In Memoriam
CNS Immediate Past-President
Christopher C. Getch, MD, 1961-2012

 The CNS suffered a tragic and unexpected loss on Monday, January 9 with the news of Dr. Christopher C. Getch's untimely death.

Dr. Getch, the immediate past-president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, was an inspiring leader who worked tirelessly on behalf of the CNS, its members, and the profession of Neurosurgery. He will be remembered by all as a great father, husband, leader, surgeon, and friend.

In less than 15 years, Dr. Getch rose to the top of national neurosurgical leadership, including progressively increased responsibility with the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, culminating with his role as president from 2010 to 2011. Dr. Getch was also president of the Illinois State Neurosurgical Society and had been an active member in the Medical Faculty Senate Council for Northwestern University and several Northwestern Memorial Hospital committees.

Dr. Getch spent his entire faculty career at Northwestern, joining the Feinberg School of Medicine in 1996 as an assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery. He was twice promoted, to associate professor in 2005, and professor in 2010.

After growing up in Boston, Dr. Getch earned his medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine. His residencies in neurological surgery were at Temple University Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, both in Philadelphia. He also was a clinical fellow of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, where he completed fellowships in microsurgery and stereotactic radiosurgery.

Joining the Illinois State Neurosurgical Society in 1996 upon moving to Chicago, Dr. Getch was actively involved in the society’s efforts on liability reform and the practice of defensive medicine by neurosurgeons. Dr. Getch had been involved in resident education at Northwestern since joining the faculty, and more recently as a regional director of the Senior Society Boot Camp course.

His clinical research interests included the surgical and stereotactic radiosurgical treatment of cerebrovascular disease. Additionally, he had extensive experience with posterior fossa surgery, particularly in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. His academic work generated 75 publications and 30 published abstracts.

Dr. Getch is survived by his wife, Gale England, GME ’00, a surgeon who trained at Northwestern, and four sons, Christopher, Oliver, Charles, and William.

As an alternative to, or in lieu of flowers, the family suggested that a donation in the memory of Chris can be made to Midwest Labrador Retriever Rescue, where Dr. Getch and Gale adopted their beloved lab, Wilbur Gale.