The W. Norman Thornton Professor and Chair Emeritus
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Ferguson earned his Doctor of Medicine in 1977 from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and his Master of Business Administration in 2008 from George Washington University. He completed obstetrics and gynecology residency at N.C. Baptist Hospital, now known as Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, in 1981 and post-doctoral fellowship training in maternal-fetal medicine at Stanford University in 1984. In 1987 he was recruited from the faculty of Stanford University to the University of Virginia where he practiced until joining the University of Kentucky, where he served as the John W. Greene Jr. Professor and Chair, from 2002-2009. He then returned to the University of Virginia, serving as the W. Norman Thornton Jr. Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology until 2021. Ferguson is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the foremost leaders in academic obstetrics and gynecology and women’s health and an expert in maternal-fetal medicine (MFM).
His scholarship and research have addressed a variety of issues of significant importance to women’s health including pharmacologic treatment of preterm labor (PTL), non-invasive and invasive prenatal diagnosis, the role of parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP) in the human utero-placental unit, periodontal disease in pregnancy and the identification and reduction of intimate partner violence against women. The findings from these investigations and others continue to inform clinical practice nationally.
Ferguson has provided highly sought after patient care as well as clinical and educational instruction and inspiration to four decades of learners. He nurtured and mentored students, residents, fellows and faculty at all levels to assist them in reaching their goals. He has received multiple awards for his teaching and has taught at the national level. He also served as a consultant and fellow for the Project HOPE/U.S. Agency for International Development.
He has contributed local, national and international leadership through activities such as serving as president for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society and being elected to the board of directors of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, where he provided service and leadership for 11 years, including as treasurer. He has collaborated with medical directors and hospital leaders, championing impactful emphasis on patient safety, quality care, continuous improvement and innovation leading to excellent patient outcomes. This work has contributed to recognition for the University of Virginia Medical Center from sources such as the Virginia Hospital Association, Newsweek magazine, Becker’s Hospital Review, US News and World Report, Vizient, CDC and Leapfrog.
Ferguson has served on several editorial boards and been a referee for numerous women’s health journals, including the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology and the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and as an editor for the Obstetrics Section of the Journal of Women’s Health. He has served on several ad-hoc review panels for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development /National Institutes of Health, as an expert medical consultant for the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities/Centers for Disease Control and testified before Congress twice to enhance funding for maternity care. He has published over 136 peer-reviewed articles and invited published discussions, with 106 presented abstracts and has co-edited two books.
He has received numerous honors and awards throughout his career including induction by Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Alpha Theta, Beta Gamma Sigma, the Lange Award, C. Hampton-Mauzy Award, the Z Society Distinguished Faculty Award from the Z Society of the University of Virginia and honorary societal memberships. In May of 2022, the University of Virginia School of Medicine Medical Alumni Association and Medical School Foundation honored him with the Walter Reed Distinguished Achievement Award.
Ferguson is married to Lynn, a Wake Forest University graduate and 1976 MS graduate of Wake Forest University School of Medicine. They enjoy outdoor activities and visiting their three grown sons, their wives and trying to keep pace with seven grandchildren.