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Indian-origin couple donates $3M to Duke for patient care
In recognition of the donation, the Radiology Suite on the first floor of Duke Medical Pavilion will be named for the couple.
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Pranavi Sharma - Tue, 14, Apr 2026
- 02:04 EDT
- 31
Duke University alumnus Vijay Ramakrishnan, MD and his wife Praveena Ramakrishnan have made a unique $3 million gift that supports both Duke Health patients and School of Medicine radiology residents. They recently visited Duke with their children. / Duke University
Duke University alumnus Vijay Ramakrishnan, MD, and his wife, Praveena Ramakrishnan, have made a $3 million gift to Duke University and Duke Health to support patient care and radiology training, the university said April 13.
The couple, who are of Indian origin, have directed $2 million to an innovation fund for radiology equipment and $1 million to an endowment for resident education in the Department of Radiology at the School of Medicine. The gift is designed to benefit both patients and physicians in training.
“I have such a strong connection to Duke, so it made sense for us to focus our philanthropy efforts on what I consider my home base,” Vijay Ramakrishnan said. “We wanted our gift to have broad impact, and we are incredibly proud to partner with both Duke Health and Duke University.”
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In recognition of the donation, the Radiology Suite on the first floor of Duke Medical Pavilion will be named for the couple. The university said the funding will support patient care, education, and research across the Duke University Health System and the School of Medicine.
Erik Paulson, MD, chair of the Department of Radiology, said the gift will help address clinical needs and improve training. “This is visionary philanthropy in action,” he said. “Not only will their gift have a direct and lasting impact on resident training, but it will also enable the department to respond swiftly to emerging clinical needs and invest in advanced imaging technologies in our hospitals and clinics, improving patient care.”
The endowment will expand training opportunities for residents, including work in simulation, informatics, artificial intelligence, and augmented and virtual reality. It will also support participation in global health initiatives and other academic programs.
Jonathan Martin, MD, director of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program, said the funding will strengthen the program’s position. “The endowment will allow us to continue delivering a premier training experience while creating new opportunities for residents to engage deeply in clinical study and research that have the potential to change the way radiology is practiced,” he said.
Ramakrishnan, a second-generation physician, earned his bachelor’s degree from Duke in 2001. He practices as a radiologist in Abingdon, Virginia, where he reads imaging studies and performs image-guided procedures.
“Radiology is a huge part of our family and a big part of our lives,” he said. “I’d say it is our origin story. It’s where we started, and I’m blessed to have continued it.”
The couple said the gift also reflects their desire to pass on values of service to their children.
“We are honoring the people who raised us, who taught us that giving back is important, and reinforcing that with our own children,” he said. “It’s not about just going out there and getting a paycheck. It’s how you pay it forward.”
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