The year 2020 was a landmark year. The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a global health crisis that affected millions of people and challenged the medical systems of many countries. Healthcare institutions were at the forefront of this fight, and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was no different. Overnight, the entire institution experienced a paradigm shift that affected patient care, education, and career development. The MD Anderson community rallied together to make sure we continued our mission to eradicate cancer while keeping our patients, employees, and students safe.

In 2021, the Historical Resources Center of the Research Medical Library embarked on a project to document how MD Anderson dealt with these once-in-a-generation changes. Created with the help of graduate student interviewers, this oral history collection aims to document and preserve the experiences, perspectives, and insights of oncology professionals who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collection consists of interviews with MD Anderson educators, faculty members, researchers, and administrators. They tell stories about information, inspiration, and resilience for future leaders – with topics including institutional change, technology and remote work, and leadership amid cultural shifts.