Dr. Carter was a tenured professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center for over 20 years. In addition to his medical training and experience he also obtained a Master of Divinity. He was a trailblazer and achieved many “firsts” in his lifetime. He held a variety of distinguished positions and roles during his medical career, including senior consulting psychiatrist and co-founder of the social work mental-health unit at Lincoln Community Medical Center in Durham and also served as Medical Director of the Southlight program in Durham.

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Dr. Carter published 2 textbooks, 9 chapters in other published works and 57 articles in peer reviewed journals. He was a veteran and received numerous awards for his service including the American Psychiatric Association’s Solomon Carter Fuller Award. The Carter Lecture continues in tribute to his legacy as an annual part of the Duke University Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds series. The James H. Carter Sr. Scholarship is also awarded at this time to a Duke psychiatry resident or medical student that has demonstrated a commitment to community mental health in clinical activity and/or research.   Dr. Carter went to his heavenly home on March 8, 2007 at age 72, yet he remains in the memory and hearts of his family, those he has mentored, many patients, friends and colleagues.