Dr. J. Martin Tucker named Winfred L. Wiser Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Published on Monday, January 13, 2025
By: Rachel Vanderford, rvanderford@umc.edu
Photos By: Joe Ellis/ UMMC Communications
Dr. J. Martin Tucker, a long-standing figure in Mississippi’s medical community, has been named Winfred L. Wiser Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The chair honors Dr. Winfred L. Wiser, Tucker’s mentor and a trailblazer in obstetrics and gynecology who led UMMC’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1976 to 1995 when he retired.
“Dr. Wiser was a great man, a great doctor and a great leader,” Tucker said. “He had a profound impact on my training and career. It was a privilege to complete an OB-GYN residency in his program. I am very humbled to be named the Wiser chair, and I share this honor with the hundreds of physicians whose lives and careers were touched and supported by Dr. Wiser’s leadership.”
As a vocal advocate for improving women’s health care, Wiser’s vision and leadership have left a profound impact on the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Among his most enduring legacies is the Winfred L. Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants, a facility he championed to provide a dedicated space for expectant mothers on the UMMC campus. The hospital, which opened in 1999, stands as an homage to his tireless commitment to advancing maternal and infant health.
Wiser’s influence extended beyond Mississippi; he is the only individual to receive recognition from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for running one of the country’s most outstanding programs. His efforts to elevate the standards of women’s health care and resident education in the field are reflected in recipients of his endowed chair designees.
The Winfred L. Wiser Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology was established in 1995 and was fully endowed in 2006 through a $1.2 million fundraising effort made possible by nearly 400 of Wiser’s former trainees and colleagues. Tucker is the second recipient of the distinguished honor, succeeding another Mississippi legend and mentor to Tucker, Dr. Rodney Meeks, who held the title for more than a decade. Dr. Meeks is currently the Wiser Chair Emeritus.
Tucker’s career is a testament to the compassion and dedication instilled in him by mentors like Wiser and Meeks. Much like their legacy of leadership and excellence, Tucker has made it his mission to not only advance the field of obstetrics and gynecology but also to inspire and nurture the next generation of physicians with the same spirit.
Tucker has devoted more than four decades to obstetrics and gynecology in Mississippi. After earning his medical degree from UMMC in 1984 and completing his residency in obstetrics and gynecology in 1988, he completed a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham before returning to the Medical Center. He has been an integral part of the medical school faculty ever since, mentoring generations of physicians.
In addition to his clinical and teaching responsibilities, Tucker was among the founding members of the Winfred L. Wiser Society, which was established in 1986 during the 10th anniversary of Wiser’s tenure at the Medical Center. The society joined forces with UMMC’s OB-GYN alumni association and private business professionals to help fund the endowed chair in Wiser’s name.
Tucker’s career has exemplified a blend of clinical practice, education and advocacy. For 29 years, he balanced private practice with his role as a clinical and affiliate faculty member at UMMC, educating medical students and OB-GYN residents alike. He has been a member of the department’s resident education committee since 2006.
An acknowledgment of his multitude of achievements, Tucker was honored by the School of Medicine when he was named Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 2018. A couple of years later, in 2020, Tucker officially joined the Medical Center full-time as chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Beyond his work at UMMC, Tucker has also played a critical role in statewide and national efforts to improve maternal and fetal health. Tucker has chaired the Mississippi Infant Mortality Task Force and the Mississippi State Medical Association Council on Legislation. He also served on the steering committee of the Mississippi Perinatal Quality Collaborative and is currently a member of the Mississippi Maternal Mortality Review Committee.
On the national stage, Tucker has held numerous leadership roles in ACOG, serving three three-year terms on its executive board, as secretary from 2016 to 2019 and as its 72nd president in 2021-22.
The Winfred L. Wiser Chair recognizes Tucker’s dedication to advancing obstetrics and gynecology, his commitment to education and his contributions to improving health outcomes for women and children in Mississippi.
“An endowed chair is a gift in so many ways,” said Meredith Aldridge, executive director of Development. “It allows us to both honor the work and legacy of the named chair and support the work of the future. Dr. Wiser’s contributions to obstetrics and gynecology cannot be overstated, and it is only fitting that one of his trainees now holds the chair established in his name. In a ‘full-circle’ way, the fund helps Dr. Tucker fulfill his role in training the next generation of obstetricians and gynecologists.”