In Memoriam: SGO Past President James Taylor Wharton, MD (1938-2024)

In Memoriam: SGO Past President James Taylor Wharton, MD (1938-2024)

The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) regrets to announce the passing of past president James Taylor Wharton, MD. Dr. Wharton passed away peacefully on February 29, 2024, at age 85 after battling Parkinson’s Disease.

His full obituary is available online.

Dr. Wharton earned his medical degree with honors from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at UTMB, completed a fellowship at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and subsequently dedicated 38 years to patient care and research at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC).

In 1971, after completing his duty in the United States Air Force Service, Dr. Wharton joined the staff of MDACC as an assistant professor. He subsequently became a protégé of two giants of the early MDACC era – Felix Rutledge, MD, chair of the department of gynecologic oncology, and Gilbert Fletcher, MD, chair of the department of radiation oncology. David Gershenson, MD, noted, “Dr. Wharton embodied the best of their legacy – multidisciplinary care and multi-modal therapy – and his contributions to patient care were extraordinary. He was a master surgeon and a compassionate and caring physician who possessed a wealth of clinical experience and wisdom. He was recognized as a top physician in virtually every national survey. He was a tremendous source of support and encouragement to me, and he was extremely gracious in the transition of the department chair. I will always value his friendship.”

Dr. Wharton was also known as a superb clinical investigator. Important scientific contributions include:

• early studies of single-agent chemotherapy for ovarian cancer under an NCI-sponsored contract
• multiple studies of the role of surgery in the management of epithelial ovarian cancer
• initial studies on the integration of surgery and radiation of cervical cancer
• seminal studies of selective lymphadenectomy and extended field irradiation in the treatment of advanced cervical cancer
• a series of groundbreaking studies of young women with clear cell carcinoma of the vagina and cervix related to in utero diethylstilboestrol exposure
• studies of early vulvar cancer

During his career, he was a prolific writer, publishing over 240 scientific articles and book chapters and editing or co-editing six books.

Dr. Wharton served in the department of gynecologic oncology as deputy chairman and as the second MDACC chairman (1987-1998) following the retirement of Dr. Rutledge. He then served as special assistant to the president of patient affairs before retiring in 2008.

He was an award-winning teacher, possessing a passion for education and teaching young physicians. He was a respected and beloved mentor to scores of gynecologic oncology fellows. In his honor, an annual resident excellence award has been established at MDACC.

Dr. Wharton was the first MDACC physician to promote cancer prevention through his 1975-1994 position as the institution’s medical director of prevention and early detection. The program recruited several nurses skilled in colposcopy and was a model for cervical cancer screening and colposcopy.

In 2021, he was a proud recipient of UTMB’s Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus Award. In addition to serving the SGO as president, he also served as president of the American Radium Society and president of the Felix Rutledge Society. He was also a member of the division of gynecologic oncology of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Wharton was recognized with the establishment of the J. Taylor Wharton, MD, Distinguished Chair in Gynecologic Oncology at MDACC.

Dr. Wharton is survived by his wife, three daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.