Joseph Ransohoff
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2008-05-14T11:41:51Z
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[[Image:Ajnr-22-07-37-f01.jpeg|thumb|200px|right|Joseph Ransohoff, 1991.]]
'''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]]. <ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70C12FA3A550C718DDDAB0894D9404482 Obituary] from the [[New York Times]]</ref> Among other innovations, he created the first [[intensive care unit]] dedicated to neurosurgery, and helped define the fields of [[pediatric neurosurgery]] and [[neuroradiology]]. <ref>[http://www.ajnr.org/cgi/content/full/22/7/1440 Obituary] in the [[American Journal of Neuroradiology]]</ref>
== 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 (medicine)|residency]], he was [[conscription|drafted]] into the [[United States Army]] where he was taught [[neurosurgery]], and after seeing action at the [[Battle of Normandy]] and the [[Battle of the Bulge]], and personally befriending General [[George S. Patton]], was assigned to air evacuation centers in [[France]] and [[Germany]].
== 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 New York University Hospital for [[Tampa]], [[Florida]], at the behest of the [[Veterans Health Administration|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 and [[Tampa General Hospital]], and added greatly to the brain cancer research programs at [[Moffitt 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/producer [[Martin Ransohoff]].
== References ==
<div class="references-small"><references /></div>
<!-- Dead note "nr2": [http://www.sptimes.com/News/020301/TampaBay/Renowned_neurosurgeon.shtml] Obituary from the [[St. Petersburg Times]] -->
== 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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[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:Neurosurgeons]]