$25 million naming gift from the Duncan family to transform Department of Medicine
In a landmark announcement on August 6, Houston Methodist revealed a $25 million gift from The Duncan Fund—one of the most significant donations in the hospital’s history—establishing the newly renamed Charles W. Duncan Jr. Department of Medicine.
The contribution marks a bold investment in the future of healthcare, aiming to advance personalized care, artificial intelligence, multidisciplinary collaboration, and physician education on an unprecedented scale.
The gift will fund a broad portfolio of initiatives designed to position Houston Methodist at the forefront of internal medicine.
Among its most immediate impacts will be the creation of five new endowed fellowships, strengthening the institution’s ability to recruit and train top-tier clinical and research talent.
Simultaneously, the funding will expand the hospital’s multidisciplinary care teams, particularly its hospitalist physician workforce, enhancing inpatient coordination and reducing readmission rates through more personalized, data-informed care models.
A major pillar of the gift will support the deployment of advanced artificial intelligence across the department’s operations.
These technologies are expected to identify at-risk patients earlier, streamline clinical workflows, and enable proactive, customized treatment and prevention strategies—ushering in a new era of predictive, precision medicine.
“This remarkable gift from The Duncan Fund allows us to lead not just in medicine, but in the intelligent application of technology to improve the lives of our patients,” said Dr. Marc L. Boom, President and CEO of Houston Methodist.
“The naming of our Department of Medicine in Charles Duncan’s honor reflects his enduring impact on both business and healthcare innovation.”
The Duncan Fund’s relationship with Houston Methodist spans years of quiet but significant support, including the establishment of the Charles and Anne Duncan Scholars Program and endowed chairs in endocrinology and nephrology.
Behind that giving lies a deeply personal and sustained commitment by the Duncan family to healthcare innovation and community well-being.
That family engagement remains at the core of the fund’s identity.
Descendants of Charles W. Duncan Jr. play an active role in guiding its philanthropic strategy. His son, Charles W. “Carlos” Duncan III, serves on the Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation Board and is a key voice in shaping the fund’s evolving priorities in medical advancement.
Public acknowledgments of recent gifts have cited the involvement and support of Anne Duncan (Charles Jr.’s wife), Leslie Duncan (Carlos’s wife), Mary Anne Duncan (his daughter), and Bill Dingus (his son-in-law), underscoring the family’s multigenerational commitment to philanthropy and community service.
The governance of the broader Duncan Aviation Family Trust—sometimes also referred to as The Duncan Fund—is led by family members Robert and Karen Duncan, as well as Todd and Connie Duncan. At the same time, the Philanthropy Committee, chaired by Katie Duncan, includes Connie Duncan, Cindy Morris, Jamie Harder, and Maira Sherman.
This inclusive structure ensures that charitable giving remains rooted in the family’s founding principles and continues to reflect Charles Duncan Jr.’s belief in long-term, values-driven impact.
The $25 million donation represents more than just a gift; it is a catalyst for transformation.
By combining cutting-edge technology with deep clinical expertise and a family legacy of purpose, Houston Methodist is now uniquely positioned to redefine how internal medicine is practiced, taught, and experienced—both in Houston and far beyond.