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| The International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery |
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In memory of Fred J. Epstein > Message from Dr. George Jallo July 26, 2006 My tribute to Fred Epstein. This is one of the most difficult manuscripts or papers that I have had to write in my career. It is much easier for me to write a paper on brainstem or spinal cord tumors, an area he developed and pioneered. Fred was more than just a mentor or another attending neurosurgeon who trained me but a father figure to me. My first fond recollection of FRED was when I was a junior resident on the pediatric neurosurgery service at NYU Medical Center. I really did not have an interest in pediatric neurosurgery, I pursued a neurosurgery residency to become a Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeon or Skull Base Surgeon. I was just rotating with him for my 6 month pediatric neurosurgery requirement as a part of my residency training. As other residents and fellows who were able to spend several months with him, you realize that he is “infectious”. He had such a presence to all patients, families and medical staff alike. When we made rounds together all families wanted to meet him and speak with him about their son or daughter’s care. This included families with non neurosurgical issues, such as hernias or asthma. He was the true surgeon willing to speak with his patients and other’s patients without hesitation or indignation. He always introduced himself as FRED, not Dr. Epstein, not the chief of pediatric neurosurgery, not a pioneering surgeon who operated on the edge. He had just a simple approach to children, patient care and pediatric neurosurgery. It was quite simple, he instructed his families to call him Fred anytime or anywhere. He did not need to carry a pager, he gave his cell phone or home number to his patients and made himself readily available. He had this easy approach to children, be available and speak in understandable language. He did not speak down to families or the staff, he always sat with them on a chair or the end of the bed and discussed the patient (which was a child) and not just another case or radiographic disease. On rounds we always had discussions about my training, my future career and goals. It took me 3 months on his service to change my future life. I wanted to become just like FRED, a pediatric neurosurgeon, with exceptional surgical skills, develop innovative approaches to neurological disorders (whether it be hydrocephalus, brain tumors, brainstem or spinal cord tumors) and be the consummate physician. I knew then I would complete my neurosurgery residency, then do a pediatric fellowship with him. I did not want to be just another pediatric neurosurgeon, I wanted to be a Fred Epstein trained pediatric neurosurgeon. He would teach me the surgical nuances for all neurological disease processes, both in and outside the surgicalsuite. He was the master surgeon in the operating room, comfortable in a child’s brainstem, spinal cord or routine supratentorial brain tumor. I believe he taught me how to operate in these previously charted and uncharted territories. However, I am still trying to emulate him in aspects which can not be measured by one’s CV or resume. This is the approach he had for children and his patients. In addition to training me, he trained many other exceptional pediatric neurosurgeons who are in practice around the world. I do believe that we all echo my opinion that he is THE MAN who shaped our lives and in turn continues to help children all across the world. Sincerely,
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