The local health community lost a pioneer this year with the passing of Dr. Robert Massad, founding chair of the Departments of Family Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, who died this past August. He was 75 years old.

More than 100 colleagues and loved ones attended a memorial service for Massad at Montefiore on Nov. 30. Massad started work at the hospital in 1978, where he established the Family Medicine program and launched family health centers in neighborhoods across the Bronx, including locations in Castle Hill, Fordham, Marble Hill, University Avenue and West Farms.

“He helped, physically, to build new centers, and organize the ones that had been built before he arrived,” said longtime co-worker Dr. Hal Strelnick. “His passion was to provide primary care just as you would provide it to a millionaire, and to have facilities that were as nice as any private practice doctors.”

Massad was also a founder of the Bronx Health Plan, today known as Affinity Health Plan, which provides health care coverage for thousands of low and moderate-income residents across New York City.

Massad retired from Montefiore in 1998. He died at his home in Camino, Calif., on Aug. 10, and is survived by two daughters, Jessica and Rachel Massad.
Photo courtesy Montefiore Medical Center

Dr. Robert Massad (at lectern) speaking at an event with former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo (seated, front row, left) in 1991.