Doris Zimmerman, head nurse at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, narrates film sequences of her typical daily work. In addition to her technical skills, she stresses that interest in and care of the patient is most important. Zimmerman also performs accurate recordkeeping duties, teaches and supervises auxiliary hospital workers, and interacts with adjunct professionals such as dietitians, social workers, and occupational therapists. In all cases, teamwork provides quality care. The work of pediatric, orthopedic, public health, and general staff nurses is discussed, emphasizing their close patient contact. Zimmerman notes that medical advances challenge nurses to keep up to date and to advance their education. She holds a B.S. in nursing, but points out that there are other ways to enter the field and recommends that high school students seek advice from their guidance counselors. The pay scale for nurses "compares favorably with that of other professions open to women," and nursing is a flexible occupation with full-time or part-time work available nearly everywhere.

Louise Cavagnaro, originally from Portland, Oregon, was a major figure in the history of the Johns Hopkins Hospital for the last half of the twentieth century. She served as an operating nurse in combat zones during World War II and the director of nursing in Hiroshima with the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission, after which she earned an M.A. in Hospital Administration from Columbia University and came to work at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1953. She filled many roles during her time teaching and administrating in the Hospital, as well as the School of Nursing. Most notably, it was Cavagnaro who led the charge to desegregate the Hospital and its affiliate institutions, about which she wrote a book in 1992 titled "A History of Segregation and Desegregation at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions." In this oral history, Cavagnaro describes the challenges of being a female in the male-dominated medical milieu of the 1950s, the Johns Hopkins Hospital and how it has changed over time, and the racial politics of the Hospital. This oral history is part of the Mame Warren oral histories series.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on September 18, 1951, Dr. Benjamin Carson received his B.A. in psychology from Yale University and his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School, after which he became a resident in neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. At the Hospital, he was a professor of neurosurgery, oncology, and pediatrics, specializing in brain injuries and notably separating conjoined twins in 1987. While practicing medicine and since retiring in 2013, Carson has served on numerous boards of trustees, received medals such as Presidential Medal of Freedom, published academic articles and six books, and undertaken a career in politics. In this oral history, Carson describes his relationship with Hopkins, the unique character of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and his work as a doctor. This oral history is part of the Mame Warren oral histories series.

Stella Shiber is a nurse whose career began in Tennessee. After working as a charge nurse, Shiber went on to become both an educator and administrator for nursing students. She has had a great impact on Hopkins nursing, helping to influence the curriculum at the School of Nursing and establishing health care clinics for poverty-stricken Baltimore neighborhoods. In this history, Shiber discusses her experiences with Hopkins nursing. This oral history is part of the Mame Warren oral histories series.