Sanford Larson, MD, Phd

Introduction: Sanford Larson, MD, PhD was a leader in organized spinal neurosurgery and as an educator at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Methods: Historical review of Dr. Larson’s contributions to neurosurgery and at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Results: Dr. Sanford Larson, MD, PhD was an influential figure in spinal neurosurgery. He completed his MD, PhD, and neurosurgical residency at Northwestern, training under Dr. Loyal Davis. Dr. Larson played a pivotal role in establishing neurosurgery’s foothold in spinal surgery by serving as the inaugural chair of the Joint Section of the Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerve and as a president of the Cervical Spine Research Society. He made many advances in spine care, most notably including the modification and popularization of the lateral extracavitary approach to the thoracolumbar spine. Dr. Larson established the neurosurgery residency program at the Medical College of Wisconsin; he also instituted the program’s spine fellowship, the first in the United States for neurological surgeons. He trained several prominent contemporary neurosurgeons, including Dennis Maiman, MD, PhD, Shekar Kurpad, MD, PhD, Christopher Wolfla, MD and Edward Benzel, MD, among others. The Neurosurgery Chairmanship position at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Larson Research Day are named in Dr. Larson’s honor. Additionally, the Neurosurgery Research and Education Fund “Honor Your Mentor” program awards the best spine research presentation at every annual AANS meeting in Dr. Larson’s name.

Conclusion : Dr. Sanford Larson made many notable contributions to neurosurgery, including the refinement of the lateral extracavitary approach to the thoracolumbar spine, as a leader in professional organizations, and as an educator at the Medical College of Wisconsin.