In Memoriam: David Solomon, UCLA leader in geriatrics and medicine

Dr. David H. Solomon, who led a major expansion of the UCLA Department of Medicine, created the campus's geriatrics program to deal effectively with the unique health care needs of the elderly, and was the first board-certified endocrinologist in Los Angeles, died July 9 at his home in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He was 90.

 

Solomon received many awards from various medical societies in recognition of his contributions and was the author of 220 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, four books, 49 book chapters and 32 editorials, letters and popular articles.

 

"Dr. Solomon is a legendary figure at UCLA and nationally in internal medicine, endocrinology and geriatrics," said Dr. David Reuben, chief of the geriatrics division at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "His legacy will live on."

 

Solomon was born March 7, 1923, and raised in Brookline, Mass. He graduated from Brown University in 1944 and entered Harvard Medical School that year. By taking courses year-round, he was able to complete medical school in two years, graduating magna cum laude in 1946. After graduation, Solomon married his wife, Ronda Markson. He completed his internship and residency at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston and fulfilled his two-year military commitment in the U.S. Public Health Service at the Gerontology Research Center in Baltimore, Md.

 

Solomon was recruited to the new UCLA School of Medicine in 1952. He became the first board-certified endocrinologist in Los Angeles and led the development of the division of endocrinology in the new department of medicine at UCLA. In 1966, he was named chief of medicine at Harbor General Hospital, where he expanded UCLA's training program. He returned to UCLA's main campus in 1971 as executive chair of the department of medicine, holding that position until 1981.

 

Solomon led a major development and expansion of the department of medicine during his 10-year tenure, and in the mid-1970s, he spearheaded the effort to form one of the first organized, centrally managed clinical practice groups at an academic medical center with the creation of the Department of Medicine Practice Group.

 

"David Solomon's contributions to UCLA, internal medicine, geriatrics and endocrinology will live on because of the number of lives that he touched and the approach to care that he taught," said Dr. Alan M. Fogelman, executive chair of the UCLA Department of Medicine.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks the public to consider making a donation to UCLA Division of Geriatrics and/or the Venice Family Clinic in Solomon's memory. For donations to the UCLA Division of Geriatrics, checks can be made payable to the UCLA Foundation (mailing address: UCLA Health Sciences Development, 10945 Le Conte Ave., Suite 3132, Los Angeles, Calif. 90095-1784) or online at www.geronet.ucla.edu/gero-giving. Please indicate "Tribute to David Solomon, MD" in the check memo line; online, please check the "Tribute" box.

 

For donations to the Venice Family Clinic, checks can be made payable to Venice Family Clinic, (mailing address: Venice Family Clinic, ATTN: Development, 604 Rose Ave., Venice, Calif. 90291) or online at www.venicefamilyclinic.org.

 

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