# David Hager

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**W. David Hager** is an American [physician](/source/Physician) with a medical board certification in [obstetrics](/source/Obstetrics) and [gynecology](/source/Gynecology). In the fall of 2002, Hager, a leading conservative [Christian](/source/Christianity) voice on women's health and sexuality, was appointed to the Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs in the [Food and Drug Administration](/source/Food_and_Drug_Administration) (FDA) by [U.S. President](/source/U.S._President) [George W. Bush](/source/George_W._Bush).

## Family life

In 1970, Hager married Linda Carruth Davis, the daughter of a [Methodist](/source/Methodist) [evangelist](/source/Evangelism). Together they had three sons. David and Linda Hager's marriage ended by [divorce](/source/Divorce) in 2002. In November 2002 Linda, herself a religious and political [conservative](/source/Conservatism), was remarried to James Davis, a [United Methodist](/source/United_Methodist) minister.

In 2003 Hager married Lexington physician Kathleen Martin; in 2007, Martin filed for divorce from Hager.

## Education and certification

Hager in 1964 was graduated from Jessamine County High School in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Hager received his [undergraduate](/source/Undergraduate) degree from [Asbury College](/source/Asbury_University) where his father, [Cornelius Hager](/source/Cornelius_Hager), was the college president. Hager graduated from [medical school](/source/Medical_school) at [University of Kentucky](/source/University_of_Kentucky) in 1972, and completed an [ob/gyn](/source/Obstetrics_and_gynaecology) residency at University of Kentucky in 1976. Hager has been board certified in [obstetrics](/source/Obstetrics) and [gynecology](/source/Gynecology) since 1978.

## Career

Hager is a practicing [gynecologist](/source/Gynecologist) in [Lexington, Kentucky](/source/Lexington,_Kentucky). After completing his OB/GYN residency, Hager was a clinical research investigator for sexually transmitted diseases at the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](/source/Centers_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention) in Atlanta from 1976 to 1978. He had a faculty position at [Emory University](/source/Emory_University) from 1976 to 1978, and has been a part-time "[professor](/source/Professor)" at the University of Kentucky since 1978. ("Though his resume describes Hager as a University of Kentucky professor, a university official says Hager's appointment is part time and voluntary and involves working with interns at Lexington's Central Baptist Hospital, not the university itself." Time citation below) His research interests include [mastitis](/source/Mastitis), post-operative [infections](/source/Infections), Group B Strep infections, and [vaginitis](/source/Vaginitis). Hager was president of [Infectious Disease Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology](/source/Infectious_Disease_Society_for_Obstetrics_and_Gynecology) from 1996 to 1998. He was also named as one of the "Best Doctors in America" in both 1994 and 1996. Other present and past affiliations include, the [Focus on the Family](/source/Focus_on_the_Family)'s Physician Resource Council and the [Christian Medical and Dental Society](/source/Christian_Medical_and_Dental_Society)'s Physician Resource Council. Hager was previously a member of [Asbury College](/source/Asbury_University)'s board of trustees.

Additionally, President [George W. Bush](/source/George_W._Bush) appointed Hager to serve on the Honorary Delegation to accompany him to [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem) for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the [State of Israel](/source/State_of_Israel) in May 2008.[1]

## Controversy over FDA advisory committee appointment

Hager's appointment became more divisive when on May 6, 2004, the FDA rejected the December 16, 2003 Advisory Committee 23 to 4 vote to drop the prescription-only status of emergency contraception, and refused to approve the sale of [Plan B](/source/Levonorgestrel) over the counter.

First, *[The Nation](/source/The_Nation_(U.S._periodical))*, and then *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)* and *[Lexington Herald-Leader](/source/Lexington_Herald-Leader)* reported that Hager spoke at [Asbury College](/source/Asbury_University) in [Wilmore, Kentucky](/source/Wilmore,_Kentucky), about his role in persuading the FDA to keep Plan B a prescription-only drug. Hager said, "I was asked to write a minority opinion that was sent to the commissioner of the FDA. For only the second time in five decades, the FDA did not abide by its advisory committee opinion, and the measure was rejected."

Further concerns with his candidacy arose with his beliefs and medical assertions penned in the book "Stress and The Woman's Body", co-written with his ex-wife Linda Carruth-Davis. In the book, his writings emphasized the "restorative power of Jesus Christ in one's life" and recommended specific Scripture readings and prayers for such ailments as headaches and premenstrual syndrome.

## Publications

### Journal articles

1. Hager WD. Treatment of metronidazole-resistant [Trichomonas](/source/Trichomonas) vaginalis with tinidazole: case reports of three patients. Sex Transm Dis. 2004 Jun;31(6):343–5
1. Stanford JB, Hager WD, Crockett SA.The FDA, politics, and plan B. N Engl J Med. 2004 Jun 3;350(23):2413–4; author reply 2413–4.
1. Larsen JW, Hager WD, Livengood CH, Hoyme U. Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of postoperative infections. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2003;11(1):65–70.
1. Fitch JT, Stine C, Hager WD, Mann J, Adam MB, McIlhaney J. [Condom](/source/Condom) effectiveness: factors that influence risk reduction. Sex Transm Dis. 2002 Dec;29(12):811–7.
1. David Hager, W., Schuchat, Anne, Gibbs, Ronald, Sweet, Richard, Mead, Philip, Larsen, John W. PREVENTION OF PERINATAL GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTION: CURRENT CONTROVERSIES Obstet Gynecol 2000 96: 141–145
1. McGregor JA, Hager WD, Gibbs RS, Schmidt L, Schulkin J. Assessment of office-based care of [sexually transmitted diseases](/source/Sexually_transmitted_disease) and [vaginitis](/source/Vaginitis) and antibiotic decision-making by obstetrician-gynecologists. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 1998;6(6):247–51.
1. Hager WD, Barton JR. The treatment of sporadic acute puerperal [mastitis](/source/Mastitis). IDOG 1996;4:97–101.
1. McGregor J, Hager WD, Eschenbach DS, Mead P, Sweet RL, Gibbs RS. Modes of practice in [OB-GYN](/source/Obstetrics_and_gynaecology) [infections](/source/Infections). Obstet Gynecol 83:631–36, 1994.
1. Barton JR, Thorpe EM, Shaver DC, Hager WD, et al. Nonimmune [hydrops fetalis](/source/Hydrops_fetalis) associated with maternal infection with [syphilis](/source/Syphilis). Am J Obstet Gynecol 167:56, 1992.
1. Hager WD, Rapp RP, Billeter M, Bradley BB. The choice of an [antibiotic](/source/Antibiotic) for women undergoing non-elective [cesarean section](/source/Cesarean_section). J Anti Agents and Chemo 35:1782,1991.
1. Hager WD, Bird M, Callahan JC, Frank AL, David ML, Engelberg J. Promiscuity and public health: some clinical and ethical issues. Hosp Pract. 1990 Sep 15;25(9):63, 66, 69–70+
1. Hager WD, Sweet RL, Charles D, Larsen B. Comparative study of [mezlocillin](/source/Mezlocillin) versus [cefotaxime](/source/Cefotaxime) single dose prophylaxis in patients undergoing vaginal [hysterectomy](/source/Hysterectomy). Current Therapeutic Research, 45:63–9, 1989.

### Books

1. Hager WD, Hager LC. STRESS AND THE WOMAN'S BODY. Fleming H. Revell, a division of [Baker Book House](/source/Baker_Book_House), [Grand Rapids, MI](/source/Grand_Rapids,_MI), 1996.
1. Mead P, Hager WD. INFECTION PROTOCOLS FOR OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY. [Medical Economics Company](/source/Medical_Economics_Company), [Montvale, New Jersey](/source/Montvale,_New_Jersey), 1992, Revised 1998.
1. Hager WD, Joy, D Women at Risk: The Real Truth about [Sexually Transmitted Disease](/source/Sexually_Transmitted_Disease).

## Footnotes

1. Lake, Eli (May 13, 2008). ["Bush Visit May Boost Olmert"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191012171011/https://www.nysun.com/foreign/bush-visit-may-boost-olmert/76303/). *[The New York Sun](/source/The_New_York_Sun)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.nysun.com/foreign/bush-visit-may-boost-olmert/76303/) on October 12, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2010.

## Sources

- Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) GYNECOLOGIST EXPECTS TO BE OFF PANEL May 13, 2005 Frank Lockwood
- Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) A PHYSICIAN AND A LIGHTNING ROD JUNE 12, 2005 Sarah Vos

## External links

- [Time Online – Jesus and the FDA](https://web.archive.org/web/20021007211726/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,361521,00.html)
- [Memo May Have Swayed Plan B Ruling](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/11/AR2005051101812.html) Washington Post FDA Received 'Minority Report' From Conservative Doctor on Panel May 12, 2005 Marc Kaufman

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