Oral history of James Davis, M.D.

Dr. James Davis graduated from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1974, specializing in infectious diseases and internal medicine, he was always very interested in offering compassionate care for African American patients. He spent most of his career as a doctor in Washington, D.C. and retired after 41 years. In his interview, Dr. Davis speaks about his childhood in Little Rock, Arkansas where he lived with his mother, Jessie until he was 10. He then moved to Washington, D.C. to live with his father. Davis reflects on the segregation he witnessed as a kid, teenager, and young adult. He mentions that his family was friends with some of the students known as the Little Rock Nine. Davis explains the transition to Washington D.C. and comments on the Civil Rights Movement. However, Davis spent a bit of time in California too, so he admits his perceptions were skewed because of the geography of where he lived. After high school, Davis went to Wesleyan University in Connecticut, after being recruited by the Dean of Admissions. Davis then interviewed as a potential transfer student to Johns Hopkins and decided to apply for early admission to the School of Medicine. Davis details his experiences in the 2-5 program, which allowed him to also spend time on the undergraduate campus. He describes not seeing many Black students on campus, the challenges those that were there faced, and what it was like to build a community of support for one another. Davis remembers the small total number of Black medical students at Hopkins - 13 - and he mentions the difficulties they faced because of professors and instructors who obstructed their paths. Additionally, he comments on the negative treatment of Black patients by white physicians and nurses he witnessed. Davis had the chance to meet Vivien Thomas and Levi Watkins, so he comments on those encounters and their impact on his path. Davis also speaks about helping the Baltimore community as a med student and describes a memorable white working-class patient, who worked in the ...