Remembering a Pillar of Neurology
On Friday, November 3, 2017, members of the Einstein community reflected upon the accomplishments of Dr. Isabelle Rapin, and celebrated her life. Dr. Rapin was a longtime faculty member in the Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, beginning her research at Einstein in 1958. More than 100 gathered in the Lubin Dining Hall to pay their respects, among them current faculty and staff, former colleagues and mentees, and members of Dr. Rapin’s family. Some traveled from as far as Japan to participate.
Dr. Rapin was a pillar of the neurology department and a pioneer in the understanding of developmental disorders, particularly those involved with hearing and communication, including autism. Her trailblazing work in these areas was typified by her determination and her ability to dovetail multiple previously disparate fields and unify them, all in the service of understanding a disease, and above all, comforting patients.
“Isabelle’s modus operandi was to improve the care of children with neurological disorders through compassionate care and research,” noted Dr. Solomon Moshé, a longtime colleague and mentee of Dr. Rapin, who served as master of ceremonies. “Throughout the years, Isabelle guided us all to be the best we can as thinkers and doers, teachers and pupils, assistants or leaders and, most importantly, human beings.”
In the spirit of that guidance, Dr. Moshé invited the audience to share their memories and stories of Dr. Rapin. Among those to speak were her husband Harold Oaklander and daughters Christine and Anne Louise. Anne Louise, an alumna of the Einstein Medical Scientist Training Program, reminisced about the sense of family that her mother brought to Einstein, and her excitement in going on rounds with her.
Most who spoke were trainees and colleagues, and the common thread in the memories they shared was that she brought out the best in those around her.
Many recounted an initial feeling of awe, or even intimidation, upon meeting Dr. Rapin. This quickly subsided, though, because of her caring and support. Some also recalled her long-lived commitment to pursuing difficult questions, and noted that, although she retired in 2012, she continued to connect with colleagues and students, and wrote papers up to her final days.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Mark Mehler, also a long-time colleague and mentee of Dr. Rapin, emphasized the thoughts of all participants, and included his own unique perspective of how she had transcended the limitations of her era and its scientific dogma to define new fields of study, new models of mentorship, new horizons for women in biomedical science and previously unimaginable levels of compassionate care and mentorship that are still revolutionary —all while continually attempting to shun the limelight.
Posted on: Thursday, June 14, 2018