His Story
Meet Epionce Founder Dr. Carl Thornfeldt
1960s
Dr. Carl grew up on a farm outside of Portland, Oregon. His father, a prominent pediatrician, also had a sheep and Christmas tree farm. Dr. Carl’s love of the outdoors and medicine was nurtured during this time. His passion for helping people came full-circle in his youth, especially after seeing the impact his father had on their community.
Dr. Carl also struggled with severe eczema as a child which required extensive topical medications. His negative experiences at that time drives his passion for creating products for people that will not hinder quality of life for his patients, and that patients will enjoy using.
1973
Dr. Carl graduated from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.
1973
He married his wife. They have been married for 50+ years.
1977
Dr. Carl graduated from medical school at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). During this time, he was involved in helping set up and run many clinical trials. He discovered his love for the research side of medicine.
1977-1980
Dr. Carl was stationed at the U.S. Naval base in Holy Loch, Scotland as the general practice physician on base. While in Scotland, his daughter was born. This experience helped him understand the importance of taking a holistic approach when addressing a patient’s concerns.
1980-1983
Dr. Carl completed his residency and dermatology specialty training at University Hospital, U.C. San Diego. While in San Diego, his son was born.
1983
Dr. Carl moved to Ontario, Oregon, a small town on the border of Oregon and Idaho, to go into practice with his father. Half of the practice was dermatology, and the other half was pediatrics and allergy. He believes that people living in rural areas deserve high quality health care. Dr. Carl has proudly been in private practice for over 30 years.
1989
In an effort to find better solutions for the problems his patients were facing, Dr. Carl organized research teams in the Bay Area, in Northern California, to do original bench research on skin function and botanical activity in the skin.
2002
Dr. Carl founded Episciences, Inc. to manufacture and distribute the Epionce products, while still working at his medical practice full time. His goal was to create a clinical skin care line that his patients would love to use while getting great results for their skin concerns, all while not creating irritation for the patient. He believes that Epionce helps him be a better doctor by combining prescription therapies to get results, then relying on Epionce to maintain those results for the long-term.
2003 and 2005
Dr. Carl was listed as one of the Top 50 Doctors in the United States by The Sinatra Health Report.
2010
Dr. Carl authored “The New Ideal in Skin Health” his first full-length book. He continues to write and publish for peer-reviewed medical journals and textbooks, and present at industry meetings including the American Academy of Dermatology.
October 2011
Dr. Carl won the Idaho Innovator Award by the Idaho Technology Council.
December 2014
Dr. Carl won the Innovator in Dermatology Award at the Cosmetic Surgery Forum.
May 2015
Dr. Carl was “Entrepreneur of the Week” by MSNBC’s “Your Business” television show. He shared how the Epionce vision came to fruition with hard work, dedication and teamwork.
January 2016
Dr. Carl was awarded the “Man of the Year Award” in Ontario, Oregon – the community where his medical practice thrived for decades.
July 2019
Recipient of the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award presented by THE Aesthetic Show. Congratulations Dr. Carl!
