WASHINGTON — Award-winning actress and advocate Lynda Carter announced a $10 million gift from the Robert & Lynda Carter Altman Family Foundation on March 23, 2026, to create The Robert A. Altman Center for Surgical Education at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
The gift honors Carter’s late husband, Robert A. Altman, who died in 2021 from secondary myeloid leukemia. It establishes a state-of-the-art training facility that will expand hands-on education in complex surgical techniques for medical students, residents, fellows and attending physicians serving patients in the Washington, D.C., region.
Patrick Jackson, MD, chief of the hospital’s Division of General Surgery, will lead the center and serve as the inaugural holder of The Robert A. Altman Endowed Chair of Surgery at MedStar Georgetown. This marks the first endowed chair designated by MedStar Health.
The center will focus on four core pillars: technical skills training, non-technical skills training, educational research and transdisciplinary collaboration. It will feature a new simulation-based facility where learners practice in actual operating rooms to improve proficiency, patient safety and innovation.
“Robert loved this city and its people,” Carter said. “This effort says, ‘thank you’ to the DMV by equipping the next generation of surgeons to deliver world-class care right here at home.”
Dr. Jackson added, “Training matters. When young surgeons master complex procedures early, patients benefit for decades. I’m honored to help build that pipeline that will serve our communities.”
The initiative aims to build surgical capacity across hospitals and clinics in the greater Washington area, including facilities that serve Southern Maryland residents who often seek advanced care at MedStar Georgetown.
Lisa M. Boyle, MD, FACS, president of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and senior vice president for MedStar Health, expressed appreciation for the gift. “We express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the Robert & Lynda Carter Altman Family Foundation for this incredible opportunity to shape the future of surgery,” she said. “We will ensure that each student of the Robert A. Altman Center for Surgical Education trains with the rigor, passion, and care that Robert and Lynda have instilled in our community.”
MedStar Health President and CEO Kenneth A. Samet, FACHE, highlighted the broader impact. “Incredible things happen when we come together to better serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities,” he said. “Thanks to Lynda and Robert’s transformational commitment to advancing surgical expertise, lives will be saved, families will get more time together, and we will improve health throughout the Washington, D.C., region. This is the work of real-life superheroes.”
Carter, known for her iconic role as Wonder Woman, created the foundation following Altman’s death. The $10 million donation directly supports expanded training opportunities that address growing demands for skilled surgeons in the region.
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, located in northwest Washington, serves as a major referral center for patients from Southern Maryland, including Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert counties. Many residents travel to the facility for specialized surgical care, making the new center’s focus on education and capacity-building particularly relevant to the area.
The center will integrate simulation technology with real operating room experiences and foster collaboration among medical experts. This approach is designed to accelerate learning curves for new surgeons while promoting ongoing professional development for experienced physicians.
Officials expect the investment to strengthen the pipeline of surgeons equipped to handle complex cases, ultimately improving outcomes for patients across the DMV region. The announcement comes as health systems nationwide face pressures to modernize training amid advances in surgical techniques.
By naming the center and endowed chair after Robert A. Altman, the gift creates a lasting legacy tied to excellence in surgical education. It also underscores the role of philanthropy in advancing medical training at academic medical centers like MedStar Georgetown.
Southern Maryland patients and providers stand to benefit as the center increases the number of well-trained surgeons available to serve local communities. The facility will emphasize both technical mastery and team-based skills essential for high-quality care.
The Robert & Lynda Carter Altman Family Foundation’s contribution represents a significant boost for surgical education in the nation’s capital region. With Dr. Jackson at the helm, the center is positioned to become a hub for innovation and collaboration that extends its impact beyond MedStar Health.
This transformational gift arrives at a time when simulation-based training is gaining prominence as a safe and effective way to prepare surgeons for real-world challenges. The new center will allow learners to refine skills before performing procedures on patients, aligning with best practices in modern medical education.
MedStar Georgetown’s location and reputation make it a natural fit for such an initiative, drawing trainees and patients from across Maryland, including Southern Maryland’s growing population. The enhancements are expected to support long-term improvements in access to advanced surgical care for residents in the area.