Paul Fasal, M.D.
(1904-1991)
Dr. Paul Fasal was born on October 9, 1904, in Vienna, which was then the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. He was privately tutored for four years and then attended the Akademische Gymnasium in Vienna, the curriculum emphasizing Latin, Greek, and the Classics. After eight years of Gymnasium he entered the Medical School of the University of Vienna in 1924, and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from this university in 1929. He joined Allgemeines Krankenhaus Vienna, the University Clinic for Venereal and Skin Diseases as a resident under Professor Kerl. He also did experimental work in various phases of physiology, allergy, and immunology of the skin under Dozent Urbach, and published a number of papers. In 1933, Dr. Fasal obtained a position as Clinical Assistant and continued to work until 1937.
Because of the worsening political situation, Dr. Fasal and his family left Austria and went to British Malaya in 1938. Dr. Fasal worked at the Institute for Medical Research in Kuala Lampur where he conducted research in tropical dermatology. He studied filariasis on the Island of Penang, and leprosy in the Leprosy Colony of Sungei Buloh and in hosptitals in Kuala Lampur. In 1941, Dr. Fasal immigrated to the United States. He worked as a resident at Hahnemann Hospital and passed his state Board Examination in 1943. In 1944, started private practice in San Francisco and from 1945 to 1948 worked as part-time Clinician at the San Francisco City Clinic.
Dr. Fasal became a Diplomate of the Board of Dermatology and Syphilology in 1948 and was appointed as Civilian Consultant in Pathology and Dermatopathology at Letterman Army Hospital in 1949. He also joined the faculty of the Department of Dermatology at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco as Clinical Instructor in 1950, Assistant Clinical Professor in 1955, and Associate Clinical Professor Emeritus in 1978. His achievement in tropical dermatology led Dr. Fasal to be a consultant in leprosy to the Department of Public Health of the State of California since 1954, and was the Chief of the Leprosy Service of the United States Public Health Service Hospital in San Francisco in 1960-1978. He instituted outpatient care of leprosy patients and developed a panel of experts in all related fields. He served as a member of the Leprosy Panel of the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Science Program in 1965-1970 and participated in International Congresses of Leprosy and Dermatology in various countries.
Dr. Fasal was interested in dermatopathology and taught it for many years. He was on the Panel for Dermatopathology of the American Academy of Dermatology and the Pacific Dermatological Association for many years. He was an active member of his local county medical societies and was Secretary of the Medical Staff at Marin General Hospital in 1954, Chief of Specialties at Ross General Hospital, Chairman of the Tissue Committee of the three Marin County Hospitals in 1956-1957, Chief of Medicine at the San Rafael General Hospital in 1957, and Consulting Member of the Marin County Tumor Board in 1954-1958. He received many awards including Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the U.S. Army in 1969, Distinguished Service Award from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare from the U.S. Government in 1972.
One of Paul Fasal's hobbies since early childhood was photography. He applied the art of photography to dermatology. His illustrations had been used in numerous publications and text books of his own as well as others.