Charles Alfred Dukes, MD, FACS

Chair, Committee on the Treatment of Malignant Diseases, 1933–1937

Charles Alfred Dukes, MD, FACS, was born in Numa, IA, on April 23, 1872, and graduated from the Cooper Medical College (which would later become the Stanford University School of Medicine) in 1895. For many years, he was a visiting surgeon at the Veterans Administration Facility at Livermore and served on the staff of the Merritt Hospital, the Highland-Alameda County Hospital in Oakland, and the Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro.

Dr. Dukes gave much of his free time to public service and to medical organizations, serving as a member of the American Medical Association’s House of Delegates from 1933 to 1938 and in 1940. In 1940, he became a member of the Committee on Medical Preparedness and later became Chairman of the Corps Area Committee of the Procurement and Assignment Service for physicians, dentists, and veterinarians. Dr. Dukes had the honor of being the only physician on the California Governor’s original Council on Defense and subsequently became appointed as chairman of the Ninth Corps Area under the Federal Office of Defense, Health and Welfare Service. He was also a member of the Executive Board of the National Physicians’ Committee for the Extension of Medical Service, representing the Pacific States.

A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Dukes served as Vice-President of the American College of Surgeons from 1934 to 1935. He also had become Chairman of the Committee on the Treatment of Malignant Diseases in 1933, taking over leadership from Dr. Robert B. Greenough and holding the position until 1937. By 1936, the uniform cancer record forms initiative started by Dr. Greenough had grown to include forms for leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, skin, eye, penis, melanoma, and stomach. Dr. Dukes was also proud to announce that after numerous requests for opportunities to discuss problems encountered in the organization and conduct of cancer clinics, a panel discussion on cancer clinics would be added to the program for Clinical Congress 1936. The ACS continued to survey cancer clinics during Dr. Dukes’ tenure, giving approval to those meeting the minimum standards for organization, conferences, patients, equipment, records, and treatment.

After resigning as chairman, Dr. Dukes continued to serve on the Committee on the Treatment of Malignant Diseases. He passed away in Oakland, CA, on March 13, 1942, at the age of 69 years. At the time of his passing, Dr. Dukes was Vice President of the American Medical Association and Vice President of the California Chapter of the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Dukes was remembered for his natural ease and charm and had a well-established reputation of conscientious service. His wise judgment and leadership were highly prized by the surgical community.

Written by Linda Zheng

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