Neurosurgeon Michael Groff, MD, executive director of neurosciences at Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health, died in an April 12 plane crash, the health system confirmed.
“Dr. Groff was more than a physician – he was a visionary leader, a gifted neurosurgeon, a dedicated mentor, and a compassionate human being whose impact reached far beyond the operating room,” Rochester Regional Health said in an April 14 LinkedIn post. “In his time with us, he brought a bold vision to expand access to world-class neurological care, and he led that work with remarkable humility, integrity, and heart.”
He was a leader within the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurosurgeons serving as chair of the AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, according to a LinkedIn post from the organization. He was also chair of the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation and was on the editorial board of the Journal of Neurosurgery from 2016 to 2021. In his career he authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications.
New York City-based Mount Sinai, where Dr. Groff completed his residency, said in a LinkedIn post that he was “a valued colleague, an exceptional mentor, and a dedicated leader whose contributions to the field of neurosurgery were both significant and lasting.” At Mount Sinai he served as division chief of neurosurgery spine from 2011 to 2024. He was also vice chair of neurosurgery at Boston-based Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Groff; his daughter, neurosurgery medical student Karenna Groff, and her partner James Santoro, were among six people who were killed in the plane crash, according to ABC News.
