Dr. Duarte completed his medical school training at the University of Illinois, Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois. After medical school, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine and his fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, and Edward Hines, Jr., VA Hospital, Hines, Illinois.

Dr. Duarte joined UTMB in 1995 as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care. Dr. Duarte has held many titles at UTMB Galveston including Medical Director for Lung Transplantation, Director of the Fellowship Training Program for the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care. He is currently a tenured Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine, the Director of Pulmonary Function Laboratory and Vice Chair of Faculty Development in the Department of Internal Medicine.

He is the recipient of numerous teaching awards; nominated as an Osler Scholar in 2007 and John P McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award in 2010. He has published over 45 peer-reviewed articles, 55 abstracts at national and international meetings, 6 book chapters and provided inputs on multiple media outlets releases for pulmonary conditions.