Fred Epstein
Encyclopedia
Fred J. Epstein, MD was an internationally renowned pediatric neurosurgeon credited for the development of pioneering neurosurgical techniques to treat children threatened by brain and spinal-cord tumors.
His surgical techniques and commitment to patient care saved thousands of children's lives and earned him a reputation as one of the world's leading pediatric neurosurgeons.
, he graduated from New York University
and New York Medical College
. He did his internship and surgical residency at Montefiore Medical Center
in the Bronx and his neurosurgical residency at New York University
-Bellevue Medical Center
, while serving in the Army reserves, under the tutelage of Joseph Ransohoff
.
(NYU) and two years later director of the division of pediatric neurosurgery by Ransohoff, his former mentor. It was there that he saw the resemblance of operable tumors in the cerebellum
and, until then, inoperable ones in the brain stem. He likened the technique he developed to removing lead from a pencil
, the pencil being the spinal cord
.
He founded the division of pediatric neurosurgery at New York University Medical Center, and he was the founding director of the Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN) at Beth Israel Hospital
in New York City
.
He was president of the International Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery and the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery. He published more than 175 scholarly papers and was editor in chief
of The Journal of Pediatric Neurosurgery.
In 2001, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award.
He wrote two books for general readers: "If I Get to Five" and "Gifts of Time".
He was the subject of three segments of “20/20” and made news by operating on the son of the Yankee pitcher Tommy John
and on a Tibetan monk for whom the Dalai Lama
prayed at the institute. In 1997, he operated on a millionaire’s pug in exchange for a donation to help pay for surgery that Epstein then performed on a 5-year-old boy from rural Pennsylvania.
In September of 2001, he suffered a brain injury due to a bicycle accident, which forced him to retire from active practice. He continued to advise on neurological matters for the Miami Children's Hospital until his death due to melanoma
.
His surgical techniques and commitment to patient care saved thousands of children's lives and earned him a reputation as one of the world's leading pediatric neurosurgeons.
Education
Born in Yonkers, New YorkYonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
, he graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and New York Medical College
New York Medical College
New York Medical College, aka New York Med or NYMC, is a private graduate health sciences university based in Westchester County, New York, a suburb of New York City and a part of the New York Metropolitan Area...
. He did his internship and surgical residency at Montefiore Medical Center
Montefiore Medical Center
Montefiore Medical Center, in the Bronx, New York, is the University Hospital for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The hospital, named for Moses Montefiore, is one of the 50 largest employers in New York State . In 2011, Montefiore Medical Center was ranked as #6 of the 180 New York City...
in the Bronx and his neurosurgical residency at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
-Bellevue Medical Center
Bellevue Medical Center
Bellevue Medical Center founded in 2009, is a General hospital located in Mansourieh, Lebanon and offers healthcare services in all specialties...
, while serving in the Army reserves, under the tutelage of Joseph Ransohoff
Joseph Ransohoff
Dr. Joseph 'Joe' Ransohoff, II was a member of the Ransohoff family and a pioneer in the field of neurosurgery. In addition to training numerous neurosurgeons, his "ingenuity in adapting advanced technologies" saved many lives and even influenced the television program Ben Casey...
.
Career
In 1983, he was named professor of neurosurgery at New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU) and two years later director of the division of pediatric neurosurgery by Ransohoff, his former mentor. It was there that he saw the resemblance of operable tumors in the cerebellum
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses, but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established...
and, until then, inoperable ones in the brain stem. He likened the technique he developed to removing lead from a pencil
Pencil
A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use....
, the pencil being the spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
.
He founded the division of pediatric neurosurgery at New York University Medical Center, and he was the founding director of the Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN) at Beth Israel Hospital
Beth Israel Hospital
Beth Israel Hospital may refer to:*Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston*Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan*Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He was president of the International Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery and the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery. He published more than 175 scholarly papers and was editor in chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of The Journal of Pediatric Neurosurgery.
In 2001, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons is a professional body based in the United States with more than 8,000 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public...
awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award.
He wrote two books for general readers: "If I Get to Five" and "Gifts of Time".
He was the subject of three segments of “20/20” and made news by operating on the son of the Yankee pitcher Tommy John
Tommy John
Thomas Edward John Jr. is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 career victories rank as the seventh highest total among left-handers in major league history...
and on a Tibetan monk for whom the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
prayed at the institute. In 1997, he operated on a millionaire’s pug in exchange for a donation to help pay for surgery that Epstein then performed on a 5-year-old boy from rural Pennsylvania.
In September of 2001, he suffered a brain injury due to a bicycle accident, which forced him to retire from active practice. He continued to advise on neurological matters for the Miami Children's Hospital until his death due to melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
.