Gordon Ralph Corey

I was saddened to unexpectly learn of Dr Coreys diagnosis & death. He was my boss for 10 +/- yrs in the Duke International
Travel Clinic. Saying I admired
him as a brilliant/caring MD, boss, & man is a
huge understatement. My
sincere & deepest sympathy to his family.

I worked in Dr. Ralph Corey´s office at Duke from 1982-84. While the time was short, the impact was long.

A quick mind, a quick step, strong work ethic, enthusiastic, direct, kind. He brought out the best in others.

Rest in peace Dr. Corey. May your memory be eternal.

Dr. Corey was a huge part of my Duke Internal Medicine residency from 1982-1985. He helped to shape my career and taught me so much. Of course, he always asked to be called "Ralph", not Dr. Corey. He was a friend, a mentor and just beloved by all of us. This is a huge loss for the medical community.

Chris Bounous
Duke Med `78-82
IM residency `82-`85

I knew Ralph when I was a student and then IM housestaff ,when he first joined the Duke faculty in 1980. He was one of the hardest workers I knew at Duke, with great interest in the patients, students and residents, and was a great mentor. A true "Steadian" doctor. He made everyone around him want to be and do better! His name will echo in the Duke halls for a long time. May his memory be a blessing. I will plant a tree for him in Florida.

Douglas Jay Sprung MD '80, '83 (HS)

Dr. Corey was and forever will be the teacher, mentor, inquisitor, coach and role model that I and many others see as most formative in our careers. For those who passed through Duke Medicine during his tenure, he defined what it meant to be a physician. His innumerable personal accomplishments alone would be notable. But the legacy he leaves also includes all the contributions of the generations he inspired and taught how to teach. The Duke, Infectious Diseases, medicine, and global health communities have lost a giant, but his ethos remains.

Kathleen, I am deeply saddened for your loss, and thinking of you and all of Dr. Corey's family. He was brilliant and taught us well and wisely.

One of Ralph's Duke litter-mates, 1974-78. Enjoyed tracking his many accomplishments through the years. Inspiring. Effective. Making a difference in our world. Well done, colleague. Hugs and love to wife & family: many thanks to you for supporting Ralph.

I'm deeply saddened to hear of Ralph's passing. During my year as a Chief Resident at the Durham VA, I met with him every week, early every Tuesday morning or so, before he joined our resident case conference. In these meetings, he challenged me not to forget about my own career and interests amid the rigors of the Chief year, and he pushed me to keep my research moving ahead. The other Chiefs and I joked that these were our "weekly beatings with Corey," as we often felt we couldn't live up to Ralph's high expectations for us, but really this was "tough love" and it was highly effective. Ralph cared so deeply for our residency program, our residents, and especially the Chiefs. I owe him a great deal for his influence on my life and my career development that year. Heck he even got me in for an urgent endoscopy by making a phone call, when I was so stressed out by being a Chief that I thought I might have a peptic ulcer! I suspect there's a relatively small number of people in any of our careers who we can point to and say, that person truly truly cared about me and helped me. Ralph was definitely one of those people, and I suspect many others feel the same way. He leaves an enduring legacy in the impact he has had on internists throughout the Country, who he trained and molded over decades at Duke. We'll miss you forever and always

Kathleen and family, I am so sorry for your loss. My rotation with Dr Corey was one of the highlights of my residency. He was a great mentor.

Dr. Corey, you will be so greatly missed. You have left a lasting impression on so many of us Internal Medicine graduates, and without you, there would not have been that incredibly awe-inspiring time spent witnessing how other medical systems work around the country. Thank you for giving us the gift of your compassion, your incredible mastery of the art of medicine, and your deep knowledge of the literature. You were such a role model to me and so many others. Sahar, Duke IM Class of 2011.

I first met Ralph in the mid-'60s while both of us were traveling around Europe full of curiosity and seeking adventure. A few years later we met up for a one-month camping trip around the Western U.S., visiting many national parks (see photos). I have fond memories from those days. We then lost touch with one another, but by searching the internet I recently found Ralph at Duke and we reconnected to share lots of stories about our lives. Inspired by his example of selfless service to others, I've given regularly to the Hubert-Yeargan Center and will continue to do so. It was my exceptionally good fortune to have known Ralph Corey.

A Titan gone too soon

Yet another era has passed. He undoubtedly is enjoying himself with Drs. Greenfield and Stead.

One of my greatest mentors during my training. Love to his family.

David Slosky, MD
One Oncology
Nashville, Tennessee

My husband Tom Lang and I, Linda Lang trained under Dr. Corey from 1993-1997. I would not be the physician I am if went to another institution. Dr. Corey was the epitome of what we are strived to be. He was a true Duke Marine and I am proud and thankful for the lessons and teachings from him. He was so supportive when I had to break the new to him that we were pregnant. I still he recall him saying, "this is a good thing, right?" We were at first afraid to break this news, since I was the first resident to be every pregnant during their training. He was so supportive that I can never thank him enough. I am so sorry to hear that he had his illness. He was full of knowledge but more compassion for us as trainees. Please rest in peace. Your work here on this earth is done. Thank you for being the great healer, supporter and example for all of us who were privileged to train under. You will be missed. Prayers and peace to the rest of the family. Linda Lang, MD H.S. 1994-1997.

I had the privilege to met and being supervised by Dr. Corey in my observership at DuKe University Hospital in 2016. He was a great Mentor for me, such a great human and role model. Dr. Corey also works with the national university in my country Nicaragua where I currently work, my sincere condolences to the family.

I was privileged to spend my residency training at Duke in the late 1970s with Ralph as a senior resident. Although I did not follow his eminent career subsequently, I feel privileged that I was able to train with him, and receive the clinical skills and dedication that he imbued in those around him. Condolences to his family and to the Duke community for his loss.

I am privileged to have known and meet several time with Dr Corey. I met a couple times in my country Nicaragua when he visits our University UNAN-Leon. I have the chance to interact the inpatient ward in internal medicine; where we could see and discussed infectious diseases patients. I was honored to see his great clinical and teaching skills.
He supported the research here in Leon, Nicaragua and we could have the opportunity to have a student´s exchange teaching program for both universities.
My deepest condolences to his family, to DUKE University and to the IDSA on the sad passing of Dear Ralph.

I had the privilege of being supervised by Dr Corey as a visiting resident from Brazil in 1992. His passion to medicine and his knowledge of medicine are unparalleled. My sincere condolences to the family.

I am privileged to have known and to have work at times with Dr. Corey.
He would routinely come by the inpatient Echo lab during my time there and educate his students. He was very pleasant and fun to interact with in these sessions.
He supported the work here in Eldoret, Kenya which has helped many people.... both patients or staff.
Peace to him and family.

Mike Foster

I met Ralph in the late 1970s when I worked in the Clinical Microbiology llab at Duke U Medical Canter & Ralph was an Infectious Diseeases Resident. We both attended ETHS in Evanston, IL but I was a year ahead of him.

May your memories of the wonderful times you shared with your loved one comfort you and your family, today and always

So sorry to hear about Dr. Corey's passing. I came to the Duke Global Health Institute in 2017, and met Dr Corey then. So I have not known him long. He welcomed me whole-heartedly to the Hubert Yeargan Center and to DGHI. He is someone that I greatly admire and respect. We all miss him. - Tamara Fitzgerald

Deepest condolences from all the extended O´Malley family in Ireland on the sad passing of Dear Ralph - regrets we didn´t get to meet Ralph when he visited the homeland of his grandfather Cornelius. Our sympathies with all your family at this sad time. From Marie and all the O´Malley´s in Cappalea.

My wife Margaret, Ralph´s sister, and I had many great times with him too numerous to mention. He will be sorely missed but we have wonderful memories. See you in the not to distance future Ralph!