William Epstein - Teacher, Mentor, and Friend
By Robert Sidbury, M.D.

An empty room, a blackboard, and some chalk. 

Dr. Bill, as I had come to know him in only the few days I had worked in his lab as a post-doctoral fellow awaiting the dermatology match, had taken me aside and asked me to build the immune system.  He started the process by drawing a bone, a lymph node, and a thymus on the board.  The rest was up to me.

So began my indoctrination to Bill and Kimie’s lab, research, and dermatology.   Twelve years have passed since that time and the lessons are still vivid.  When I think about an inflammatory disorder of the skin, or an immunodeficient state, or a medication that impacts immune regulation, my first step towards understanding always starts at that blackboard.  

William Epstein was a teacher, a mentor, and a friend to me. After 4 years of medical school and one year of internship in medicine, I had yet to encounter anyone at any level who seemed as genuinely excited by his work.  I had just made the decision to leave internal medicine and apply for a dermatology residency position.  While I was motivated enough to make that leap based upon my limited exposure to dermatology at that point, I was far from convinced that I was making the correct choice.  Working with Dr. Bill was the perfect antidote to that uncertainty.  His love of dermatology, of asking questions, and of teaching was more than infectious—it was affirming.  Now twelve years later I remain in academic dermatology hoping that in the smallest of measures I may affect a student or a resident as Dr. Bill affected me.  

When I left the lab to start my residency Dr. Bill gave me a well-worn paperback book called “The Art of Scientific Investigation” by W.I.B. Beveridge.  He inscribed it as follows:  “ To Bob Sidbury: This is my copy but books are meant to share.  I give you this book with all good wishes and the firm belief that you will become secure in yourself and your capabilities and will achieve a position as a successful dermatologic teacher and investigator.”  Bill Epstein   

I don’t know that I have achieved what Dr. Bill might have hoped for me but I love what I do, love asking questions, and love teaching dermatology; where this comes from is no mystery to me.