's ties with federal agencies like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and its connection with George H. W. and Barbara Bush, which helped lead to Sullivan's appointment as U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services in 1989. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan details his time as U.S. Secretary for Health and Human services from 1989 to 1993. Sullivan explains why he chose to accept the post, and describes his confirmation process. Sullivan lists his accomplishments at the position, saying he is most proud of his commitment to creating a diverse department, as well as his initiative to improve the diets of Americans with new standards for nutrition labels. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan details many of the challenging issues he faced as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, including his conflict with the tobacco industry over warning labels, his struggle within the administration to create new nutrition labels for food, the AIDS panic in the late 1980s, and a crisis involving imported Chilean grapes. Sullivan talks about the strategies he used to deal with these issues and the responsibilities that are unique to the office. Medical school founder Louis Sullivan details his return to Morehouse School of Medicine, explaining why he chose to return, discussing the process of developing a succession program, and outlining his hopes and concerns for the future of the institution. Sullivan then takes time to consider the state of the medical profession today, his contributions to African Americans, and his legacy.

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