Duncan Family’s $10 Million Gift Opens Neurodevelopmental Clinic

Randa, Dan and Jan Duncan

Hundreds of thousands of children in the United States struggle every day with a developmental challenge or learning disability. With new cases being diagnosed daily, the Children’s Learning Institute at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is responding by opening the Dan L. Duncan Children’s Neurodevelopmental Clinic.

The experts at the clinic specialize in the treatment of autism, head injuries, learning disorders, attention deficit disorders and much more.

“We have a really strong team of specialists in place who can diagnose and treat children. We want to make a real difference in their lives. The earlier we can intervene the more likely children will go on to conquer their challenges. We want to be a leader in personalized treatment, whereby parents can see and hear the results of their child’s hard work,” said Susan Landry, Ph.D., director of the Children’s Learning Institute. She is also the Michael Matthew Knight Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

The clinic, which will help children with their verbal communications and reading and math skills, could not have opened its doors without a generous $10 million donation by the Duncan family.

“It was an easy choice because we’re dealing with our children, our future,” said Randa Duncan Williams, whose child received help at the Children’s Learning Institute. “My family has been very blessed in a lot of ways, and we want to do what we can to provide the resources that will make it easier for families to find the quality, accessible and professional help they need.”

Named for Williams’ father, the Dan L. Duncan Children’s Neurodevelopmental Clinic is already accepting patients. The director of the clinic is Linda Ewing-Cobbs, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pediatrics, and the medical director is Daniel Williamson, M.D., professor in the Department of Pediatrics. “One of the highlights is our dyslexia intervention program. We have satellite reading clinics at two HISD (Houston Independent School District) schools. We want to give that extra ‘small group’ help to children using evidence-based approaches to ensure they read and succeed,” said Ewing-Cobbs.

The clinic also will be a home for children and families to address developmental, parenting and educational needs from infancy to young adulthood.

“We will be evaluating the child to determine strengths and weaknesses. Then we can give the parents a diagnosis and treatment options. Parents come to us because they notice their child is not meeting their milestones, whether it’s physically or verbally, they want answers. We are here to help,” said Williamson.

The Dan L. Duncan Children’s Neurodevelopmental Clinic is located in Suite 880 of the Houston Medical Center building, 6655 Travis. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For a complete list of services or to make an appointment, visit www.childrenslearninginstitute.org or call 713-500-8300.

By Melissa McDonald, Institutional Advancement