In recognition of the recent retirement of Dr. Charles O. Harris after 34 years of practicing medicine, and the many contributions he and Dr. Ira Q. Smith have made to the Duke and Durham communities, Durham Mayor William Bell, Mayor Pro Tempore Cora Cole-McFadden, and the Durham City Council have declared July 17, 2017 “HARRIS AND SMITH DAY” in Durham and urges all to celebrate this day “as both Charles and Ira are role models for our physicians and a treasured asset to our community.”
Proclamation
WHEREAS, Dr. Charles O. Harris and Dr. Ira Q. Smith are co-founders of Harris and
Smith Obstetrics and Gynecology; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Charles O Harris and Dr. Ira Q. Smith, began their practice in 1983 in the
City of Durham; and
WHEREAS, Harris and Smith have provided excellent health care to women in Durham
and surrounding areas, while improving access and care to minority and
disadvantaged women; and
WHEREAS, Harris and Smith ran a gynecologic clinic and evening adolescent pregnancy
clinic at Lincoln Community Health Center for 15 years; and
WHEREAS, Harris and Smith OB/GYN and Durham OB/GYN became the first two private
practices in any specialty to join the Duke Health system with faculty status
and admitting privileges at Duke, which was a significant milestone in the
development of future health care delivery system in this area; and
WHEREAS, Harris and Smith are currently 1 of 3 OB/GYN generalist divisions at Duke
and continues to be the most diverse practice across all of Duke Medicine;
and
WHEREAS, Harris and Smith Obstetrics and Gynecology have serviced the city of
Durham for 34 years and remained committed to women’s health care; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ira Q. Smith, retired from the practice in 2016; and
WHERAS, Dr. Charles O. Harris will retire from the practice in July 2017; and
WHEREAS, Harris and Smith OB/GYN continues to grow and adding additional
physicians who remain with the practice today: Katrina Avery MD, Melody
Baldwin MD, Mina Choi MD, Stacey Heath MD, Lucy Schenkman MD.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, William V. “Bill” Bell, Mayor of the City of Durham, North Carolina and on behalf of the City Council do hereby proclaim July 17, 2017 as
“HARRIS AND SMITH DAY”
in Durham and hereby urge all citizens to take special note of this observance as both Charles and Ira are role models for our physicians and a treasured asset to our community.
WITNESS my hand and the corporate seal of the City of Durham, North Carolina this 17th day of July 2017.
William V. “Bill” Bell - Mayor
In 1983, Drs. Harris and Smith started Harris and Smith Ob/Gyn and over the next three decades have made a profound impact on the women and families of Durham, particularly our minority and underserved populations. In 1997, Harris and Smith along with Durham Ob/Gyn became the first two private practices in any specialty to join Duke with faculty appointments, marking an important milestone in our healthcare system.
Since then, Drs. Harris and Smith and the group that they founded have made extraordinary contributions to Duke and this Department through their excellent clinical care, advocacy for women in our local communities and important contributions to the education of our residents and medical students. Since joining the Duke faculty, Dr. Harris alone has won 12 teaching awards reflecting not only his skill as a teacher but his passion for education and for our residents.
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On behalf of the DHIP and its members, we congratulate and thank Drs. Harris and Smith, and the current providers and staff of Harris and Smith OB/GYN, for their outstanding leadership and service to Durham.
