In Memoriam: Mark Wholey, MD

Dr Mark Wholey died peacefully on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at the age of 97 years. Mark was a pioneer, inventor, and true legend in the field of endovascular medicine. He was one of the most influential luminaries in the field of interventional radiology and was recognized internationally for his contributions to endovascular medicine through his inventions as well as his continuing vision and leadership.

Mark was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, where the Wholey family has been in business since 1912. His father was a retailer who started a few stores in Pittsburgh. As a young boy, Mark learned the importance of hard work by helping with his dad’s business. Young Mark did not see himself continuing in his father’s footsteps, however, and at his mother’s suggestion he began to consider the medical profession.

His education was interrupted by World War II. Mark enlisted in the US Army and, from 1946 to 1948, was stationed at Fort Monroe in Virginia, where he served as a cook, technician, and multigraph operator. After the war, Mark attended the University of Pittsburgh, followed by study at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, where he earned his medical degree. He then spent a year at Case Western Reserve University.

His medical education continued at the Mayo Clinic, where he decided to pursue a career in radiology. At that time, the field of angiography was just beginning in Sweden, and Mark landed a National Institutes of Health fellowship in Lund, Sweden, where he learned new catheter-based skills. This experience changed the course of Mark’s career.

Shortly afterwards, he returned to Pittsburgh to take a position as chair of the Department of Radiology and director of cardiovascular and interventional radiology at Shadyside Hospital, where he introduced new angiography procedures. He was a pioneer in interventional radiology and in treating blood vessels using noninvasive methods.

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At that time, angiographic imaging was obtained with a primitive angiographic pump injector; the operator pulled down on a large handle to inject the dye. It was crude and impractical. At Shadyside, Mark and Dr Steve Heilman, a primary care physician, developed the concept for a more practical and portable angiographic injector. They built the first functioning flow-controlled angiographic injector, called the “Mark” series flow rate–controlled system. Unable to find a manufacturer, they formed their own company, Medrad. Today, the Medrad injector is still the gold standard and used extensively in angiographic suites.

One of the advantages of living in Pittsburgh was Mark’s association with Carnegie Mellon University, where he worked with engineers, such as his long-time friend Lee Weiss, in electrical, mechanical, and biomedical engineering for more than 35 years. He transformed the biomedical industry with his entrepreneurial vision, creating many innovative technologies. One such invention was the transformational Wholey series of controllable and steerable guidewires, used to facilitate the placement and exchange of catheters, balloons, and other interventional devices during diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures.

Mark founded many successful companies and developed devices such as balloons, stents, stent grafts, and a filter wire for distal carotid protection. His work in the carotid system is legendary.

As a leader in interventional radiology and a respected voice in the international community, Mark received numerous honors and lifetime achievement awards. He published more than 1,000 articles in peer-reviewed journals and contributed many book chapters on diagnostic and interventional procedures. Mark was invited to present his innovations and expertise in endovascular interventions at many meetings worldwide.

I met Mark more than 30 years ago at a prestigious interventional meeting. I was immediately attracted by his extensive knowledge of all aspects of endovascular interventions. He did not believe in “turf battles” between specialties, and he was highly respected by colleagues in radiology, interventional cardiology, and vascular surgery. A couple of decades ago, Mark visited The Texas Heart Institute to learn more about our percutaneous abdominal aortic aneurysm repair technique. I was amazed at how humble Mark was in learning about new techniques and technologies so late in his career.

Mark’s love of golf kept him on the course whenever the time permitted. He appreciated his success and gave generously to individuals who were less fortunate. Mark and Roseanne, his devoted wife of more than 31 years, donated $1.5 million to Carnegie Mellon University for development of The Dr Mark and Roseanne Wholey Laboratory Suite for Biomedical Engineering, with the goal of making fundamental discoveries and devising technological solutions in biomedical engineering. He has always supported Roseanne and their daughter, Lauren Rose Wholey, in their efforts to help the people of Pittsburgh through philanthropic endeavors. In addition to golf and philanthropy, Mark loved to travel, especially to the serene island of Maui, where he could truly relax with Roseanne and Lauren.

In addition to Roseanne and Lauren, Mark is survived by 4 other children (Kirsten Perry and Mark, Michael, and David Wholey) and 9 grandchildren.

The medical community will forever be thankful to Dr Mark Wholey for his valuable contributions to the field of endovascular medicine. Mark will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.