Marion B. Sulzberger, M.D.
(1895 -1983)

By S. William Levy, M.D.
with an article written by Nancy Yanes Hoffman

Marion was born in New York City on March 12, 1895, and graduated from the University of Zurich in Switzerland in 1926.  Following his M.D. degree, he trained in dermatology at the University Clinic in Zurich and was certified by the American Board of Dermatology in 1933.  He had extensive military service in the Navy in World War I and World War II and became the Technical Director of Research for the U.S. Army between 1961 and 1966.  He rose to become Chief of Dermatology at NYU Post Graduate Medical School from 1949 to 1960 and was Clinical Professor of Dermatology at UCSF from 1961 to 1975, and Emeritus until his death in 1983.  He wrote 402 scientific articles, 16 textbooks, and awarded numerous teaching appointments and honors for outstanding achievements.

Probably no other dermatologist in the world had written so extensively and was so universally acclaimed and admired.

I have many fond thoughts and rememberances of Marion B. Sulzberger spanning more than 30 years.  I was his "little" student at the Skin and Cancer Unit in New York City in 1951; this first encounter exposed him to me as THE dermatologist - the lecturer, researcher, writer, administrator - and I soon recognized him as the "father" of dermatology.  Seeing him perform at the New York Dermatological Society, Bellevue, and other regional meetings allowed me to recognize his ability as a giant in this specialty.

On my return to San Francisco for teaching and establishing a private practice, I again had the privilege to meet Marion when he arrived in the Bay Area in the 1960's.  I was now his colleague in dermatology and continued to admire his keen judgement, along with his wit and humor at the weekly conferences and monthly regional meetings in the West.  He was always quick to ask my opinion on many subjects and would then ask another for an additional opinion to substantiate or change his own viewpoint.

In 1975, Marion and his wife, Roberta became my private patients, and I had seen them through many difficult and challenging illnesses.  Marion was a sun-worshiper and his skin paid dearly for the many long hours of previous sun exposure.  I saw him through many acute and chronic dermatologic disorders.  In every instance he would try me, questioning and challenging my diagnosis and my therapeutic program.  In July of 1983, I diagnosed his acute herpes zoster and here again, he questioned my integrity, but I patiently saw him through this illness as the many others.

Ten days before he left us, I provided him with an inscribed copy of my recently published book on the Skin Disorders of the Amputee.  He went through it like a student in scholarly fashion, asking many fascinating and pointed questions.

Yes, Marion was a giant in our field and we shall miss him, but his research, teaching, writing, books, and his usual wit and humor will continue on.  Dermatology can be proud to have had this genius!

In 1983, Marion sent me an autographed copy of an article, entitled Marion Sulzberger, M.D.: "Mr. Dermatology" written by Nancy Yanes Hoffman with the following comment: