Interview with Clella Hagans, July 31, 2006

Partial Transcript: This is an oral history interview with Ms. Clella Hagans for the University of Kentucky African American Alumni Experience.

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Clella Hagans talks about her parents and grandparents and their occupations. She talks about her family roots in Eastern Kentucky, and talks about her siblings.

Keywords: Eastern Kentucky; Family roots; Grandparents; Middle class; Occupations; Parents; Raleigh (N.C.); Siblings; Socioeconomic status

Subjects: African American families; African Americans--Economic conditions.; African Americans--Employment.; Family histories.; Family--history; Knott County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Where did you attend elementary, junior high, and high school?

Segment Synopsis: Hagans talks about attending schools which had very few other African American students. She talks about race relations in school, favorite subjects and teachers, and her participation in extracurricular activities. She talks about her family valuing education.

Keywords: Academic team; Academics; Extracurricular activities; Family values; Fathers; Favorite subjects; Favorite teachers; Grades; Integrated schools; Masters degrees; Mothers; Parents; Plays; Rules; Sleepovers; Speech team; White friends

Subjects: African American families; African Americans--Conduct of life.; African Americans--Education.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Childhood; Knott County (Ky.); Race relations--Kentucky; Teachers--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Would you describe your family as you were growing up as a close-knit family?

Segment Synopsis: Hagans talks about relationships between family members, what her family did for fun, and their participation in church due to her father being a preacher.

Keywords: Board games; Close-knit; Entertainment; Family reunions; Fathers; Grandparents; Old Regular Baptist churches; Outdoors; Preachers; Relationships; Relatives; Social role; Sports; Uncles

Subjects: African American churches--Kentucky; African American families; African Americans--Conduct of life.; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Religion.; African Americans--Social life and customs.

Partial Transcript: So did your older brothers go to college?

Segment Synopsis: Hagans says her two older brothers' experiences in college at Berea College and the University of Kentucky influenced her decision to attend Berea College.

Keywords: Decisions; Doctors; Expectations; Experiences; Goals; Mothers; Problems; Professors; Siblings

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American college students--Social conditions; African American families; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Social conditions.; Berea College; College choice; College environment; College students, Black; Discrimination in higher education; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So what was your experience like when you went to Berea?

Segment Synopsis: Hagans talks about her experiences at Berea College, meeting new people, and her participation in extracurricular activities.

Keywords: Biology; Black Music Ensemble; Black Student Association; Diversity; Experience; Extracurricular activities; Freedom; Friendships; Fun; International students; Pep Club; Relationships; Responsibility

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social life and customs.; Berea College; College environment; College majors; College students, Black; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Minorities in higher education

Partial Transcript: Did you go immediately from undergrad to graduate school--or to medical school?

Segment Synopsis: Hagans talks about taking a two-year course at Southern Illinois University to prepare to enter medical school. She talks about why she chose to attend UK instead of the University of Louisville. She says she was unaware of UK's reputation in the Black community, and that she was apprehensive about entering medical school in general.

Keywords: Applications; Applying; Apprehensive; Basketball; Black community; Demographics; Difficulty; Distance; Graduation; Med Prep; Medical school; Minority Affairs; Preparation; Reputations; Southern Illinois University; Support; Unaware; University of Louisville

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College choice; College environment; College sports.; College students, Black; College students--Attitudes.; Discrimination in higher education; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; Universities and colleges--Public relations; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine

Partial Transcript: And so, um, you said that you had some interaction with the Minority Affairs Office through the application process.

Segment Synopsis: Hagans talks about meeting people through the Black Graduate Student Association. She discusses her support system while in medical school, including her family, and a local doctor who encouraged her and gave her a job.

Keywords: Advisors; Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA); Dr. Susan Pollack; Jobs; Mentors; Minority Affairs; Networking; Professionals; Research; Support systems; Working

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African American families; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College environment; College students, Black; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Employment.; College students--Social networks; Minorities in higher education; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine

Partial Transcript: Did you feel welcomed when you came to campus?

Segment Synopsis: Hagans discusses whether she felt welcome at UK. She talks about whether she faced any discrimination while at UK, and says sometimes it was difficult to tell whether she was doing poorly in classes because of their difficulty or because of discrimination by the professors.

Keywords: Apartments; Demographics; Failing; Medical school; Meetings; Minority Affairs; Problems; Support; Welcome

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College environment; College students, Black; College teachers.; Discrimination in higher education; Educators; Minorities in higher education; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine

Partial Transcript: What organizations did you join other than BGPSA?

Segment Synopsis: Hagans talks about her involvement in various organizations and volunteer opportunities while attending UK. She talks about attending two week-long orientations with both the Office of Minority Affairs and the College of Medicine.

Keywords: American Association of Physicians; American Medical Association; Anatomy; Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA); Dr. Bailey; First day; Meals on Wheels; Medical school; Minority Affairs; Networking; Professors; Resources; Salvation Army; Student National Medical Association; Student organizations; Underground Railroad; Volunteering; White coat ceremony

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College environment; College student orientation.; College students, Black; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; College students--Social networks; Lexington (Ky.); Minorities in higher education; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine; University towns

Partial Transcript: I know that you were pretty busy studying but did you ever have a opportunity to attend any events outside of class that was sponsored by the university, such as sporting events or lectures?

Segment Synopsis: Hagans talks about attending sporting events as a student at UK, as well as concerts and other university-sponsored events. She says her friendships are the most memorable part of her time at UK.

Keywords: Basketball games; Concerts; Contact; Football games; Friends; Humanities festivals; Memorable moments; Social events

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; African Americans--Recreation; African Americans--Social life and customs.; College environment; College sports.; College student orientation.; College students, Black; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Minorities in higher education; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What was the worst thing that happened to you during your time as a medical student at UK?

Segment Synopsis: Hagans talks more about the difficulty she had with classes in medical school, and says having to defend herself to the medical school committee was her worst moment at UK. She talks about the quality of education available at the UK medical school. She talks about the difficulty of being an African American student at UK, and whether she had to worker harder for the same grades as her white peers.

Keywords: Academics; Basketball; Black professors; Challenges; Committees; Demographics; Failing; Med Prep; Medical school; Mentality; Perceptions; Personality; Professors; Quality of education; Recommendations; Reputations; Smart; Success rates; Working harder; Worst moments

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; African Americans--Education--Kentucky--Lexington; College environment; College students, Black; College teachers, Black; College teachers.; Discrimination in higher education; Educators; Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations.; Minorities in higher education; Race discrimination.; Racism--Kentucky--Lexington; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Ratings and rankings.; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine

Partial Transcript: So you graduated from medical school in the fall--or December 2005.

Segment Synopsis: Hagans talks about her medical residency in Glasgow, Kentucky. She talks about what she envisions for her career in the future. She talks about her religion as a form of support during medical school, and gives advice to future students. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Advice; Career aspirations; Consolidated Baptist Church; Doctors offices; Glasgow (Ky.); Medical school; Preparation; Residency programs; Rural health; Support

Subjects: African American college graduates--Kentucky; African American physicians; African Americans--Conduct of life.; African Americans--Employment.; African Americans--Religion.; African Americans--Social conditions.