Peggy Joyce Whalley, M.D., a Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern whose pioneering work with high-risk pregnancies saved thousands of expectant mothers and their offspring during a 32-year career at the medical center, died July 6 in Austin. She was 94.

“The many of us who knew Peggy Whalley and were touched by her were saddened to hear of her death,” said Gary Cunningham, M.D., Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Chair Emeritus who led the Department from 1983 to 2004. “She was truly a giant in academic obstetrics but was far from an egotistical person despite her many accomplishments. She was regarded as a team player and contributed to all aspects of departmental assignments.”

Pictured here in 1960, Peggy Joyce Whalley, M.D., was the first female Ob/Gyn resident at Parkland Memorial Hospital and the first to serve as chief resident her senior year. The maternal-fetal medicine pioneer then completed a one-year fellowship in medicine before joining the UTSW faculty in 1961.

Believing that confinement would improve the outcome for women who had complications during pregnancy, the then-junior faculty member in 1971 successfully advocated with UTSW leadership to establish one of the world’s first high-risk antenatal units at the old Woodlawn Hospital. There, expectant mothers diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, or premature ruptured membranes received the focused care they needed. Under Dr. Whalley’s direction, the perinatal mortality rate of women cared for in this five-bed unit dramatically improved. The facility was later expanded to a full ward of 28 beds and relocated to Parkland Memorial Hospital.

“Following the successes of the high-risk unit, Dr. Whalley began to get transfers of high-risk pregnant women to the unit for care, and eventually the other major hospitals in the area began to develop their own units,” said Dr. Cunningham. “The success of such units was not limited to this region, and high-risk units began to appear in many major university hospitals across the country.”

In recognition of the impact of this unit on mortality, Dr. Whalley received the Laurel Award in 1976 for her community service from the Dallas Branch of the American Association of University Women. Dubbed Peggy’s Palace, the facility at Parkland was officially dedicated in 1988. 

Dr. Whalley, whose work with high-risk pregnancies saved thousands of expectant mothers and their offspring, was on hand when the antenatal unit at the old Woodlawn Hospital expanded and moved to Parkland Memorial Hospital. Joining in the ceremony for Peggy’s Palace were UTSW leaders (from left) Drs. Donald Seldin, Jack Pritchard, and Charles Sprague, first President of the Medical Center.

Her work at the high-risk unit continued a pattern of Dr. Whalley breaking ground for others to follow. After graduating from UT Southwestern Medical School in 1956, she completed her internship in internal medicine under Donald Seldin, M.D., and her residency in obstetrics and gynecology under Jack Pritchard, M.D. Dr. Whalley was the first female Ob/Gyn resident at Parkland and the first to serve as chief resident her senior year. She then completed a one-year fellowship in medicine under the direction of Dr. Seldin before joining the faculty in 1961.

Inspired by Dr. Pritchard’s research, Dr. Whalley became interested in the hematologic changes occurring during pregnancy. She studied sickle cell disease, the impact of folic acid and iron deficiencies on the fetus, and the management of pregnancies complicated by diseases like diabetes, hypertension, renal and urinary tract infections, and hyperparathyroidism. Early in her career, Dr. Whalley observed that asymptomatic pregnant women with bacteria in their urine often had inflammation of the kidney and pelvic linings (pyelonephritis). Acute pyelonephritis is a serious infection that poses hazards to both mother and fetus, including an increased risk of preterm birth.

“Dr. Whalley was an impeccable researcher and did much of the seminal work concerning urinary tract infections in pregnant women,” said Dr. Cunningham. “And from experiences gained from the high-risk unit, the care of women with early onset preeclampsia was radically changed, from immediate delivery to domiciliary care that allowed in many cases valuable time for fetal maturation and mitigation of preterm deliveries.

“For me, personally, she was a valued mentor. She spent many hours teaching me the aspects of medical and surgical complications of pregnancy as well as how to perform solid clinical research.”

In recognition of her dedication to teaching, research, and patient care, Dr. Whalley in 1975 was named the first Jack A. Pritchard Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology. A year later, she became the first Director of the new Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship – a position she held from 1976 to 1986 before deciding to work part time. Upon full retirement in 1992, Dr. Whalley became the second faculty member, and the first woman, to be named Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UTSW.

The family has asked that donations be made to UT Southwestern Medical Center, PO Box 910888 Dallas, TX 75391-0888 or online to support the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology.