Lawrence J. Solin, MD, FACR, FASTRO
Lawrence J. Solin, MD, FACR, FASTRO, a champion of breast-conserving therapy for women with breast cancer, died unexpectedly on March 3 at the age of 66. At the time of his death, Dr. Solin was Professor Emeritus, Department of Radiation Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Dr. Solin was known by his peers as never one to be shy about his opinions regarding health care. He was also known as a tireless clinician and valuable mentor for young physicians at the beginning of their oncologic journey. Dr. Solin received international recognition for his research on the use of definitive radiation therapy after breast conservation treatment for women with early-stage breast cancer. His research efforts largely focused on the use of breast conservation treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ and long-term outcomes after breast conservation treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. These studies have helped shape treatment protocols for newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer.
Devoted to ECOG-ACRIN
Dr. Solin graduated from Brown University’s Alpert Medical School in 1978. His long and significant career spanned ECOG-ACRIN (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group–American College of Radiology Imaging Network) member institutions, from Fox Chase (fellowship and early staff appointment) to the University of Pennsylvania (mid-career professorship) to Einstein Hospital, where he served as Department Chair in Radiation Oncology.
Colleague and friend Peter J. O’Dwyer, MD, shared his thoughts on Dr. Solin: “In all of his roles, Larry was foremost a colleague to whom one could bring clinical questions for a considered and expert opinion. He was especially driven by data and based his opinions, where possible, on evidence, not conjecture. For breast cancer, he played a career-long role in defining the evidence to define the role of radiation therapy to increase cure rates.”
“In all of his roles, Larry was foremost a colleague to whom one could bring clinical questions for a considered and expert opinion.”— Peter J. O'Dwyer, MD
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Dr. Solin was a frequent national and international lecturer, with more than 230 invited lectures. He contributed more than 190 peer-reviewed publications to the medical literature and served on multiple journal editorial boards. He served as Radiation Oncology Co-Chair of the Breast Committee for ECOG-ACRIN and also was a co-editor of the book Breast Cancer Management and Molecular Medicine: Towards Tailored Approaches.
Source of Wisdom and Perspective
In pursuing these goals, Dr. Solin was remembered as a source of wisdom and experience on the ECOG-ACRIN Breast Committee. Former Chair Kathy Miller, MD, described him thus: “When I was Chair, I could count on Larry to be one of the seasoned voices from the back of the room at just the right time! But Larry’s role was not limited to providing wisdom and perspective; he was enthusiastic, energetic, committed, and motivating for those fortunate enough to work with him. Socially, he was gracious and warm.”
Survived by his wife, Leslie, and daughters, Jennifer and Elizabeth, Dr. Solin was delighted with the recent arrival of his granddaughter.
