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Dr. Joseph 'Joe' Ransohoff, II (July 1, 1915- January 30, 2001) was a pioneer in the field of neurosurgery. In addition to training numerous neurosurgeons, his "ingenuity in adapting advanced technologies" saved many lives and even influenced a television program, Ben Casey. [1] Among other innovations, he created the first intensive care unit dedicated to neurosurgery, and helped define the fields of pediatric neurosurgery and neuroradiology. [2]
[edit] 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 from Harvard University, although while attending Harvard he seriously considered dropping out in order to participate in the Spanish 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 the University of Chicago in 1941 and went on to become a surgery instructor at the University of Cincinnati. Three years into his residency, he was drafted into the United States Army where he was taught neurosurgery, and after seeing action at the landing on Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, and personally befrending General George S. Patton, was assigned to air evacuation centers in France and Germany.
[edit] Fame and Death
After three years in the military, he completed his residency at Montefiore Hospital. He went on to teach at Columbia University and practice surgery at the New York Neurologic Institute at Presbyterian Hospital before moving to New 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 of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to come and seek his advice on challenging cases.
In 1992, Dr. Ransohoff left Manhattan for Tampa, Florida, at the behest of the VA Hospital, which wanted to reform it's neurosurgical department. After improving the neurosurgical and spinal centers at the VA Hospital and Tampa General Hospital, and adding greatly to the brain cancer research programs at Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. Ransohoff died at his home on the morning of January 3rd, 2001, at the age of 85.
[edit] 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.
[edit] References
- ↑ Obituary from the New York Times
- ↑ Obituary in the American Journal of Neuroradiology
[edit] External links