Find Faculty Members at MUSC.

Dunc Williams MHA, PhD

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(843) 792-5566

wiljd@musc.edu

151-B Rutledge Ave Room B407

Faculty email addresses should not be used to seek medical advice or to make medical appointments. Please visit MyChart for medical appointments or to contact your provider.
Rank
  • Associate Professor
College
  • College of Health Professions
Department
  • Healthcare Leadership and Management
Academic Focus
  • Health care accounting and financial management
  • Telehealth
  • Hospital finances and mergers
Faculty email addresses should not be used to seek medical advice or to make medical appointments. Please visit MyChart for medical appointments or to contact your provider.

Locations

Office Location
street
room

Biography

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Health Policy and Management, Minor: Financial Management, University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill, NC
  • Master in Health Administration, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, SC
  • Master of Theological Studies, Duke University, Durham, NC
  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting, magna cum laude, University of South Carolina (USC), Columbia, SC

 

Faculty Appointment

  • Associate Professor, Medical University of South Carolina, College of Health Professions, Department of Health Care Leadership and Management, 2022-Present
  • Assistant Professor, Specializing in health care financial management, 2018- 2022

 

Other Professional Experience

  • Director, Specialty Practices and Hospitalists, Palmetto Health, Columbia, SC, 2012-2014
  • Business Manager, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery | Manager of Clinic Operations, Surgical Specialties at Emory Midtown, The Emory Clinic, Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA, 2011-2012
  • Administrative Fellow, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Spartanburg, SC, 2010-2011
  • Accountant, Water Missions International, Charleston, SC, 2007-2009

 

Ongoing Research Support

  • U66RH31458 (Ford D and King K, Co-PIs) 9/30/2019-9/29/2026

HRSA

Title: Telehealth Center of Excellence

Purpose: To establish and evaluate Tele-health programs and disseminate methods and processes throughout the United States.

Role: Co-Investigator

Amount funded: 30% Effort (10/1/25 – Present); 25% Effort (10/1/24 – 9/30/25); 30% Effort (10/1/22 – 10/1/23); 40% Effort (9/30/19 – 9/30/21)

 

Completed Research Support and Other Funding

  • University Research Core (Simpson K, PI) 11/01/2015-6/30/2022

    MUSC Provost for Research

    Title: Comparative Effectiveness Data Analytics Research Resource (CEDAR)

    Purpose: To develop and direct a new university research core that will be the custodian of “Big Data” administrative data sets and provide consultation and analytical support for faculty and students to use these data for research.

    Role: Co-Investigator

    Amount funded: 5% Effort (7/1/2021 – 6/30/2024), 10% Effort (7/1/2018 – 6/30/2021)

  • 1R01HSO28284 (Simpson K and King K, Co-PIs) 1/01/2021- 12/31/2022

    AHRQ

    Title: Leveraging Health System Telehealth and Informatics Infrastructure to Create a Continuum of Services for COVID-19 Screening, Testing, and Treatment: A Learning Health System Approach

    Purpose: This study employs a rapid cycle, mixed-methods approach to describe, evaluate, and distill evidence of what was ultimately successful in a health system’s telehealth response to COVID-19. We will “probe” for any unintended consequences of changes brought on by the pandemic itself and of changes due to differential effect of our digital intervention on high-risk and underserved populations.

    Role: Co-Investigator

    Amount funded: 2% Effort

  • Real Estate Investment Trust Acquisition of Nursing Homes and the Cost and Quality of Nursing Home Care, LJAF 21-05529 (Braun, RT, PI, Williams, D, Site PI) 5/01/2021-7/31/2022

    Arnold Ventures

    Purpose: To identify nursing homes with real estate investment trust (REIT) investment; identify the organizational structures of nursing homes with REIT investment; and determine the relationship between REITs’ investments in nursing homes and the cost and quality of care for both post-acute patients receiving short-term rehabilitation and long-stay residents receiving custodial care in these facilities.

    Role: Site PI, Co-Investigator

    Amount funded: 10% Effort

  • Health Resources and Service Administration (Shea, C, PI) 11/01/2015-6/30/2022

Title: Telemedicine Implementation in Rural Hospitals

Award #: U1CRH29074

Role: Consultant (2020)

National Research Service Award Pre-Doctoral Traineeship from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality sponsored by the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Grant No. 5T32 HS000032-28, UNC, 2016-2018

 

Selected Honors

  • Top Cited Article 2021-2022, The Journal of Rural Health
  • Developing Scholar, MUSC College of Health Professions, 2021
  • Best Scientific Poster Award, Palmetto Care Connections Annual Conference, 2021
  • Exceptional Reviewer, The Journal of Rural Health, 2020
  • The Governor’s School of South Carolina at the College of Charleston, graduate

 

Teaching Experience

 

Medical University of South Carolina

  • Course Coordinator, Healthcare Financial Management I (Graduate level, Executive format: 3 credits, Summer 2019 – 2025)
  • Course Coordinator, Healthcare Financial Management I (Graduate level, Residential format: 3 credits, Fall 2020 – 2025)
  • Course Coordinator, Healthcare Financial Management - Advanced (Graduate level Independent Study (MHA): 3 credits, Spring 2022)
  • Course Coordinator, Healthcare Financial Management (Doctoral level (DHA): 3 credits, Summer 2019 – 2025)
  • Course Coordinator, Doctoral Project Dissertation Chair (Doctoral level (DHA): 9 credits per semester per student: Fall 2020 (18 credit hours), Spring 2020 (18 hours), Fall 2021 (9 hours), Spring 2021 (9 hours), Summer 2021 (9 hours), Fall 2022 (36 hours), Spring 2023 (27 hours), Fall 2023 (36 hours), Spring 2024 (36 hours), Summer 2024 (9 hours), Fall 2024 (9 hours), Spring 2024 (9 hours), Summer 2025 (3 hours), Fall 2025 (9 hours)
  • Course Coordinator, Healthcare Financial Management (Doctoral level (PhD): 3 credits, Spring 2021)

 

Publications (Peer-Reviewed)

  • Soltoff, A, Williams, Dunc, Braun, RT, Private Equity–Owned Hospices Report Highest Profits, Lowest Patient Care Spending Compared With Other Ownership Models. Health Affairs. October 2025. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.00327
  • Handlon, L, Simpson, K, Leaming, L, Williams, Dunc, Trends in hospital administrative costs: urban-rural disparities, barriers, and reduction strategies. Health Affairs Scholar August 2025. https://doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxaf149
  • Wiley, K.K., Johnson, J., Harvey, J., Warr, P., & Williams, Dunc. (2025). Measuring and Comparing Telemedicine Utilization Trends Among US Hospitals. Telemedicine Journal and E-Health: The Official Journal of the American Telemedicine Association. August 2025. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2024.0545
  • Braun, RT., Rosenkranz, D., Fernandez, R., Stevensen, D., Grabowski, D., Williams, Dunc., Jimenez, L., Bowblis, J. (2025) Assessing Facility, Resident, and Financial Characteristics Associated with HUD 232-Sponsored Loan Participation in Nursing Homes. Journal of the America Medical Directors Association (JAMDA).  July 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2025.105630
  • Heincelman, M, Papa, Y, Harvey, J, Williams, Dunc, Simpson, K. “Building a Telemedicine Program to Create a Sustainable Care Delivery Model for a Rural Hospital at Risk for Closure” Telmedicine and e-Health. May 2025. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2024.0488
  • Braun, RT, Bowblis, J, Hames, C, Williams, Dunc. “The Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) Pipeline—Obstacles and Opportunities” Journal of the Americal Medical Directors Association (JAMDA). October 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525861024005991?dgcid=author
  • Li X, Williams Dunc, Lawrence J, Park JM. Physician-hospital integration and hospital efficiency investigation. Journal of Hospital Management and Health Policy. June 2024. https://jhmhp.amegroups.org/article/view/8710  
  • Williams, Dunc, Fernandez, R, Stevenson, D, Unruh, M, Braun, RT. “Nursing home finances associated with real estate investment trust and private equity investments.” Health Affairs Scholar. April 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxae037
  • Harrington, C, Mollot, R, Braun, RT, Williams, Dunc. “United States’ Nursing Home Finances: Spending, Profitability, and Capital Structure.” International Journal of Social Determinants of Health and Health Services. December 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/27551938231221509
  • Braun, RT, Williams, Dunc, Stevenson, D, Casalino, L, Jung, H, Fernandez, R, Unruh, M “The Role of Real Estate Investment Trusts in Staffing US Nursing Homes.” Health Affairs. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00278
  • Williams, Dunc and AS Kazley, “A Classroom Finance Conference to Enhance Student Competency and Guide Career Development.” Journal of Health Administration Education., Volume 39, Number 3, Spring 2023, PP. 553-562(10). https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/aupha/jhae/2023/00000039/00000003/art00013
  • Alishahi Tabriz, A, Turner, K, Williams, Dunc, Babu, N, North, S, Shea, C, “Association of Financial Factors and Telemedicine Adoption for Heart Attack and Stroke Care Among Rural and Urban Hospitals: A Longitudinal Study.” Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2022. http://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2021.0341
  • Dooley, M., Simpson, A. N., Nietert, P. J., Williams, Dunc, Cristaldi, K., McElligott, J., & Simpson, K. N. “A modification of time-driven activity-based costing for comparing cost of telehealth and in-person visits." Telemedicine and e-Health. October 2022. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2021.0338
  • Williams, Dunc, AS Kazley, DL Brinton, “Hospital Meaningful Use Incentive Dollars and HIT-Related Capital Expenditures.” Journal of Health Care Finance. Summer 2021. http://www.healthfinancejournal.com/~junland/index.php/johcf/article/view/263
  • Dooley, M., Simpson, A. N., Nietert, P. J., Williams, Dunc, & Simpson, K. N. “Minimally important difference in cost savings: Is it possible to identify an MID for cost savings? Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology.” Health Serv Outcomes Res Method, 21, 131-144. 2021 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10742-020-00233-5
  • Williams, Dunc, A Simpson, K King, et. al. “Do Hospitals Providing Telehealth in Emergency Departments Have Lower ED Costs?” Telemedicine and e-Health. September 2021. http://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0349
  • Williams, Dunc, J Lawrence, YR Hong, A Winn. “Tele-ICUs for COVID-19: A Look at National Prevalence and Characteristics of Hospitals Providing Tele-Intensive Care.” The Journal of Rural Health. October 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12524. Top Cited Article 2021-2022, The Journal of Rural Health.
  • Williams, Dunc, G Pink, PH Song, K Reiter, GM Holmes, “Capital Expenditures Increased at Rural Hospitals that Merged between 2012 and 2015.” Journal of Healthcare Management. 65(5):346-364, September-October 2020. https://doi.org/10.1097/JHM-D-19-00219
  • Williams, Dunc, K Reiter, G Pink, GM Holmes, PH Song. “Rural Hospital Mergers Increased Between 2005 and 2016—What Did Those Hospitals Look Like?” Inquiry. July 2020. https://doi.org/10.1177/0046958020935666
  • Williams, Dunc, GM Holmes, PH Song, K Reiter, G Pink, “For Rural Hospitals That Merged, Inpatient Charges Decreased and Outpatient Charges Increased: A Pre-/Post-Comparison of Rural Hospitals That Merged and Rural Hospitals That Did Not Merge Between 2005 and 2015.” The Journal of Rural Health. June 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12461
  • Hong YR, Lawrence J, Williams, Dunc, Mainous III, A. “Population-Level Interest and US Hospital Telehealth Capacity in Response to COVID-19: Analysis of Google Search Data and National Hospital Survey.” JMIR Public Health and Surveillance. 2020. Apr-Jun; 6(2): e18961. https://doi.org/10.2196/18961
  • Williams, Dunc and G Mark Holmes. “Rural Health Care Costs – Are They Higher and Why Might They Differ from Urban Health Care Costs?” North Carolina Medical Journal. January 2018. https://doi.org/10.18043/ncm.79.1.51

 

Publications (Funded Technical Briefs)

 

Conference Podium Presentations

  • “Facility Fee Reform in Connecticut: A Comparative Analysis” Presentation. Williams, Dunc. Braun, RT. Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy Center on Health Insurance Reforms "Facility Fee Reforms" Roundtable. 6/17/25. 
  • “Potential for Telehealth Support To Improve Access To Care: A Needs Assessment Using Heat Maps Of ED Use And Avoidable Hospitalizations For The I/DD Population In South Carolina” Presentation. Dean D. Simpson K. Williams, Dunc. 6/25. 
  • “Telehealth Parity: Evaluations at the National, State, and Organizational Level” Panelist. Palmetto Cares Connection 12th Annual Telehealth Summit of South Carolina. 10/29/24.
  • “The State of Virtual Solutions in South Carolina” Moderator, Palmetto Cares Connection 12th Annual Telehealth Summit of South Carolina. 10/29/24. 
  • “Examination of Telehealth Parity: Modeling Budget Impacts of Parity on Hospital Finance” invited presentation to the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth FedTel Meeting, 3/14/24. 
  • “National Hospital-Level Telehealth Measurement and the Association of Telehealth Provision with Hospital Financial Performance” invited presentation to the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth Rural Telehealth Research Center Directors Meeting, 3/5/24. 
  • “Measuring Telehealth Utilization and Changes Across US Hospitals” webinar for the MUSC National Telehealth Center of Excellence, 12/12/23.
  • “The Current Financial Landscape of Medicine and Healthcare Systems” for the MUSC Update on Perfusion Conference, 10/27/23. 
  • “Association of Private Equity and Publicly Traded Investment in U.S. Hospice Agencies with the Financial, Quality, and Cost of Care for Medicare Beneficiaries: Braun RT. Williams, Dunc et. al. American Society of Health Economists (ASHEcon) Annual Meeting 2023. 
  • "Not Home Alone: COVID-19 Post Discharge RPM Pilot" Warr P. Heincelman M. Warr E. Ford D. Cristaldi Ki. Gardella P. Kruis R. Williams, Dunc. Simpson K. Podium Presentation. Society of Hospital Medicine. March 2023. 
  • “U.S. Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage through the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Wen J. Williams, Dunc. Simpson KN. Brinton DL. Podium Presentation. AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting. June 2022. 
  • “Finance Conference for MHA Students to Develop Student Competencies and Guide Career Development” Williams, Dunc. Podium Presentation. HFMA Annual Conference. June 27, 2022. 
  • “An Evaluation of the Financial Performance of Rural Hospitals Providing Telehealth in Emergency Departments” Williams, Dunc. Podium Presentation. SEARCH Annual Conference. November 9, 2021. 
  • “Rural Hospital Financial Performance Before and After Merger” Williams, Dunc. Podium Presentation. National Rural Health Association’s 43rd Annual Meeting. May 21, 2020. 
  • “Characteristics Associated with Rural Hospitals that Merged (2005-2016)” Williams, Dunc. Podium Presentation. National Rural Health Association’s 42nd Annual Meeting. May 9, 2019. 
  • “Rural Hospital Mergers: 2005-2016” Williams, Dunc. Invited Presenter. Rural Health Research Gateway. November 1, 2018. Link: http://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/news_release/george-pink-and-dunc-williams-presentation-on-rural-hospital-mergers-and-acquisitions-from-2005-through-2016/. The most downloaded Rural Health Research Gateway webinar of 2018.
  • “Leading a Successful Multigenerational Organization” Williams, Dunc. Invited Panelist. The Medical University of South Carolina Alumni and Leadership Conference sponsored by the South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives, 2011 

 

Conference Poster Presentations

  • “The Association Between Race and Rurality on Maternal Outcomes in North Carolina.” Burns, E, Williams, Dunc, Gordan, R, Dooley, M. Poster presentation at the NC Global Health Conference. October 2024. 
  • “The Quest to Measure and Compare Telehealth Utilization and Changes Across US Hospitals.” Wiley K, Harvey J, Warr P, Wen J, Williams, Dunc. Poster presentation at SEARCH Conference. November 2023.
  • “The Quest to Measure and Compare Telehealth Utilization and Changes Across US Hospitals.” Wiley K, Harvey J, Warr P, Wen J, Trask S, Williams, Dunc. Poster presentation to Academy Health Annual Research Meeting. June 2023.
  • “Characteristics of Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: Patterns of Utilization and Cost by Quarter (2017-2020).” Johnson J, Harvey J, Holmes-Maybank K, Williams, Dunc. Poster presentation to Academy Health Annual Research Meeting. June 2022.
  • “Effects of Medicaid expansion on diabetes-related hospital utilization in Appalachia.” Neal GL, Williams, Dunc. D, Simpson KN, Brinton DL. Poster presentation to Academy Health Annual Research Meeting. June 2022.
  • “An Evaluation of the Financial Performance of Rural Hospitals Providing Telehealth in Emergency Departments” Williams, Dunc. Dooley, M. Johnson, J. Poster Presentation. Palmetto Care Connections Annual Telehealth Summit of South Carolina. November 2021. (2021 Best Scientific Poster Award)
  • “Economic Assessment of Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2: The Case of SC.” Morrow, C. Williams, Dunc. Simpson, K. Poster Presentation at AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting. June 2021. 
  • “Contribution of Continuous Virtual Monitoring (CVM) to Hospital Safety, Quality and Value of Care for COVID-19 Patients” Simpson, K. Dooley, M. Williams, Dunc. Warr, E. Kruis, R. King, K. Poster Presentation at AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting. June 2021. 
  • "Do Hospitals Providing Telehealth in Emergency Departments Have Lower ED Costs?" Poster Presentation at SEARCH Annual Meeting. October 2020. 
  • “Were Hospital Meaningful Use Incentive Dollars Associated with More HIT-Related Capital Expenditures?” Williams, Dunc. Poster Presentation at the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting. June 2020. 
  • “Rural Hospital Mergers: Identification, Prevalence, and Post-Merger Effects on the Availability of Services and Capital – 2005-2016” Williams, Dunc. Poster Presentation at the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting. Seattle, WA, June 2018. 
  • “Are Rural Hospital Mergers Good for Rural America” Williams, Dunc. Poster Presentation at the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting. New Orleans, LA, June 2017

 

Guest Lectures

  • Invited lecturer on Healthcare Financial Management Doctoral Project Ideas to Dr. Mary Dooley’s doctoral course “Study Execution,” Summer 2025. 
  • “Clinical Information Provision in an Era of Hospital Mergers and Acquisitions: 24th Health Sciences Lively Discussion” Panelist, 2024 Charleston Conference for Librarians. 11/13/24. 
  • Invited lecturer on “Medical Ethics: The Perspective of an Administrator and Faculty” to Dr. Zahi Jurdi’s master’s course “Medical Ethics,” Fall 2024. 
  • Invited lecturer on Healthcare Financial Management Doctoral Project Ideas to Dr. Mary Dooley’s doctoral course “Study Execution,” Summer 2024. 
  • Invited lecturer on “Medical Ethics: The Perspective of an Administrator and Faculty” to Dr. Zahi Jurdi’s master’s course “Medical Ethics,” Fall 2023. 
  • Invited lecturer on “Healthcare Finances: Nursing Homes with Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) or Private Equity (PE) Investments,” Indiana University – Indianapolis Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 9/26/23. 
  • Invited lecturer on “Medical Ethics: The Perspective of an Administrator and Faculty” to Dr. Zahi Jurdi’s master’s course “Medical Ethics,” Fall 2022. 
  • Invited lecturer on “Evolving Systems of Care Administration and Policy” for a “Digital Transformation Through Telehealth Administration Leadership” certificate course created at MUSC, October 2022. 
  • Invited presenter on “Rural Hospital Finances and Telehealth” to a Palmetto Cares Connection webinar, August 2022.  
  • Invited lecturer on “Healthcare Financial Management Basics” to Dr. Kathleen Fortier’s master’s course “Introduction to Healthcare Management and Leadership,” Summer 2021.
  • Invited lecturer on “Rural versus Urban Health Care Costs” to Drs. Nancy Winterbauer and Ronny Bell’s Master of Public Health course “Interdisciplinary Rural Health,” Fall 2019. 
  • Invited lecturer on “Rural Hospital Mergers” to Dr. Thomas Mckee’s Doctor of Health Administration course “Healthcare Financial Management,” Summer 2018.