Sean Grondin Obituary, Death – Sean C. Grondin, MD, MPH, FRCSC, Immediate Past President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and a cherished member of the organization’s leadership, died abruptly. Dr. Grondin, 56, was a thoracic surgeon for Alberta Health Services and also taught surgery at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He was the first Canadian surgeon to be elected President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) in 2021, which he did.
According to John Calhoon, MD, President of the Thoracic Surgical Society (STS), Dr. Grondin was a skillful and intelligent medical professional who had an outstanding life as a thoracic surgeon, educator, mentor, leader, husband, father, son, and athlete. Sean was thought to be educated, enthusiastic, and empathetic by him. “Sean was a nice man,” he remarked. “He had an amazing ability to find the best ‘match’ for everything he did.” This incredible talent was precisely what won everyone’s hearts. My sincere condolences go out to everyone who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.
Dr. Grondin received his medical education and completed his general surgery residency at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is a thoracic surgeon with a residency at the University of Toronto, a fellowship in thoracic oncology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and a master’s degree program at the Harvard School of Public Health. After getting additional training in minimally invasive thoracic surgery, he finished his fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Grondin studied clinical medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago before relocating to Calgary. Several distinctions were bestowed upon him over his career, including “Mentor of the Year” from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the “James IV Association of Surgeons Canadian Traveling Fellowship” from the James IV Association of Surgeons. Regent was his most recent position with the American College of Surgeons. In addition to his work in the clinic, Dr. Grondin was particularly interested in the construction of training programs aimed at developing the leadership capacities of faculty members and trainees. He was also involved in research on surgical workforce organization and physician wellness. Dr. Grondin is survived by his wife, Cathy, as well as his son, Ben, and daughter, Kate.
