Susan L. Solomon

Susan Lynn Solomon (August 23, 1951 – September 8, 2022) was an American executive and lawyer. She was the chief executive officer and co-founder of the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF).^[1]

Susan L. Solomon
Solomon speaking in 2016
Born	August 23, 1951 Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	September 8, 2022 (age 71) Amagansett, New York, US
Education	New York University (BA) Rutgers University (JD)

Early life and education

Solomon was born in Brooklyn on August 23, 1951.^[2] Her father, Seymour Solomon, was the co-founder of Vanguard Records alongside his brother, Maynard;^[2][3] her mother, Ruth (Katz), was a pianist and worked as a manager of concert musicians.^[2] Solomon attended the Fieldston School. She then studied history at New York University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1975. Three years later, she obtained a Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law,^[4] where she was an editor of the Rutgers Law Review.^[5]

Career

Solomon started her career as an attorney at Debevoise & Plimpton,^[6] and worked in the legal profession until 1981.^[2] She subsequently held executive positions at MacAndrews & Forbes and APAX (formerly MMG Patricof and Co.). She was the founder and President of Sony Worldwide Networks,^[7] the chairman and CEO of Lancit Media Productions,^[2] an Emmy award-winning television production company, and then served as the founding CEO of Sotheby's website^[8] prior to founding her own strategic management consulting firm Solomon Partners LLC in 2000.^[2]

Solomon was a founding Board member of the Global Alliance for iPSC Therapies (GAiT) and New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research (NYAMR). She served on the Board of the College Diabetes Network^[9] and was a board member for the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine.^[10] She also served on the board of directors of the Regional Plan Association of New York,^[11] where she was a member of the nominating and governance committee. She previously sat on the strategic planning committee for the Empire State Stem Cell Board.^[12]

NYSCF

Solomon co-founded NYSCF in 2005. She had earlier started work as a health-care advocate in 1992, when her son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.^[13] As a result of her son's diagnosis and then her mother's death from cancer in 2004, she sought to find a way in which the most advanced medical research could translate more quickly into cures. In conversations with clinicians and scientists, Solomon identified stem cells as the most promising way to address unmet patient needs.^[14]

At the time of her death, NYSCF was one of the biggest nonprofits dedicated to stem cell research, employing 45 scientists at their Research Institute in Manhattan and funding an additional 75 scientists around the world.^[15]

Personal life

Solomon married her first husband, Gary Hirsh, in 1968. Together, they had one son. They divorced and she later married Paul Goldberger in 1980. They remained married until her death, and had two children.^[2]

Solomon died on September 8, 2022, at her home in Amagansett, New York. She was 71, and suffered from ovarian cancer prior to her death.^[2]

Awards

• Living Landmark Honoree, New York Landmarks Conservancy, 2015^[16]
• Stem Cell Action Leadership Award, Genetics Policy Institute, 2012^[17]
• New York State Women of Excellence Award 2008^[12]
• Triumph Award, The Brooke Ellison Foundation, 2008^[18]

Publications

Articles

• "Institutional Report Cards for Gender Equality: Lessons Learned from Benchmarking Efforts for Women in STEM." Cell Stem Cell (September 9, 2019).^[19]
• "Automated, high-throughput derivation, characterization and differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells." Nature Methods (August 3, 2015).^[20]
• "Cell Therapy Worldwide: An Incipient Revolution." Regenerative Medicine (March 1, 2015).^[21]
• "7 Actionable Strategies For Advancing Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine." Cell Stem Cell (March 5, 2015).^[22]
• "Human Oocytes Reprogram Adult Somatic Nuclei to Diploid Pluripotent Stem Cells." Nature (April 28, 2014).^[23]
• "Twenty years of the International Society for Cellular Therapies: the past, present and future of cellular therapy clinical development." Cytotherapy (April 14, 2014).^[24]
• "The New York Stem Cell Foundation. Interview with Susan Solomon." Regenerative Medicine (November 2012).^[25]
• "The New York Stem Cell Foundation: Accelerating Cures Through Stem Cell Research." Stem Cells Translational Medicine (April 2012).^[26]
• "The sixth annual translational stem cell research conference of the New York Stem Cell Foundation." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (May 2012).^[27]

• Case Comment "Monty Python and the Lanham Act: In Search of the Moral Right." Rutgers Law Review (Winter 1977) 3(2).^[28]

Editorials

• "Raising the Standards of Stem Cell Line Quality." Nature Cell Biology (March 31, 2016).^[29]
• "Banking on iPSC—Is it Doable and is it Worthwhile". Stem Cell Research and Reviews (December 17, 2014).^[30]
• "#StemCells: Education, Innovation, and Outreach." Cell Stem Cell: Voices (November 7, 2013).^[31]
• "The New Nonprofit: A Model for Innovation Across Sectors." Smart Assets: The Philanthropy New York Blog (March 14, 2013).^[32]
• "Stem Cell Research: Science, Not Politics." The Huffington Post (September 21, 2010).^[33]
• "Opinion: Science Shoved Aside in Stem Cell Ruling." AOL News (August 25, 2010).^[34]
• "Opportunity for Excellence: The Critical Role of State Programs in the New Federal Landscape." The Huffington Post (June 12, 2009).^[35]
• "Patients Before Politics: Putting Science First." The Huffington Post (March 9, 2009).^[36]
• "The Stem Cell Wars Are Not Over." The Huffington Post (November 30, 2007).^[37]
• "After Bush's Veto, What is Next for Stem Cell Research?" The Huffington Post (June 20, 2007).^[38]
• "Spitzer Shows Leadership in Stem Cell Research." Times Union (February 18, 2007).^[39]
• "Today's Stem Cell Bill: A Politically Expedient Approach." The Huffington Post (July 18, 2006).^[40]

References

1. "Susan L. Solomon (Chief Executive Officer)". The New York Stem Cell Foundation. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
2. Roberts, Sam (September 13, 2022). "Susan L. Solomon, Crusader for Stem Cell Research, Dies at 71". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
3. Sugarman, Jacob (June 17, 2012). "Susan Solomon". Flatt Magazine. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
4. "Susan Solomon & The New York Stem Cell Foundation". New York Social Diary. Archived from the original on August 22, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
5. "Editorial Board 1977–1978" (PDF). Rutgers Law Review. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
6. "Susan L. Solomon". HuffPost. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
7. "SW's Solomon tapped by Sony". Broadcasting & Cable. 126 (35): 43. August 19, 1996.
8. Pristin, Terry (January 20, 1999). "Sotheby's Plans Online Auctions". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
9. "CDN Board of Directors | College Diabetes Network". collegediabetesnetwork.org. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
10. "Past Board Members". Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine. November 20, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
11. "Regional Plan Association Mourns Loss of Board Member Susan L. Solomon". Regional Plan Association. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
12. "Susan Solomon". College Diabetes Network. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
13. Weaver, Robin (October 25, 2009). "Woman Around Town: Susan Solomon— Passion for a Cause". Woman Around Town. Retrieved February 25, 2013.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
14. Solomon, Susan (2012). "The New York Stem Cell Foundation". Regenerative Medicine. 7 (6s): 117–119. doi:10.2217/rme.12.92. PMID 23210823.
15. Wolfe, Alexandra (February 5, 2016). "Susan L. Solomon's Stem-Cell Research Quest". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
16. "Living Landmarks Celebration: Living Landmarks Honoree List". The New York Landmarks Conservancy. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
17. "GPI 2012 'Stem Cell Action Award' Honorees Announced". World Stem Cell Summit. September 18, 2012. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
18. "Susan L. Solomon". Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine. September 28, 2013. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
19. Beeler, Whitney H.; Smith-Doody, Kristin A.; Ha, Richard; Aiyar, Raeka S.; Schwarzbach, Elizabeth; Solomon, Susan L.; Jagsi, Reshma (September 5, 2019). "Institutional Report Cards for Gender Equality: Lessons Learned from Benchmarking Efforts for Women in STEM" (PDF). Cell Stem Cell. 25 (3): 306–310. doi:10.1016/j.stem.2019.08.010. PMID 31491394. S2CID 201869532. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
20. Paull, Daniel; Sevilla, Ana; Zhou, Hongyan; Hahn, Aana Kim; Kim, Hesed; Napolitano, Christopher; Tsankov, Alexander; Shang, Linshan; Krumholz, Katie; Jagadeesan, Premlatha; Woodard, Chris M.; Sun, Bruce; Vilboux, Thierry; Zimmer, Matthew; Forero, Eliana; Moroziewicz, Dorota N.; Martinez, Hector; Malicdan, May Christine V.; Weiss, Keren A.; Vensand, Lauren B.; Dusenberry, Carmen R.; Polus, Hannah; Sy, Karla Therese L.; Kahler, David J.; Gahl, William A.; Solomon, Susan L.; Chang, Stephen; Meissner, Alexander; Eggan, Kevin; Noggle, Scott A. (August 3, 2015). "Automated, high-throughput derivation, characterization and differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells". Nature Methods. 12 (9): 885–892. doi:10.1038/nmeth.3507. PMID 26237226. S2CID 9889991. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
21. Rao, Mahendra; Mason, Chris; Solomon, Susan (April 2, 2015). "Cell therapy worldwide: an incipient revolution". Future Medicine. 10 (2): 181–191. doi:10.2217/rme.14.80. PMID 25835482. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
22. Smith, Kristin A.; et al. (March 5, 2015). "Seven actionable strategies for advancing women in science, engineering, and medicine". Cell Stem Cell. 16 (3): 221–224. doi:10.1016/j.stem.2015.02.012. PMC 4476252. PMID 25748929.
23. Yamada, Mitsutoshi; Johannesson, Bjarki; Sagi, Ido; Burnett, Lisa Cole; Kort, Daniel H.; Prosser, Robert W.; Paull, Daniel; Nestor, Michael W.; Freeby, Matthew; Greenberg, Ellen; Goland, Robin S.; Leibel, Rudolph L.; Solomon, Susan L.; Benvenisty, Nissim; Sauer, Mark V.; Egli, Dieter (April 28, 2014). "Human oocytes reprogram adult somatic nuclei of a type 1 diabetic to diploid pluripotent stem cells". Nature. 510 (7506): 533–536. Bibcode:2014Natur.510..533Y. doi:10.1038/nature13287. PMID 24776804. S2CID 4457834. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
24. Abbott, Stewart; MacKay, Geoff; Durdy, Matthew; Solomon, Susan; Zylberberg, Claudia (April 1, 2014). "Twenty years of the International Society for Cellular Therapies: the past, present and future of cellular therapy clinical development". Cytotherapy. 16 (4): S112–S119. doi:10.1016/j.jcyt.2014.01.001. PMID 24629796. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
25. Solomon, S. (November 2012). "The New York Stem Cell Foundation. Interview with Susan Solomon". Regenerative Medicine. 7 (6 Suppl): 117–119. doi:10.2217/rme.12.92. PMID 23210823. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
26. Solomon, S. L. (April 2012). "The New York Stem Cell Foundation: Accelerating Cures Through Stem Cell Research". Stem Cells Translational Medicine. 1 (4): 263–265. doi:10.5966/sctm.2012-0019. PMC 3659693. PMID 23197805.
27. Marshall, Caroline; Hua, Haiqing; Shang, Linshan; Ding, Bi-Sen; Zito, Giovanni; De Peppo, Giuseppe Maria; Wang, George Kai; Douvaras, Panagiotis; Sproul, Andrew A.; Paull, Daniel; Fossati, Valentina; Nestor, Michael W.; McKeon, David; Smith, Kristin A.; Solomon, Susan L. (March 28, 2012). "The Sixth Annual Translational Stem Cell Research Conference of the New York Stem Cell Foundation". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1255 (1): 16–29. Bibcode:2012NYASA1255...16M. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06481.x. hdl:10447/254008. PMID 22458653. S2CID 9780628. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
28. Solomon, Susan L. (1976). "Monty Python and the Lanham Act: In Search of the Moral Right". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 30 (2): 16–29. Bibcode:2012NYASA1255...16M. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06481.x. hdl:10447/254008. PMID 22458653. S2CID 9780628. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
29. Yaffe, Michael P.; Noggle, Scott A.; Solomon, Susan L. (February 25, 2016). "Raising the standards of stem cell line quality". Nature Cell Biology. 18 (3): 236–237. doi:10.1038/ncb3313. PMID 26911906. S2CID 1710568. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
30. Solomon, S.; Pitossi, F.; Rao, M. S. (February 2015). "Banking on iPSC—Is it Doable and is it Worthwhile". Stem Cell Reviews and Reports. 11 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1007/s12015-014-9574-4. PMC 4333229. PMID 25516409.
31. "#StemCells: Education, Innovation, and Outreach" (PDF). Cell Stem Cell. 13 (5): 517–519. November 7, 2013. doi:10.1016/j.stem.2013.10.014. PMID 24367811. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
32. Solomon, Susan L. (March 14, 2013). "The New Nonprofit: A Model for Innovation Across Sectors". Philanthropy New York. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
33. Solomon, Susan L. (September 22, 2010). "Stem Cell Research: Science, Not Politics". HuffPost. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
34. Solomon, Susan L. (August 25, 2010). "Opinion: Science Shoved Aside in Stem Cell Ruling". AOL. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
35. Solomon, Susan L. (July 13, 2009). "Opportunity for Excellence: The Critical Role of State Programs in the New Federal Landscape". HuffPost. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
36. Solomon, Susan L. (April 9, 2009). "Patients Before Politics: Putting Science First". HuffPost. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
37. Solomon, Susan L. (November 30, 2007). "The Stem Cell Wars Are Not Over". HuffPost. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
38. Solomon, Susan L. (June 20, 2007). "After Bush's Veto, What is Next for Stem Cell Research?". HuffPost. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
39. Solomon, Susan (February 18, 2007). "Spitzer shows leadership in stem cell research". Times Union. Albany, New York. p. E1. ProQuest 266231064. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022 – via ProQuest.
40. Solomon, Susan L. (July 18, 2006). "Today's Stem Cell Bill: A Politically Expedient Approach". HuffPost. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.