The 2020 ACR Awards of Distinction & Masters Class

I liked the opportunity to follow a group of patients & help them over time. —Dr. Lozada

Excellence in Investigative Mentoring Award

Daniel Solomon, MD, MPH, a rheumatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Boston, as well as chief of the Section of Clinical Sciences in the Division of Rheumatology and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Boston, is the recipient of this year’s Excellence in Investigative Mentoring Award. This award honors an active ACR or ARP member for their contributions to the rheumatology profession through outstanding and ongoing mentoring.

Dr. Solomon has worked as a rheumatologist for more than 20 years, while also conducting translational and clinical research, and mentoring trainees and junior faculty. Last year, Dr. Solomon was a recipient of the Harvard Medical School Program Award for Cultural Excellence in Mentoring.

While Dr. Solomon’s early research focused on the safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and selective COX-2 inhibitors, his current research is examining cardiovascular diseases in RA. Dr. Solomon is the co-principal investigator on an NIH-funded trial testing the effects of DMARDs on cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Solomon says he currently spends 85% of his time on research and mentoring junior investigators. As a mentor in rheumatic disease epidemiology and pharmaco­epidemiology, Dr. Solomon strives to understand the goals of his mentees, offering suggestions to help improve their skills and support their professional development.

“Once I understand their goals, I work to set reasonable expectations for both parties,” he says. “Mentees need to understand what I can offer, what I expect from them, and what they can expect from me.”

Dr. Solomon’s approach to mentoring involves modeling behaviors important for success including collegiality, honest and ethical approach to data, appropriate work-life balance, and strong communication.

A graduate of Yale University, New Haven, Conn., where he received both his BA and MD degrees, Dr. Solomon continued his studies at Harvard University, where he earned his MPH. He completed both his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in rheumatology at BWH.

“I had great mentors early in my career, so being recognized by the ACR for excellence in mentoring means a great deal to me,” Dr. Solomon says. “Mentors can mean so much to a young investigator and I’m thankful that my mentees nominated me and that the ACR selected me for this award.”

Dr. Solomon is editor in chief of Arthritis & Rheumatology. He has published more than 400 original articles, chairs the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Arthritis Advisory Committee and led the ACR Blue Ribbon panel that set recommendations for NSAIDs.

“Rheumatology is special in so many ways. First, we are able to improve the quality of our patients’ lives in very significant ways. Second, the diseases we treat are complex, interesting and require a strong general fund of medical knowledge,” Dr. Solomon says. “Finally, many of our patients come to rely on their rheumatologist as the doctor who knows them best. The long-term and enduring patient relationships make our clinical role extremely gratifying.”