In 1955, Dr. Jack Pritchard became Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Southwestern Medical School and Director of Obstetrics at Parkland Memorial Hospital. Dr. Pritchard built a model system for handling high-risk and complex pregnancies and helped modernize the practice of obstetrics worldwide, including innovations in prenatal care that set a standard for the nation. His research led to better ways of treating pre-eclampsia, toxemia, and anemia in pregnancy. In the 1960s through the 1980s, he co-authored the well-known textbook "Williams Obstetrics." He turned over the administrative responsibilities of the chairmanship of the OB/GYN department in 1969 but remained official chairman until 1970. He resigned the directorship of OB/GYN at Parkland in 1981. He retired from the faculty in 1990 and served as Professor Emeritus until his death. In 2007, Southwestern Medical School honored Dr. Pritchard by naming one of its six newly-created colleges in his honor.