Lynn C. Epstein, MD, DLFAPA, FAACAP
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Specialty: Psychiatry
Career Highlights:
Service with AMWA: AMWA President 2003-2004 AMWA Vice President of Career Development, National Director of Students, Founder of the Nancy D. Binder, MD, PhD, Care for the Caregiver, Memorial Lecture
Quote: The only one you can ever speak for is yourself.
Biography:
Lynn Epstein began her medical education after 2 years of college in a special 5 year program at Johns Hopkins, from which she earned both undergraduate and medical degrees. She credits Johns Hopkins for setting the stage for out-of-the-box thinking and attention to the greater good. Honored with a Henry Strong Dennison Award for Medical Research at graduation, Dr. Epstein did a medical internship in the Public Health Service, residencies in adult and child psychiatry at Johns Hopkins, and then joined the clinical faculty.
A hallmark feature of her career has been attention to the big picture, resulting in new, creative initiatives and programs to expand opportunities for others. At Brown, she established an Office of Women in Medicine and obtained two endowed yearly lectureships: The Harriet W. Sheridan Literature and Medicine Lectureship and the Stanley D. Simon Lectureship, both of which have continued. In 1991, she initiated the Association for Women Psychiatrists’ Leah J. Dickstein, MD Student Creativity and Leadership award. In 1996, she served as their President. After Dr. Nancy Binder’s tragic suicide, Dr. Epstein helped create the Nancy D. Binder, “Care for the Caregiver” Memorial Lecture at AMWA in 2000.
She has played leadership roles in numerous organizations aiming to expand opportunities for individuals and groups. In the Association of American Medical Colleges, she initiated a multi-institutional evaluation project on combined baccalaureate-medical degree programs and was elected Chair of their National Group. She has served in the Council of Academic Societies, with several terms on their leadership boards. She is a founding member of the American Medical Association’s Commission to Eliminate Disparities in Healthcare. After being nominated by Brown, Dr Epstein was selected as one of two physicians for a one-year, American Council on Education Fellowship.
In 2003, Dr. Epstein received the Women in Medicine Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges and in 2005 she was elected a Distinguished Life Fellow in the American Psychiatric Association.
Currently, Dr Epstein is Professor Emerita from Brown and Clinical Professor at Tufts where she is teaching, completing a research grant, and running a large New England Support Group. She continues to write and do organizational work.
