Caitlyn Thompkins ’25 to Present DeLaney Center Dialogue Discussion Thompkins will share observations on her postbaccalaureate project, titled “The Legacy of Segregated Medicine: An Oral History of Race and Healthcare in Rockbridge County, Virginia.”

By Brian Laubscher
March 19, 2026

The DeLaney Center at Washington and Lee University will present two events Monday, March 23, featuring Caitlyn Thompkins ’25, DeLaney Center postbaccalaureate fellow. The first event is a Reading Club breakfast held from 8 to 9 a.m. in the first-floor banquet room at the Gin Hotel in downtown Lexington. The second event is a DeLaney Dialogue discussion held in the Watson Pavilion from noon to 1 p.m. Both events include a free meal and are open to the public.

The topics for both events will be based on Thompkins’ postbaccalaureate project, titled “The Legacy of Segregated Medicine: An Oral History of Race and Healthcare in Rockbridge County, Virginia.” The project features Black residents of Rockbridge County discussing their experiences with the local healthcare system before and after medical desegregation.

The Reading Club breakfast will set the stage for the afternoon DeLaney Dialogue session by focusing on one of the project participants, Ophelia Cooper Payne, a lifelong resident of Rockbridge County. Thompkins will share audio excerpts from her interview with Payne, which will serve as the basis for an interactive discussion facilitated by Adrienne Jones, DeLaney Center postdoctoral fellow.

The afternoon session will take a deeper dive into Thompkins’ research and provides for additional dialogue on the topic. Thompkins will share her previous work on social determinants within the healthcare system that served as an inspiration for her project. She will also showcase archival work from various sources and will share excerpts from additional subject interviews to highlight emerging themes and future research prospects.

“Now more than ever, it is so important to capture the stories of our Black elders,” said Thompkins. “The documentation of their experiences through oral histories significantly contributes to our steady progress. By highlighting Black practitioners who served the local community for decades and the traditional remedies Black community members passed down for generations, I hope that the audience can appreciate the commitment, wisdom and resilience these community members embodied.”

Thompkins is in her first year as the DeLaney Center postbaccalaureate fellow. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology with minors in mass communication and Africana studies from W&L in 2025.

The DeLaney Dialogue series was created to engage audiences in conversation about regionally resonant themes, allowing for open discourse and learning opportunities. Exhibiting innovative strategies for teaching and researching Southern racial realities, these programs allow faculty and other interested participants to imagine how this protean region fits into broader professional and public possibilities.

The DeLaney Center is an interdisciplinary academic forum that promotes teaching and research on race and Southern identity. Visit the DeLaney Center website for updates on further DeLaney Dialogues, film screenings and other programming.