Catherine Y. Spong

Catherine Spong, M.D., became Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in September 2021. An expert in clinical trials and evidence-based care, Dr. Spong is particularly focused on optimizing pregnancy outcomes, including pregnant and lactating women in research, and eliminating health disparities. She chaired the Health and Human Services Task Force on Research Specific to Pregnant Women and Lactating Women. Her research focuses on the medical care of pregnant and lactating women. Prior to joining UT Southwestern in 2018, Dr. Spong had a 23-year career at the National Institutes of Health, including leading the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s (NICHD) Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network – a multicenter network focused on trials in obstetrics. She led the NICHD as Deputy Director and Acting Director. She launched and directed initiatives to understand the human placenta, genomics of preterm birth, stillbirth, adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, and fetal surgery trials. The developing fetus is one of her major research areas, and she holds several patents for neuroprotective agents that help prevent fetal injury. A specialist in prematurity, fetal complications, and improving outcomes in children, Dr. Spong’s clinical responsibilities include high-risk labor and delivery, the antepartum unit, the extended care unit, and obstetric and gynecologic sonography. She received her M.D. and bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry from the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Six Year Medical Program. Her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, including as Chief Resident, was at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center; subsequently, she completed a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and Georgetown University.