Leaning on the Railing Outside Health Sciences East, Room 1092: Fond Memories of William Epstein 
By Maxwell Fung M.D., May 2007 

In 1990, nearing the end of my first year of UCSF medical school, I was seeking a mentor to support my application for a summer student research fellowship.  For reasons I no longer exactly recall, Dr. William Epstein was on my short list.  Perhaps his listing under Dermatology earned him a modicum of consideration, since my uncle is a dermatologist and my mother, knowing how smart and happy my uncle is, told me dermatology must be a good field.

What I clearly remember reading was Dr. Epstein's research interest, including these words: "Granulomatous" inflammation . . . what an odd word!

I was curious, and in this case curiosity yielded a meeting with a man who proved endlessly curious, Dr. William L. Epstein.

Our initial meeting took place, facing one another, standing, each with one arm leaning (naturally I followed suit) against the railing facing the exterior glass walls outside his office and lab.  Having apparently survived the '89 Loma Prieta earthquake, the view from the 10th floor railing remained stunning.  Dr. Epstein was an older-appearing man, but from his very first words to me, he conveyed his mental energy, and a quality of enthusiasm that may be too infrequently observed but usually instantly recognized, belonging to someone truly passionate for discovery and learning, without prejudice.  His light bulb was burning brightly.  He could clearly be a role model.  He asked me if I was willing to work hard.  (He didn't mention Saturdays.)  He took me in.  The rest of the summer was a whirlwind of laboratory training, discussion, debate, reading, and writing, all in a fascinating mixed context of Japanese and American conversation, cameraderie, and, importantly, cuisine.  Courtesy of Drs. Fukuyama & Epstein! 

There were several other conversations along the railing that summer.  While the details of all the memories are fading, the spirit of that time remains fresh and a source of inspiration.  And a few facts still reference this history: The framed kimono coasters still hang in my office; Murasaki (Clement & 3rd) stubbornly remains the top "omakaze" sushi bar in my book; and Dr. Akira Kawada, now Professor & Chair of Dermatology, Kinki University, Osaka, Japan, has accepted the invitation to lecture to my department's faculty and residents in Sacramento next year.

This photo of Dr. Bill and I was taken, appropriately, in the rear patio of a classic San Francisco establishment, Bill's Place, on Clement Street."

Max