Charles Bessellieu Hammond, MD, 84, of Durham, N.C., Chairman Emeritus of Duke University Medical Center Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, died Monday, February 1, 2021 at Duke Hospital. He was born July 24, 1936 in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to Claude and Alice (Sims) Hammond and spent his formative years in Athens, GA.
Dr. Hammond graduated from The Citadel in 1957, earned a B.S. in Medicine from Duke University in 1960 and M.D. degree from Duke University School of Medicine in 1961. Over the next nine years he completed an internship in surgery, a residency in obstetrics and gynecology, a one-year training interval in the research training program, all at Duke, and two years as a clinical associate in the endocrinology branch at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Hammond joined the faculty at Duke University Medical Center in 1968 and was named E.C. Hamblen Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1981. He became Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke in 1980, serving in that capacity until 2002.
Dr. Hammond was a pioneer in the treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease and a founder of the Southeast Regional Trophoblastic Disease Center for the treatment of these diseases. His other major interests included medical education, menopause, and reproductive endocrinology.
Dr. Hammond belonged to many professional societies, among them serving as Past President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. He was a director of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Residency Review Committee for Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Hammond was recognized as an Ad Eundem member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and as a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. He served on editorial boards of several major medical journals.
A renowned educator, researcher, advocate for women’s health and mentor to countless colleagues, Charles Hammond was utterly passionate about medicine and the care of his patients. He loved his work deeply and remained grateful and proud of the opportunities to contribute to his vocation through a lengthy tenure at Duke. Even after official retirement, Dr. Hammond gave of his time as a volunteer practitioner at Durham’s Lincoln Community Health Center.
Charles Hammond was respected and loved by family, friends, students and his patients. He was a devoted member of First Presbyterian Church, Durham, where over the years he served as a Deacon and Elder. His various interests included gardening and international travel, and he loved his many family dog dachshunds over the years.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Peggy Adams Hammond; his son, Charles B. Hammond, Jr and wife, Ann of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and grandchildren, Charles Hammond III, Katherine Hammond and Oliver Hammond. He was predeceased by his daughter, Sharon Hammond McAlister and son-in-law, David McAlister; and his brother, Claude Hammond, Jr.
A private burial will be held with a service of remembrance to be announced at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Duke Obstetrics and Gynecology in support of the Charles B. Hammond Research Endowment. Checks should be written to Duke University and mailed to Alumni & Development Records, Duke University, ATTN: Sally Schatz, Box 90581, Durham, NC 27708-0581 or https://www.gifts.duke.edu/dukehealth/ for online contribution. Arrangements are with Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online memorials: hallwynne.com
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Posted in: From Hall-Wynne Funeral Service
Posted on: 2021-02-04
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