Dr Ross Crosby, BA, PhD, (1953–2024)

Dr. Ross Crosby, who worked at the Sanford Center for Bio-behavioral Research, passed away on October 11, 2024 after an enduring fight with myelodysplastic syndrome and subsequent complications from a bone marrow transplant. Dr. Crosby was a prolific scientist, with a particular expertise in research design and biostatistics. He was renowned in the eating disorder community as an outstanding collaborator, mentor, and scientist. The magnitude of his productivity is truly remarkable, with over 650 publications, serving on over 50 large-scale scientific grants, and sharing authorship with over 1000 collaborators over his career. However, in addition to his remarkable productivity, he will be renowned in the eating disorder community as a dedicated mentor to early career investigators. In this role, Dr. Crosby may have been unparalleled both in terms of the sheer number of mentees he has guided, but also the remarkable warmth, friendliness, and dedication he exhibited to his mentees.

Dr. Crosby has also been an outstanding servant to the eating disorder field, serving as Director of Annual Meetings for the Academy for Eating Disorders, Scientific Program Co-Chair for the International Conference of Eating Disorders, and as a member of the Academy's Nominations Committee. He also served on a variety of journal editorial boards and gave outstanding service to the Journal of Eating Disorders as a Founding Associate Editor for over 15 years.

Dr. Crosby's contributions to the eating disorder field have been acknowledged on several occasions. In 2017 the Eating Disorder Research Society awarded Dr. Crosby “Special Recognition for Outstanding Contributions and Dedicated Service to the Field of Eating Disorders.” Also in 2017, the International Journal of Eating Disorders published their first ever virtual issue entitled "Ross D. Crosby: Scholar, teacher, mentor, and friend. Introducing a virtual issue honoring the contributions of Ross D. Crosby to the field of eating disorders.” Also, in 2024 the Academy for Eating Disorders awarded Dr. Crosby its Leadership in Research Award at the International Conference of Eating Disorders in New York City. Additional details on his career may be found at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/https://doiorg.publicaciones.saludcastillayleon.es/10.1002/eat.22769.

Finally, Dr. Crosby was a deeply committed parent to his daughters, Amanda (Pat Schaefer) and Eileen, and grandfather to his grandchildren Aubrey and Wesley. He was also a committed brother and uncle to his relatives and an outstanding friend and colleague to so many of us.

In the words of his family, while his mortal spirit has left our world, he will forever remain “statistically yours” to us all.