Known for his humility and thoughtful leadership, ACS Regent Sean C. Grondin, MD, MPH, FACS, FRCS, passed away suddenly November 14, at the age of 56.
Dr. Grondin was a highly skilled cardiothoracic surgeon from Alberta Health Services and the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary in Canada, with expertise in thoracic oncology and minimally invasive thoracic surgery.
An ACS Fellow for more than 15 years and a Regent since 2020, Dr. Grondin shared much of his time and talents with the College, holding positions on several committees throughout the years. He also was inducted into the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators® in 2020 after being recognized as a leader in surgery and surgical education. In addition, Dr. Grondin has held several senior leadership positions in other organizations, including the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, and the James IV Association of Surgeons.
ACS Regent Douglas E. Wood, MD, FACS, FRCSEd, a longtime friend and colleague of Dr. Grondin, said, “As I observed Sean take on leadership roles, he did so with humility and integrity. He often was ‘the adult in the room’ who helped take difficult and controversial issues and distill them into a rational consensus that everyone could get behind. There are few who have this level of diplomacy and emotional intelligence.”
Born and raised in Canada, Dr. Grondin attended medical school at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After completing a general surgery residency at Dalhousie, he went on to finish a thoracic surgery residency at the University of Toronto and a thoracic oncology fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. In an effort to advance his understanding of research methodology and improve his scientific writing, Dr. Grondin earned a masters degree in clinical effectiveness from the Harvard School of Public Health. He then completed a second fellowship in minimally invasive thoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, PA.
After starting his clinical practice at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare near Chicago, Dr. Grondin returned to his strong Canadian roots. He spent the next 20 years at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta. He served in many leadership roles, including professor of surgery at the University of Calgary and a 4-year term as academic and clinical head of the Department of Surgery at the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services.
“Sean was remarkably accomplished, yet so down to earth, humble, and understated. He fulfilled all of what is important for a close friend and colleague—nonjudgmental, loyal, present, and a source of comfort and inspiration. And Sean was funny, incredibly funny. He could always make me laugh,” Dr. Wood shared.
Dr. Grondin was particularly passionate about the enhancement of leadership skills for faculty members and trainees, as well as surgical workforce planning and physician wellness. He authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and abstracts and participated in many presentations on these topics. Dr. Grondin also received several honors, including the Mentor of the Year award from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
“I saw Sean inspire and mentor many students and residents, taking them under his wing and helping them gain the skill and confidence to be great thoracic surgeons like himself. He was a selfless leader of impeccable integrity,” said Dr. Wood. “Sean Grondin was a bright light, and our world is darker in losing him.”
Dr. Grondin is survived by his wife Cathy MacPherson and two children, Ben and Kate.
