He created a culture of academic curiosity and inquisitiveness that permeated all aspects of the department. He initiated a K-12 institutional mentored clinician–scientist training program and produced a nurturing environment for the development of clinician–scientists. Quisinostat mouse Dr Epstein produced a legacy that will benefit all of ophthalmology, and medicine in general as well. Dr Epstein had an encyclopedic knowledge of basic science and clinical practice in ophthalmology. He could have an informed discussion about the engineering aspects of aqueous humor drainage, clinical practice in

the management of the difficult glaucoma patient, cellular and molecular biology in the eye, and Duke Basketball. This demonstrated Dr Epstein’s wide-ranging and inquisitive mind, which allowed him to lead by example in so many areas of ophthalmic research. As a research leader and mentor, Dr Epstein formed a group of basic scientists and MD clinician–scientists at Duke to create a critical mass for translational science. He was a major advocate for a second year of glaucoma research

training for glaucoma fellows. He was very proud of the students he trained, both at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and at Duke. In addition to encouraging others, Dr Epstein set a shining example as a dedicated and committed clinician–scientist who was continually at the forefront of research, find more generating important new ideas until his premature death. Dr Epstein was among the first to propose the concept of trabecular meshwork dysfunction induced by oxidative stress and carried out important early experiments that clarified how the trabecular meshwork dealt with its harsh oxidative environment. With more than 230 original scholarly publications, he made important scientific contributions, particularly

in glaucoma. Using modern tools and approaches, he was among the first to recognize the importance whatever of cytoskeletal function, specifically inhibitors actin-myosin tone, on aqueous outflow facility. His experiments on the role of perfused pigment on outflow facility in monkey eyes and the possible role of trabecular meshwork obstruction by serum proteins are classic examples of elegant experimental design that helped to establish important basic principles about how the trabecular meshwork could deal with extraneous materials. Dr Epstein sought to translate his ideas and discoveries into clinical practice. To that end, he helped found Aerie Pharmaceuticals, which refined and advanced his work to develop a trabecular active glaucoma drug. At the time of his passing, Aerie was beginning phase 3 clinical trials with a promising compound, an inhibitor of Rho kinase and norepinephrine transporter. In addition to his contributions to basic science and clinical practice, Dr Epstein was a dedicated member of the ophthalmic community, serving in a number of important administrative and leadership roles.