William H. Duncan, M.D.

William H. Duncan, M.D. enjoyed an extraordinary success in two careers—physician and soldier.

Doctor Duncan is a native born Delawarean raised in New Castle and later Wilmington, graduating from P. S. duPont High School. After graduation he attended the University of Delaware and after his freshman year attended and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, appointed a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He served in the Korean War.

Subsequent to his discharge from the Regular Army he joined the National Guard during medical school at Temple University, and internship at the Delaware Hospital in Wilmington, and continued his military service until his retirement after 35 years with the rank of Major General.

For eight years he practiced general medicine in Brandywine Hundred with an emphasis on pediatrics and obstetrics. At this same time he undertook several part time positions with the Delaware Hospital as supervisor of the emergency room and later as Director of Medical Education.

His recognition at this time as a capable medical administrator provided an invitation to join the first management team of the newly created merger of the three general hospitals in Wilmington, as the Wilmington Medical Center, later to be named Christiana Care.

In 1975, with the expansion of the St. Francis hospital, he moved across town appointed as the Vice President of Medical Affairs from which position he retired in 1993.

From the beginning of his medical career he has deeply involved in the Medical Society, serving on many committees and projects, chief among them as chairman of the Society’s insurance subsidiary and as its President. 

He claims to have been a historian and collector of historic artifacts since the age of five when he went to the family attic and brought all his father’s World War I artifacts to his bedroom (which he still has).

His participation and interest in history has been satisfied by board membership of the Delaware Historical Society, chairman of the National Guard’s Heritage Committee Painting Program, board membership of the Army Historical Foundation in the development of The National Museum of the United States Army in Washington, active participation with the Company of Military Historians, and others.

He served on numerous boards and committees in state government and not-for-profit community based programs.