- Joseph Ransohoff
Dr. Joseph 'Joe' Ransohoff, II (
July 1 ,1915 -January 30 ,2001 ) was a pioneer in the field ofneurosurgery . In addition to training numerous neurosurgeons, his "ingenuity in adapting advanced technologies" saved many lives and even influenced a television program,Ben Casey . [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70C12FA3A550C718DDDAB0894D9404482 Obituary] from theNew York Times ] Among other innovations, he created the firstintensive care unit dedicated to neurosurgery, and helped define the fields ofpediatric neurosurgery andneuroradiology . [ [http://www.ajnr.org/cgi/content/full/22/7/1440 Obituary] in theAmerican Journal of Neuroradiology ]Early Life and Education
Ransohoff was born in
Cincinnati, Ohio , son of Dr. Joseph Louis Ransohoff II, a surgeon who himself was the son of a surgeon. He received his undergraduate degree fromHarvard University , although while attending Harvard he seriously considered dropping out in order to participate in theSpanish Civil War , due to his Communist sympathies. A favorite boast of his was that he was the only student in the history of the University to graduate on parole. He received his medical degree from theUniversity of Chicago in 1941 and went on to become a surgery instructor at theUniversity of Cincinnati . Three years into his residency, he was drafted into theUnited States Army where he was taughtneurosurgery , and after seeing action at theBattle of Normandy and theBattle of the Bulge , and personally befriending GeneralGeorge S. Patton , was assigned to air evacuation centers inFrance andGermany .Fame and Death
After three years in the military, he completed his residency at
Montefiore Hospital . He went on to teach atColumbia University and practice surgery at theNew York Neurologic Institute atPresbyterian Hospital before moving toNew York University School of Medicine to become chairman of its neurosurgery department in 1962, holding this prestigious position for 30 years. While in this capacity, Ransohoff was famed for hosting a weekly spinal and neurosurgical gathering for doctors of the tri-state area ofNew York ,New Jersey , andConnecticut to come and seek his advice on challenging cases.In 1992, Dr. Ransohoff left New York University Hospital for
Tampa ,Florida , at the behest of the James A. Haley VA Hospital, which wanted to reform its neurosurgical department. Professionally he greatly improved the neurosurgical and spinal centers at the VA Hospital andTampa General Hospital , and added greatly to the brain cancer research programs atMoffitt Cancer Center . In terms of his personal life, however, Dr. Ransohoff endured a spate of unwelcome publicity in 1999 after a 27-year-old lingerie model, Laura Holt, was sentenced to a year in jail for grand theft. She told police the doctor had given her more than $100,000 over time after her friends threatened to expose their affair.Dr. Ransohoff died at his home on the morning of
January 3 ,2001 of natural causes.Legacy and Influence
The book "Brain Surgeon: An Intimate View of His World" (ISBN 0-8041-0957-5) by
Lawrence Shainberg was based on his life. He also served as a consultant to the popular television series "Ben Casey " and some viewers familiar with Dr. Ransohoff feel that Casey and Ransohoff have similar personalities. He was also a cousin on director/producerMartin Ransohoff .References
External links
* [http://www.societyns.org/society/bio.aspx?MemberID=3348 Deceased member profile] from the
Society of Neurological Surgeons webpage
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