The world of clinical skin care lost an innovator and a true
pioneer when Dr. James Edwin Fulton, Jr. died last week. He was 73. Surrounded
by his wife of 44 years, Vivant Skin Care President Sara M. Fulton, daughter and CEO Kelly Fulton-Kendrick, daughter Susan Fulton-Arregui, son James Edwin Fulton, III and
son George Jacob Fulton,
Fulton succumbed to colon cancer at Mercy Hospital in
Miami.
“Jim
devoted his life to dermatology and his passing will leave a void in the world
of skin care,” offers Sara Fulton. “He achieved much during his career, but his
greatest contributions may have been the hope and confidence he instilled in
his acne patients.”
“We are devastated by the loss of our company founder and my
father, but are determined to carry on his legacy,” says Fulton-Kendrick.
Born in Ottumwa, IA to Alice
Hermann Fulton and James Sr. (a
one-time CEO of Cracker Jack),
Dr. Fulton’s interest in dermatology stemmed from the acne struggles he endured
as a pre-teen and throughout adulthood. He earned his Bachelor of Science and
Doctor of Medicine degrees from Tulane University in 1965, and while there his academic
achievements led to his induction into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and Phi Beta
Kappa Society. While in residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Fulton met his
close friend and mentor Dr. Albert Kligman;
together they co-developed Retin-A®, a
topical form of vitamin A. At the invitation of Dr. Phillip Frost, he relocated to South Florida and earned a
Ph.D. in biochemistry under the noted dermatologist Harvey Blank, M.D. from
the University of Miami Miller
School of Medicine. Together,
Dr. Fulton and Dr. Blank developed a stabilized benzoyl peroxide gel (Panoxyl®). In addition, Dr. Fulton developed topical erythromycin (E-Gel®).
In the early 1970s with his wife Sara, Dr. Fulton launched a
successful chain of 12 acne clinics called Acne Healthcare Centers,
opened the Acne Research Institute and developed and manufactured a line
of patented skin care products under the AHC and Face Up brands in their FDA-approved
manufacturing facilities. During this time he invented a high-speed diamond
fraise for dermabrasion, was the first to use aestheticians in a medical office
and developed a paramedical aesthetician training program.
In 1990, Dr. Fulton opened JEF Medical Group,
a cosmetic surgery and dermatology practice where he pioneered fat transfer and
laser surgery. He was the first to use hyperbaric oxygen chambers for
post-surgical recovery. In addition, Dr. Fulton and Sara co-founded Vivant Skin
Care in 1990, a clinical skin care line rooted in Fulton’s patented vitamin A
therapies.
A popular international speaker and teacher, he authored the
definitive book on acne, Acne Rx, and published more than 300 medical articles,
the most recent ones being released earlier this year in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and
presented at the Skin of Color Seminar Series in New York City and the Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic & Clinical Conference.
He actively split time between his research lab at the Vivant Skin
Care headquarters in Miami Lakes and Flores Dermatology in Coral Gables, where he continued to
see patients until a week before his passing.
Dr. Fulton served as mentor and role model for countless leaders
in dermatology and aesthetics across the nation. Most recently he was volunteer
faculty at the University
of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology and part of the internship program at St. Thomas University.
Dr. Fulton volunteered his dermatology services to His House Children’s Home, a private, non-profit,
faith-based foster children organization, to which he provided no-charge
medical treatment to the children and hosted a yearly Thanksgiving luncheon for
the children.
He was most proud of his beloved wife Sara who helped him with his
Ph.D., and worked with him in research and in the medical office. She always
attended medical meetings with him and helped with his teaching projects. Dr.
Fulton always told her he couldn't have done what he did without her.
Among his noteworthy achievements were creating more than 50
original skin care formulations, qualifying as a Full Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, membership
in the American Society of Lipo
Suction Surgery and
election to the Dermatology Foundation’s
Leader Society.
He is survived by wife Sara Fulton,
brother Andy Fulton, daughter Susan Fulton-Arregui, son-in-law Richard Arregui, son James E.
Fulton, III,
daughter-in-law Isabelle
Baranda-Fulton, daughter Kelly
Fulton-Kendrick, son-in-law John J.
Kendrick, III,
son George J.
Fulton, daughter-in-law Alexandra
Hodges-Fulton, nine grandchildren and the 1000s of acne patients in
whose lives he made a clear difference.
In
lieu of flowers, the Fulton family is asking for donations to be made to the Dr. Robert Hsia Memorial Fund, University of Miami
Miller School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, 1600 NW 10th Ave., Suite
2023-A, Miami, FL 33136. An open memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday,
July 17, 2013 at the St. Stephens Church,
2750 McFarland Rd, Coconut Grove, FL 33133.
