A smiling woman in pink medical scrubs with a stethoscope around her neck, sitting at a desk with a colorful botanical illustration in her hand, in a medical or office setting.

I provide comprehensive pulmonary and critical care for adults across outpatient, inpatient, and procedural settings. My practice centers on evidence‑based pulmonary and critical care medicine, early lung cancer detection through lung cancer screening, and compassionate, patient‑centered care.

Clinical Focus

- Evaluation and management of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary infections
- Assessment and follow‑up of pulmonary nodules
- Care for individuals at risk for or living with lung cancer
- Interpretation of pulmonary function tests and chest imaging
- Support for patients with unexplained shortness of breath or persistent respiratory symptoms
- Diagnostic evaluation of acute respiration conditions
- Management of hypoxemic and hypercapnic respiratory failure
- Guidance on complex pulmonary presentations requiring multidisciplinary care
- Support for hospitalized patients with acute on chronic pulmonary conditions
- Diagnostic evaluation of lung masses and/or lymphadenopathy concerning for malignancy or infection
- Management of inhalation burn injury
- Comprehensive ICU care for patients with life‑threatening respiratory and multisystem illnesses
- Evidence‑based ventilator management and advanced respiratory support
- Coordination of care for critically ill patients and their families
- Airway management and intubations
- Diagnostic bronchoscopy
- Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) for lymph node evaluation and staging
- Airway inspection, bronchoalveolar lavage, and tissue sampling for diagnosis
- Leadership of a lung cancer screening program in a safety-hospital healthcare system
- Educating health care providers on guideline‑based screening processes
- Focus on equitable access, early detection, and timely follow‑up

Dr. Francesca Duncan is a pulmonologist, intensivist, physician‑scientist, medical educator, and mentor dedicated to caring for adults with complex pulmonary and critical illnesses. She provides comprehensive care across the full spectrum of pulmonary and critical care medicine, in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, and through diagnostic procedures such as bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS). She also serves as a clinical leader within the Eskenazi Health Lung Cancer Screening Program, helping shape pathways for equitable access to screening, early lung cancer detection, and tobacco cessation.

Her clinical work is grounded in two commitments: delivering excellent, thoughtful care and communicating with clarity and compassion. Whether she is simultaneously managing multiple complex clinical conditions, helping someone understand a new diagnosis, guiding a family through a difficult moment in the ICU, or evaluating a pulmonary nodule, she strives to ensure that people feel informed, supported, and never alone in the process. Dr. Duncan believes that “medicine is built on the application of knowledge, but it’s carried by human connection”, and she brings both to every patient and every moment.

As a physician‑scientist, Dr. Duncan’s research centers on improving the implementation of lung cancer screening and ensuring that care is delivered in ways that are accessible, equitable, and rooted in real‑world practice. She teaches residents and fellows, mentors future physician‑scientists, and is committed to creating learning environments that are rigorous, collaborative, and kind.

She cares for patients the way she would want her own family cared for: with expertise, honesty, and a steady presence. Bringing together clinical expertise and genuine compassion is at the center of how she practices medicine and has guided her throughout her career.

Dr. Duncan helps lead a lung cancer screening program dedicated to equitable access, early detection, and evidence‑based care. The program provides comprehensive screening services, including risk assessment, eligibility determination, evidenced-based low‑dose CT imaging, and timely follow‑up for abnormal findings. She works closely with primary care clinicians, radiologists, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure that patients receive clear communication, coordinated care, and support throughout the screening process.
Her work within the program focuses on reducing barriers to screening, improving navigation and follow‑up, and enhancing communication pathways between patients and their healthcare providers. She is committed to expanding awareness of lung cancer screening, increasing utilization among eligible individuals, and ensuring that screening pathways are accessible, patient‑centered, and grounded in best practices.
For patient‑friendly lung cancer screening materials, visit the Research Page.

Dr. Duncan’s research focuses on improving the implementation of lung cancer screening and ensuring that screening is delivered in ways that are accessible, equitable, and grounded in real‑world practice. She has authored peer‑reviewed publications in the lung cancer screening and pulmonary medicine space and has been supported by federal and institutional funding, including the HRSA PRIME grant at Indiana University and a subaward through the University of Arizona PRIDE program (NIH/NHLBI). Her work includes educating healthcare providers about lung cancer screening to increase awareness, improve utilization, and address barriers to care, as well as partnering with communities to increase knowledge and access to screening.
As a medical educator, she teaches residents and fellows in pulmonary and critical care medicine and mentors trainees interested in academic careers. She is committed to creating learning environments that are rigorous, collaborative, and rooted in kindness.
For a full list of publications, ongoing projects, and research initiatives, visit the Research page.

60 SECOND CONSULT

What’s up, what’s up…It’s your favorite doctor’s favorite doctor – Dr. Fancy, professionally known as Dr. Francesca Duncan. The 60‑Second Consult is my way of bringing you into the real moments of my day as a pulmonary and critical care physician and scientist. These quick videos capture the teaching points, clinical pearls, and honest reflections that come up between patients, after rounds, or in those quiet hallway moments. I started this series because so much of what we learn in medicine happens in motion, and I wanted to share those insights in a way that feels real, accessible, and human. Think of this as your sister‑friend in medicine sharing the gems I wished someone had given me.

Scroll below to watch the latest consults.

Please Note: The 60‑Second Consult is for general educational and reflective purposes only. It is not medical advice, and it should not replace guidance from your personal healthcare team. For any medical concerns or questions about your health, please speak directly with your doctor.