Joseph Epstein

n My memories of Joe
are of endless hard work,
extraordinary loquacity
– there are many legless
donkeys in our particular field!
Great memories of helping
him, together with Anne
D’Arcy, to write submissions
for admission as a specialty
at the old Drummond
Street offices until about
3 am. He has always been
single minded, with huge
energy and purpose.
His surgical background
involved a traditional two-part
examination – primary and
fellowship – and he and Tom
Hamilton pursued this aim
for our new College. At that
time, we recognised that it
might not always be so, but
obtaining recognition was
the number one priority.
No one has done more for
emergency medicine than Joe.
We are all eternally grateful.
Edward Brentnall | emergency
physician, Melbourne
n When I started working at Footscray ED, it was clear to me
early on that Professor Joe Epstein was instrumental in pioneering
emergency medicine. Basically, he was and is a big deal.
Not long after that, a patient presented to triage with airway
compromise from a piece of steak. With much commotion,
the patient was bundled into the resuscitation area. Joe deftly
retrieved the offending piece of bovine. He then proceeded
to write his notes on the aforementioned incident.
The usual assessment and history were scribed but most
impressive was the to-scale, almost three-dimensional
drawing of the said steak. Joe’s detailed notes often brought
a smile to my face.
Jarrod Brewer | emergency nurse, Footscray Hospital
n The hospital-based emergency nursing course at what
was then Western Hospital, Footscray, started in 1986 when
Joe was the director of the emergency department. The
course ran for 11 years and during that time Joe gave his
unwavering personal and professional support to the students
and to me as course co-ordinator. He gave freely of his time
to lecture on a variety of topics in emergency medicine
and was always available to help me with sage advice.
He promoted the course amongst his colleagues and to
anyone who would stand still long enough to listen. We were
all his ‘girls’ – although I am not sure how he referred to
the occasional male students – and we wore that label with
the same respect and fondness with which it was given.
Whilst I am sure there will be many anecdotes about Joe, for
me the best recollection is of Joe in the classroom dressed
in loose jacket, shirt and bow tie, with hands in pockets,
rocking on his heels, peering over his glasses and wry grin
on his face as he challenges his students … to think!
Ingrid Brooks (nee Bielajs) | Monash University. Formerly
coordinator, emergency nursing course, Western Hospital.
8 | A tribute to Joseph Epstein