Announcement from the University of Pennsylvania:
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our colleague, Murray Grossman, MDCM, EdD, who passed away peacefully at home on April 4, surrounded by his family. Dr. Grossman was highly respected and cherished by his medical school colleagues, clinical faculty, and trainees. He made remarkable contributions to the field of neurology and was a role model for all, embodying the tripartite mission for academic neurology. His impact on the field of neurology was extraordinary.
Dr. Grossman was an accomplished physician-scientist, and his contributions to science were immense. He conducted seminal linguistics studies and worked on emerging treatments for frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and related dementias. His pioneering work, including his first reports of clinical, imaging, and pathological findings in neurodegenerative aphasia syndromes, shaped the modern diagnostic criteria for primary progressive aphasia and related disorders. He authored over 600 publications during his 30+ year career at the University of Pennsylvania and was a dedicated clinician who established an internationally recognized clinical research center, the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, in 2010. He was also a major contributor to the study of familial FTD by pioneering genetic counseling and outreach to families at risk for early-onset neurodegenerative disease.
Dr. Grossman earned his EdD in 1977 at the Boston VA Aphasia Research Center, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT. He obtained his medical degree from McGill University in 1985 and completed his residency at the University of Pennsylvania Department of Neurology in 1989. He remained at Penn for his entire career and founded the Penn FTD Center in 2010.
Dr. Grossman was an extraordinary mentor who considered his many trainees and collaborators friends and family. He brought together collaborators from various fields, emphasizing that a strong community is essential to achieve collective success in our fields. Dr. Grossman’s legacy will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the scientific community.
The funeral will be private but a memorial will be planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a memorial donation to the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) Center to continue Dr. Grossman’s life’s work. You can make your donation securely online here: https://pennmedicine.org/grossmanmemorialfund or by check, sent to Attn: Penn FTD Center, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Please note “In Memory of Dr. Murray Grossman” when making your gift.