Dorothy J. Brundage
1930-2020
Dorothy Brundage was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She received her BSN in 1953 from Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University. For several years thereafter, she worked as a nurse before earning her MSN in 1968 from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1968, she started working at Duke as an instructor and was quickly promoted to Assistant Professor in 1970 and later to Associate Professor in 1979.
In 1980, Dr. Brundage received her PhD from Walden University, an accomplishment that was still uncommon at that time for many faculty members in the discipline of nursing. Her serious approach to nursing and scholarly demeanor while working on her doctoral degree impressed many of the students and faculty members.
Dr. Brundage was one of very few faculty members from the School of Nursing (SON) who achieved the more senior rank of Associate Professor. But like many of her colleagues at the SON, she was an expert clinician. Obstetrical and Medical-Surgical Nursing were both her special areas of expertise. She remained engaged clinically while teaching at the SON, regularly consulting with staff and making rounds on the medical intensive care unit to stay current in her clinical knowledge. She published several books and research papers within her specialty of renal nursing and encouraged students to do the same.
From 1984 to 1985, the School of Nursing’s BSN program was closed and the MSN program was under reorganization. Dr. Brundage served as Interim Dean at the SON from 1987 to 1991 and was a steadying force during this time, focusing on maintaining stability and normal operations, while keeping the the master’s program students engaged and challenged. She also supported the teaching, advising, and governance responsibilities of the faculty members. She remained at the School as a faculty member after her role as Interim Dean, helping to implement new programs and developing curricula for the new Nurse Practitioner programs.
Dr. Brundage passed away on Sunday, November 15, 2020 at the age of 90.
Interview
This oral history interview was conducted with Dr. Dorothy Brundage on May 5, 2005 by Jessica Roseberry.