Eugene Bauer : An Oral History
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Eugene Bauer, dean of the Stanford School of Medicine from 1995 to 2001, vice president for medical affairs from 1997 to 2001, and an emeritus professor in the Department of Dermatology, reflects on his research career, his administrative and academic leadership, and his experiences as a biotech entrepreneur. Bauer describes his early life and education in Illinois, as well as how his interest in dermatology led him to join the faculty of Washington University in St. Louis and then Stanford. He recalls his accomplishments while chair of Stanford’s Department of Dermatology and later dean of the Stanford School of Medicine, as well as some of the challenges he faced, especially in relation to the merger between the medical centers of UCSF and Stanford. In addition to his time as a leader at Stanford, Bauer speaks about his research on epidermolysis bullosa and his work in translating research discoveries into practical applications in the biotech industry.
- Summary
- Part 1 [00:00:00 – 00:29:14] Early life in Mattoon, Illinois • Parents • Story of how the Great Depression prevented his father from attending college but how he completed his degree in his retirement • Decision to attend Northwestern University • Conducting research in the lab of Robert Hull, PhD as an undergraduate • Friendships from Northwestern days • Decision to continue medical education at Northwestern • Medical schools in the 1960s versus today • Research at the Mayo Clinic with immunologist Gerald Gleich, MD • Considering leaving medical school to get a PhD and advice not to do so • Interest in dermatology • Encouragement from Ruth Freinkel, MD to pursue dermatology at Washington University in St. Louis • Vietnam War draft and Berry Plan deferments for physicians • Active duty as a dermatologist at the Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, Illinois [00:29:15 – 00:59:14] Starting career in medicine as an assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis in the 1970s • Approach to teaching students • Specialty in research on epidermolysis bullosa • Support from the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America (DEBRA-A) in the creation of the Center for Research and Therapy at Washington University • Research on epidermolysis bullosa being done at Stanford • In-house sabbatical at Washington University’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology working with Gregory Goldberg, PhD • Impressions of Stanford Medical School from 1975 • Recruitment to chair Stanford’s Department of Dermatology in 1987 • Building up the Department of Dermatology’s research program and goals as chair; faculty appointments • Dermatology in the context of the Stanford Medical School • Stanford’s General Clinical Research Centers [00:59:15 – 01:25:59] Transition to deanship of Stanford’s School of Medicine • Qualities of a good dean • Goals as dean • Importance of transparency • Integrating the clinical faculty practice into Stanford Health Services • Towards a better integrated system of patient care; leadership from Gerhard Casper and Isaac Stein • Women in leadership roles in the Medical School, including Judith Swain [01:26:00 – 01:46:35] Bio-X; creation of the Department of Bioengineering, an inter-school department between Medicine and Engineering • Fundraising while dean • Wife Gloria and children • Gloria’s openness about issues with alcohol addiction • Role as Vice President for Medical Affairs • Resigning from the deanship Part 2 [00:00:00 – 00:31:36] Background and rationale for merger of Stanford and UCSF Medical Centers • Impressions of faculty’s opinion of the merger • Bauer’s initial optimistic outlook • Successful integration of pediatrics departments • Thoughts on impact of the departure of Joseph Martin, MD • Public versus private institutions; differences in assumptions and cultures • Unwinding of the merger [00:31:36 – 00:55:58] Financial and political issues surrounding UCSF’s Mount Zion operations • Memories of increasing faculty concern with the merger • Putting Stanford’s medical operations back together again • Decision to step away from the deanship and, later, as vice president of medical affairs • Looking back on the merger • Reflections on accomplishments as dean and vice president, especially the recruitment of key faculty leaders • Thoughts on how the merger and de-merger helped Stanford to refocus on what was needed for medicine to thrive • Creating interdisciplinary synergy at Stanford [00:55-58 - 00:91:27] Beginnings of career in biotech--starting Connective Therapeutics (later Connectics Corporation) with Edward Amento to treat scleroderma • Founding dermatology company Neosil to work on a topical antimicrobial and a topical hair growth product; story of a disappointing clinical trial • Sale of company to Peplin; Peplin’s later acquisition by LEO Pharma; a successful trial and a memorable presentation in Denmark • Research in academia versus industry; Stanford’s Office of Technology Licensing • Seed money from Fred Craves and co-founding Dermira with Tom Wiggins, Luis Pena, and Chris Griffith; eventual sale of the company to Lilly • New company Evommune with Luis Pena and Hans Hofmann [00:91:27 - 00:113:07] Reflections on positive aspects of working in the biotech industry • Advances in the treatment of epidermolysis bullosa at Stanford • Evommune products in development and future plans • Children • Thoughts on evolution of the Stanford School of Medicine over time, including David Korn’s vision • Fond memories of working with President Gerhard Casper and Provost Condi Rice
Description
| Type of resource | moving image, sound recording-nonmusical, text |
|---|---|
| Extent | 2 video files; 2 audio files; 1 text file |
| Place | Stanford (Calif.) |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
| Date created | September 9, 2021 - 2021-10-07 |
| Language | English |
| Digital origin | born digital |
Creators/Contributors
| Interviewee | Bauer, Eugene | |
|---|---|---|
| Creator | Bauer, Eugene | |
| Interviewer | Thomson, Jan | |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
Subjects
| Subject | Bauer, Eugene |
|---|---|
| Subject | Stanford University. Department of Dermatology |
| Subject | Stanford University. School of Medicine |
| Genre | Interview |
Bibliographic information
| Biographical Profile | Eugene Bauer is currently co-founder, chief medical officer, and member of the board of directors of Evommune, Inc., a privately funded biotechnology company. He is immediate past co-founder, chief medical officer, and member of the board of directors of Dermira, Inc., a biotechnology company recently acquired by Eli Lilly and Company. Prior to founding Dermira, he served as a member of the board of directors of Peplin, Inc., where he also was its president and chief medical officer until Peplin’s acquisition by LEO Pharma in 2009. From 2004 to 2008, Dr. Bauer was chief executive officer of Neosil, Inc., a clinical stage dermatology company, acquired by Peplin, Inc. in 2008. Prior to that he was co-founder and member of the board of directors at Connetics, a commercial dermatology company acquired by Stiefel Laboratories in 2009. Before initiating a career in industry, Dr. Bauer served as chairman of the Department of Dermatology (1988-1995) and as the dean of the School of Medicine (1995-2001) of Stanford University. He is currently Lucy Becker Professor, Emeritus, in Stanford University’s School of Medicine, a position he has held since 2002. Dr. Bauer has served on the boards of directors of a number of public and private companies, including Aevi Genomic Medicine, Inc. (formerly Medgenics, Inc.), First Wave Technologies, Inc., and Kadmon Holdings, Inc. Dr. Bauer was a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded investigator for twenty-five years and has served on numerous advisory groups for the NIH. He has been elected to several honorific societies, including the National Academy of Medicine of the United States. Dr. Bauer received a BS in medicine and an MD from Northwestern University. |
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| Transcript |
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| Finding Aid | |
| Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/vg499sh1024 |
| Location | SC0932 |
| Repository | Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University Archives |
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- The materials are open for research use and may be used freely for non-commercial purposes with an attribution. For commercial permission requests, please contact the Stanford University Archives (universityarchives@stanford.edu).
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.
Collection
Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program interviews, 1999-2022
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