Beth Israel Deaconess loses a leader

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is mourning the loss of Dr. Franklin Harold Epstein, a kidney specialist who trained a generation of Harvard Medical School students, residents, and fellows.

He died Wednesday at the age of 84.

The former president of the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Maine, he was still conducting research there earlier this year.

"In every way Frank exemplified the ideal physician, investigator, teacher and scholar," said Dr. Mark Zeidel, chairman of the department of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess, said in a message to staff. " Although we were blessed to have him among us for decades, and well into his eighties, his loss is too sudden, and we will sorely miss his wit, clinical acumen and wisdom."

Here is the message sent to the Beth Israel Deaconess staff by Rev. Julia Dunbar, director of pastoral care and education:

"It is with deep sadness that we report the death of our friend and colleague Franklin Harold Epstein, MD, Nephrology, (former Chair of the Department of Medicine) who died Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the age of 84.

Known for his compassion, kindness, good humor – and for always having a song in his heart, the news of Frank’s death has taken everyone who was close to him by surprise.

“In every way Frank exemplified the ideal physician, investigator, teacher and scholar,” said Mark Zeidel, MD, Chair, Department of Medicine. “He was a superb scientist with an incisive ability to probe the essence of any research question. He was a gifted clinician who applied his encyclopedic knowledge of mechanism to every patient he encountered. Above all else, Frank was an inspiring teacher and mentor, who brought out the very best in everyone who had the privilege to learn with him. Although we were blessed to have him among us for decades, and well into his eighties, his loss is too sudden, and we will sorely miss his wit, clinical acumen and wisdom.”

Frank graduated summa cum laude with a BA from Brooklyn College in 1944, and received his MD, cum laude, from Yale University School of Medicine in 1947. He also received honorary master’s degrees from Harvard University in 1972 and Oxford University in 1980. He was a Captain and Instructor in the US Army Medical Corps from 1950-53, first at Walter Reed Army Hospital and then at the First General Dispensary at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

He completed his internship and residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he came under the influence of John P. Peters, MD, the leading American physician/scientist of that time who explored the pathophysiology of water and electrolytes in human disease. Eventually, he succeeded Dr. Peters as chief of the Division of Metabolism at Yale (1965-72).

Frank began his teaching career at Yale where he was an Assistant Professor of Medicine from 1954 to 1959; Associate Professor of Medicine from 1959-66; and Professor of Medicine from 1966-72. In 1972 he moved to Harvard Medical School where he became Professor of Medicine and Chairman of Harvard's Department of Medicine at Boston City Hospital. From 1973 to 1980, he was the Herrman L. Blumgart Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chairman of Department of Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital. Since 1981 he served as the William Applebaum Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an active clinician and researcher in Nephrology.

Among the many highlights of his career, Frank was Director, Thorndike Laboratory, Harvard Medical School and Boston City Hospital (1972-74); Physician-in-Chief, Beth Israel Hospital (1973-80); Director, Nephrology Division, Beth Israel Hospital (1980-93); and Program Director, General Clinical Research Center, Beth Israel Hospital (1982-87).

An accomplished clinician and researcher with some 400 publications under his name, Frank’s curiosity and enthusiasm for discoveries surrounding preeclampsia were contagious among his colleagues, especially younger researchers for whom he often played the role of a beloved mentor.

"Frank Epstein was a towering presence,” said Vikas Sukhatme, MD, PhD, Chief Academic Officer, who was formerly Chief of Nephrology and was recruited to Beth Israel Hospital by Dr. Epstein. “His research contributions in the field of nephrology are legion and to us here at BIDMC, he was a source of constant inspiration over many decades, pushing us to explore new frontiers in research, clinical care and education, worlds in which he was equally comfortable. He will be missed dearly."

Frank has received many national and international honors for his accomplishments in nephrology, including the John P. Peters Award of the American Society of Nephrology in 1985, the David Hume Award of the National Kidney Foundation in 2003, the Bywaters Award from the International Society of Nephrology. He served for 10 years as President of the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Maine, where he has studied the comparative physiology of salt and water homeostasis in lower vertebrates.

He wrote and spoke passionately about the physician’s role in caring for the dying patient. He is the author of approximately 400 papers, reviews, and chapters, and he was a longstanding editor of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine Textbook and of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Frank trained a generation of medical students, residents and fellows in internal medicine, and was known as an inspirational orator and teacher, and as a caring bedside clinician. Although on medical rounds he asked intimidating and exacting questions, he was loved as a gentle and kind teacher. He was a cheerful and enthusiastic man, who had an extraordinarily tuneful whistle and a fine tenor voice. He sang constantly, and his voice will continue to fill the hearts of his family and friends.

Frank leaves his wife, Sherrie (Spivack), and his four children, Mark Epstein of New York, Ann Epstein of Brookline, Sara Epstein of Winchester, and Jonathan Epstein of Radnor, Pa.

The funeral service will be held Sunday, Nov. 9, at 10:30 a.m., at Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon Street, in Brookline, followed by burial at Sharon Memorial Park in Sharon. Visiting after the burial is at 294 Buckminster Rd., Brookline, and on Monday and Tuesday evenings (Nov 10, 11) from 7 to 9 p.m.

Flags will be flown at half-mast Friday, Nov. 7 on the east and west campuses in his honor."