This week, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology bids farewell to a true pioneer as William Hurd, M.D., officially retires. He will be closing a chapter that spans more than four decades of service, science, and heartfelt devotion to the care of women and their families.
Hurd’s career has been anything but ordinary. After graduating from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 1979, he embarked on a journey that would take him from academic hospitals to military zones, and from operating rooms to the halls of scientific inquiry. His unique blend of military discipline, clinical excellence, and research innovation has left a permanent mark on his patients and generations of colleagues who worked alongside him.
He has held major administrative and editorial roles, including Deputy Editor for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Chief Medical Officer of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Hurd has also authored numerous impressive works, including 145 peer-reviewed journal articles, 43 book chapters, and 10 books.
Hurd’s lifelong career in women’s health has left a lasting impact on reproductive medicine and academic gynecology.
Flight suites to white coats
After finishing medical school and a residency at the University of Cincinnati, Hurd’s career continued in the US Air Force for 4 years on active duty and 27 more years in the reserve. As a military OB/Gyn physician, he delivered babies and provided care to service members and their families all over the globe from California to Germany, England, Spain, and Turkey. Following his active-duty military service, he completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco. This launched a career in academic medicine that balanced surgical skill, research, and heartfelt patient care.
His commitment to operational military medicine continued as he flew critical care transport missions as an Air Force reservist for more than a decade, evacuating wounded soldiers and civilians from destinations including Iraq, Qatar, Germany, Korea, New Zealand, and Antarctica on weekends while still maintaining a full clinical load during the week.
Shifting the paradigm
Hurd’s research career has always been eclectic and occasionally cutting-edge. He established a laboratory immediately after his fellowship, focusing on myometrial endocrinology and physiology, which he maintained for almost three decades. These efforts culminated at UAB in 2024 with the publication of his biomechanical theory for the initiation of labor, a hypothesis that has already gained significant recognition and traction in both clinical and academic settings. Now, his work is often referenced and presented at international symposia.
His best-known research contributions may be in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, and many of his anatomic and safety publications are still quoted today. He proudly recalls performing the University of Michigan’s first laparoscopic treatment of an ectopic pregnancy in 1990. For decades, he worked behind the scenes to help establish and formalize fellowship training in minimally invasive reproductive surgery.
Medical education has long been one of his passions. For almost 20 years, he has co-edited the textbook Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, written with REI fellows and general OB/GYN clinicians in mind, now in its 4th edition. On the other end of the spectrum, he originated and edited a textbook for operational flight surgeons for more than two decades entitled Aeromedical Evacuation: Management of Acute and Stabilized Patients.
Heart behind the science
What sets Hurd apart is not just his intellect, but his kindness. He is deeply attuned to the emotional journey of his patients, especially those facing infertility.
“Almost daily, our team is uplifted by the joy of seeing another patient achieve a pregnancy they once thought was impossible,” he shared.
Recognizing that fertility challenges affect more than just the patient, he has championed greater attention to the emotional needs of partners, whose experiences often go unnoticed in clinical care.
“Sometimes the pregnancy means more to their partners than we realize,” he said. “I always tried to acknowledge and support both the patient and their partner.”
Hurd’s leadership extended to national and institutional levels. He has served as a medical director, division chief, academic chair, and assistant dean and contributed to clinical practice guidelines and professional society committees. However, he remains humble and more comfortable talking about a successful embryo transfer or thank-you notes from a former patient than a list of accolades.
“We don't typically see our pregnant patients again after they move to obstetric care,” he said. “So, I remind my pregnant patients that I depend on them to send me photos of their babies after delivery. Looking at our wall of baby pictures reminds me and our staff why we are here.”
Mentorship with intent
For trainees, Dr. Hurd has been an adored professor and mentor. Whether guiding residents through complex surgeries or coaching them through the emotional journey of OB/GYN care, he has made it his mission to develop confident, compassionate physicians.
“There’s nothing more enjoyable than seeing interns evolve into assured and capable senior residents,” he said. “I hope I have been able to model for them how to enjoy their patients and make them feel heard, even when the time we can share with them is relatively short.”
Hurd prides himself on thorough patient documentation, which he believes prepares doctors to enter the room confidently and empathetically support their patients.
“I try to make sure that every patient feels that they've been listened to and that we haven't missed any of their concerns,” said Hurd. “So, if I taught the residents that, that'll make a difference in their careers and lives.”
Charting a new course
For Hurd, retirement isn’t just about winding down but also about charting a new path forward. As a lifelong sailor and adventurer, he plans to spend more time on the water, travel internationally, and connect with his family and five new grandchildren. Travel and new scholarly pursuits are high on the agenda. He plans to practice on a limited basis while continuing his career-long companion of scholarly works that will continue advancing medical care.
He’s also open to mentoring, consulting, or guest lecturing, opportunities that allow him to continue shaping the field. In fact, Hurd already has speaking engagements planned in Paris, Bali, and Dubai later this year.
"Awards come and go,” said Hurd. “The greatest fulfillment for me comes from contributing to lasting change in medicine, whether by advancing research, sharing knowledge through publication, or shaping the next generation of physicians.”
A lasting legacy
From the patients who became parents under his care, to the residents he trained, to the scientific questions he ventured to ask, Hurd has changed medicine in countless ways. Though he may be retiring, his impact will live on in every life he helped create, every colleague he inspired, and every trainee he mentored.
Dr. Hurd has delivered far more than babies; he has delivered hope, healing, and happiness to patients and their families worldwide.