E. Harvey Estes, Jr., MD, a pioneering physician, educator, and leader whose contributions to Duke have left an enduring legacy, passed away on October 16, 2025, after having celebrated his 100th birthday this past May.
Estes joined Duke’s faculty as a cardiologist in 1956 and served for a decade in the Department of Medicine before being named the founding chair of the newly created Department of Community Health Sciences. Under his leadership, the department (later renamed Community and Family Medicine, then Family Medicine and Community Health) became a national model for interdisciplinary care and community-focused health initiatives. In 1967, he assumed responsibility for the Physician Assistant Program — founded by his mentor Eugene Stead, MD, — helping to shape a profession that has transformed healthcare delivery across the country.
“Estes was instrumental in shaping the history and identity of the Duke University School of Medicine. His vision and leadership helped define Duke’s commitment to community-based care, interdisciplinary education, and innovation in health professions training,” said Mary E. Klotman, MD, executive vice president for health affairs at Duke University and dean of the Duke University School of Medicine, in an announcement.
Estes was deeply passionate about family medicine and preventive care. In the 1970s, he turned his focus to creating a family medicine residency program and building coalitions to place family physicians, PAs, and nurse practitioners in underserved communities. Even after stepping down as department chair in 1985, he continued to lead the f amily medicine and geriatrics divisions until his retirement in 1990.
Estes’s influence also extended far beyond Duke. He authored over 100 scientific articles and co-authored a book, and he later served as founding director of the NC Medical Society Foundation’s Community Practitioner Program. He held leadership roles in the NCMS and the NC Institute of Medicine, and he served nationally as chair of the AMA’s Council on Scientific Affairs, president of the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine, and chair of the Institute of Medicine’s Steering Committee for Primary Health Care Workforce Policy.
In lieu of flowers, his family has requested donations to be made in his memory to Duke University in honor of the PA Program.