NEW YORK CITY — A New York City neurosurgeon who made medical history when he separated two infant twins with intertwined brains died from novel coronavirus, Montefiore Hospital announced.

Dr. James T. Goodrich, pediatric neurosurgery chief at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, died from COVID-19 complications Monday morning, hospital officials confirmed. "Our beloved colleague, mentor, teacher, brother-in-arms passed away early this morning," the hospital wrote in a tweet.

"As a last act of service to others, he will forever remind us that Covid-19 is not a faceless disease. He will always be in our hearts." To keep up to date with coronavirus developments in NYC, sign up for Patch's news alerts and newsletter.



The hospital did not immediately respond to Patch's request for more information. Goodrich earned worldwide acclaim in 2017 when he famously separated Anias and Jadon McDonald, cranially conjoined 13-month-old boys, during a 27-hour long surgery.

Years later, their mom Nicole McDonald cried in a video interview as she described Goodrich and what his expertise and dedication meant for her family.



"I was told their was no chance that I would have a child," McDonald said, noting both the boys were attending school. "It's what you dream of, I guess."

Goodrich used his skill at separating cranially conjoined twins — which relied on virtual planning and 3D printing technologies — to help families from across the globe.