The Buffalo community is mourning the loss of Dr. Margaret McDonnell, a deeply respected physician, leader, and advocate whose life’s work transformed women’s healthcare and touched countless lives. Her passing marks the end of an extraordinary medical career defined by compassion, excellence, and an unwavering commitment to serving others with dignity and respect.
Dr. McDonnell devoted her professional life to improving access to high-quality healthcare, particularly for women and underserved populations. She both began and concluded her medical journey at Neighborhood Health Center, an institution that was profoundly shaped by her vision and leadership. As a longtime OB-GYN physician and medical director, she played a pivotal role in expanding reproductive, gynecologic, and prenatal care services, ensuring that patients received not only expert treatment but also empathy and understanding.
Her leadership at Neighborhood Health Center helped establish lasting standards of clinical excellence and patient-centered care. Colleagues recall her as a steady, thoughtful presence—someone who led with integrity, clarity, and deep respect for both patients and staff. She believed strongly that healthcare should be equitable, accessible, and grounded in humanity, values she practiced every day throughout her career.
After many impactful years at Neighborhood, Dr. McDonnell continued her work with Catholic Health, where she brought the same dedication, professionalism, and clinical expertise to her patients and colleagues. Even as her career evolved, her mission remained unchanged: to care for women with compassion, precision, and advocacy.
In a meaningful full-circle moment, Dr. McDonnell later returned to Neighborhood Health Center to provide maternal fetal medicine services, caring for hundreds of patients facing complex and high-risk pregnancies. Her return was met with gratitude and admiration, as both staff and patients welcomed back a physician whose knowledge, calm presence, and reassurance made an immeasurable difference during some of life’s most vulnerable moments.
Beyond her clinical accomplishments, Dr. McDonnell was a mentor and role model. She guided young physicians with patience and wisdom, encouraged collaboration, and fostered environments where excellence and compassion coexisted. Her influence extended far beyond exam rooms, shaping careers, strengthening institutions, and improving outcomes for families across Buffalo.
Dr. Margaret McDonnell will be remembered not only as an exceptional physician, but as a healer whose life’s work embodied service, leadership, and care for humanity. Her legacy lives on in the countless patients she helped, the colleagues she inspired, and the community she served with unwavering dedication.