Oral History Interview with Claudette Dalton

2022-06-27

Dalton, Claudette

An oral history interview with Dr. Claudette Dalton, conducted at the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library on June 27, 2022. This interview is part of the Medical Alumni Stories Oral History Project, a joint effort of the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library and the UVA Medical Alumni Association and Medical School Foundation.

Claudette Ellis Harloe Dalton lived in Charlotte, N.C., before attending Sweet Briar College. After graduation, she enrolled in post-baccalaureate courses at the University of Virginia in order to prepare for medical school. She matriculated at the UVA School of Medicine in 1970, the first year that UVA's undergraduate programs officially became co-educational. Dr. Dalton received her M.D. from the UVA School of Medicine in 1974, and she went on to an internship and anesthesiology residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

While working in North Carolina, Dr. Dalton remained involved with the UVA Medical Alumni Association, and in 1989, she was invited to join the faculty of the UVA School of Medicine as the Assistant Dean for Alumni Affairs. With this appointment, Dr. Dalton became the first woman to hold the title of Assistant Dean in the history of the UVA School of Medicine. She held several positions during her tenure at the School of Medicine, including: Assistant Dean for Medical Education, Assistant Dean for Community Based Medicine, Director of the Office for Community Based Medical Education, and Assistant Professor for Medical Education. During her time on the faculty, Dr. Dalton served on the School of Medicine's Committee on Women and helped to coordinate an annual Women in Medicine Leadership Conference on behalf of the School of Medicine. In 1993, Dr. Dalton presented the opening remarks at the UVA School of Medicine Graduation Exercises. 

Dr. Dalton also served as the Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) Ethics and Professionalism Committee, and she chaired the Southeastern Delegation to the American Medical Association from 2019-2021. In 1996, she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Society. In 2002, she was awarded the Sharon L. Hostler Women in Medicine Leadership Award. An active alumna of the UVA School of Medicine, Dr. Dalton has served on the Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors, as well as on the Medical Alumni Newsletter editorial board, and acted as Class Representative for the Class of 1974.

Claude Moore Health Sciences Library

Interview

Oral History

UVA Health Oral Histories

Claude Moore Health Sciences Library

English

1 online resource (1 video file,74:55 min.) : sound, color