By Rachel Duncan

“The last part of the climb when we were headed to the summit and then reached the summit, I realized at that moment that what I had done was not special at all. People tend to think of climbing a mountain as being something special, like you conquered it, but you realize that as an individual you don’t conquer or overcome anything except for your own fear and impatience. Because the mountain was there before me and will be there after me, and the mountain was no greater or lesser after me ascending it.”

Current Associate Professor of Medicine at Pauly Heart Center and Doctor of Cardiology, Dr. Phillip B. Duncan, sharing his path to becoming a Black cardiologist in Richmond and his efforts to spread awareness about cardiovascular-related illnesses worldwide.

Dr. Phillip B. Duncan is my grandfather.

Born in Harlem, New York, but raised in the Bronx, with “deep roots in Jamaica, West Indies,” Dr. Duncan explained that he didn’t always want to be a doctor. He professed, “I initially wanted to be a high school English teacher.” After commenting on my inability to see him in this profession, he laughingly remarked, “I guess my guidance counselor didn’t see me as that either!” He continued, “My guidance counselor asked me why hadn’t I thought about being a doctor. I told her that it would take too long, and she promised me that it wouldn’t take too long for me.”

After high school, Dr. Duncan was steered toward an early entry program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, (RPI), where he majored in biomedical engineering and minored in technical writing. While he was initially going to pursue a career in the field, Dr. Duncan explained how fortunately he had already taken enough credit hours to apply to medical school by the end of his sophomore year. So during his summer as a rising college junior, Dr. Duncan received the invitation to join the Howard University College of Medicine’s class of 1978. Dr. Duncan shared that it was here, at this historically Black college, or HBCU, where he was able to excel “purely based on his abilities.” He shared that it was a “respite” from the situations he faced at RPI and would later endure throughout his residency and fellowship programs, and while trying to finance his own practice.

Dr. Duncan while attending Bronx High School of Science. Photo credit: Dr. Phillip Duncan.

Dr. Duncan expressed, “Going to school in NYC, I never really experienced anything that I would describe as impediments to my academic advancements.” Dr. Duncan attended Bronx High School of Science. He explained that there were student of all nationalities and walks of life and many supporting and encouraging teachers. He shared, “I think that one of the things New York does is that it increases your tolerance—dealing with so many kinds of people at every walk of life—not having any feelings of insecurity or inferiority.” He put it simply: “Harlem and the Bronx are amazing places.”

Dr. Duncan didn’t always want to pursue cardiology; rather, he initially found an interest in pediatrics and later obstetrics and gynecology. It wasn’t until he worked part-time with two “very impressive” cardiologists, Dr. Boisey O. Barnes and Dr. David Williams, that he considered cardiology. Dr. Duncan expressed that “I love cardiology, because it combines my love for math and science.”

Dr. Duncan did his residency in internal medicine in California, at Long Beach VA Medical Center and UC Irvine, and went back to Long Beach for his cardiology fellowship. Here, he welcomed both of his daughters, Erica N. Duncan (‘97) and my mother Dr. Arielle N. Duncan (‘01), both Collegiate alumni. After completing his education, Dr. Duncan moved to Richmond, where he would work at a local practice alongside Dr. Bruce Ward before starting his own. I asked him why Richmond, and he bluntly replied, “Because I had some classmates that told me it was a nice place to live.”

Dr. Arielle Duncan, her mother and father Dr. Angela Duncan and Dr. Phillip Duncan, and the author at an ABC Gala event in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo credit: Rachel Duncan.

Dr. Duncan began his own practice, Virginia Heart Group, in 2012, with three offices located in Richmond, Petersburg, and Chester. He joined HCA Healthcare from 2011-2014, helping Chippenham Hospital establish their mechanical circulatory support system for advanced heart failure patients. In 2014, he started a new practice in Chester called Heart Care For You, and in 2015, he would begin working in VCU’s cardiology ward four weeks a year. He commented, “I did that in the hopes of increasing Black representation for patients, residents, and fellows on the cardiology service.” I had the pleasure of working full-time under Dr. Duncan in the summer of 2022 as a medical assistant. I was taught how to take patients’ vital signs, perform EKGs, and much more. Dr. Duncan showed me the importance of forming personal relationships with patients. I was amazed by the joy his patients expressed walking into a cardiologist’s office.

Since the 1980s, Dr. Duncan has also been an active member of both the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc., or ABC, and the American Heart Association. He says that “ABC, which was established by Dr. Richard A. Williams and turns 50 this year, is an organization that was initially started to address concerns over cardiovascular disease in Blacks, because at the time there were misconceptions and a lack of rigorous research.” Dr. Duncan served as chairmen of the board from 2012-1014 for ABC and president of the local association chapter most recently from 2021-2023.

In 2015, Dr. Duncan climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, a 19,340-foot peak in Tanzania and the highest point in Africa, to increase awareness regarding heart failure. The seven-day trip was inspired by his mother, Mabel E. Duncan, who sadly lost her battle to heart disease in 2017. Dr. Duncan’s mother, my great-grandmother, was born in the parish of Manchester in Jamaica, in the town of Knock Patrick. She, along with her children, moved to the United States for opportunity. Here, she would study beauty culture and become a beautician and business owner. “It was called Duncan’s Beauty Parlor on 125th street in Harlem. I would walk there after school and do my homework,” Dr. Duncan recalled.

Dr. Duncan hiking up Mt. Kilimanjaro. Photo credit: Dr. Phillip Duncan.

Since then, he has spoken on local and national news, traveled to East Africa to speak about the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the developing world, spoken on panels, and more. He laughingly admits, “I can’t keep up with all this stuff!”

Dr. Duncan continued his practice throughout the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In spring 2020, as everything seemed to be shutting down, he closed his practice and was officially employed by VCU.

Dr. Duncan explained how there is still a significant underrepresentation of Black cardiologists and doctors in medicine in the United States. He emphasizes the importance of the representation of African Americans in medicine for the sake of patient outcomes. He adds that another area where there is a lack of diversity is in clinical trials. “These are just some of the initiatives I’ve worked on with the American College of Cardiology, ABC, and the residency program at VCU.” He continued, “But all that being said, I think that it just points out that we still have challenges to achieving a truly diverse and equitable healthcare system.”

Dr. Duncan at the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Photo credit: Dr. Phillip Duncan.

I asked Dr. Duncan the 100 million dollar question: How do I keep my heart healthy? He responded, “Most important is the basics: A healthy diet with regulated salt intake, calorie consumption, and processed food consumption.” He continued, “You have to stay active—both mentally and physically—and be knowledgeable about your cardiovascular risks while avoiding deleterious habits.” To minimize his risk, Dr. Duncan claims that he began running in his 40s and ran his only marathon in his 50s. Moreover, he is a daily Wordle-user.

I asked Dr. Duncan what comes next. He replied, “As a Black male born in inner-city America, and having lost one of my older brothers to street violence when I was 15, I never really thought that I would survive beyond the age of 40. But since I’m turning 70 this year, I think of all those opportunities as a gift. So I don’t feel like I’ve left anything on the table. I’m just appreciative.”

Featured image courtesy of Dr. Phillip Duncan.