DOCTORS' LOUNGE
Dr. Leon Solomon in 1894, at the time of medical school graduation.
where they found a better educational environment for raising their
large family. Leon excelled in school, and he graduated from Male
High School at a time that it offered an optional AB college degree,
which he achieved. After a year managing one of his father’s stores,
he began his medical education.
MEDICAL EDUCATION AND POST-DOCTORAL STUDIES
In 1892, Leon entered the University of Louisville Medical Depart-
ment, the longest-established of several late-19 th century Louisville
medical schools. It was then a two-year, fall/winter school, and he
graduated first in his 1894 class (Fig. 1). This achievement won
him the prized Resident Physician (intern) position at Louisville
City Hospital (later to become Louisville General Hospital). Upon
completion, his quest for greater medical knowledge led him into
two years of post-doctoral studies in Berlin and Vienna, with some
periods in Heidelberg and Prague. These European universities then
led the world in medical science, which brought from afar those
seeking excellence, such as Dr. Solomon. Returning to Louisville
in 1896, his European-acquired knowledge in therapeutics and
pathology placed him at the forefront of expertise among American
practitioners (Fig. 2).
ACADEMIC POSITIONS AND CLINICAL PRACTICE
In 1896, Dr. Solomon began a medical practice which rapidly
Dr. Leon Solomon in 1897, upon return from European studies.
grew. Simultaneously, he was appointed to the Kentucky School
of Medicine faculty as Lecturer in Diseases of Children, and he
then became director of its chemical laboratory. In 1898, a new
Louisville medical school, the Kentucky University Medical De-
partment, was established, where he became Professor of Materia
Medica, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, his principal expertise. His
knowledge of pathology also brought appointment as pathologist
for the Louisville City Hospital. He became a strong advocate for
the merger of Kentucky University into the University of Louisville,
which occurred in 1907. There he became UofL Professor of Theory
and Practice of Medicine. His growing private practice workload
required him to resign in 1909. He resumed this position in 1914
and continued to 1921. In 1917, he founded the Solomon Clinic,
which thrived, and pioneered comprehensive care through an early
group practice model (Fig.3).
FAMILY LIFE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
In 1899, Leon married Alma Brown of Mobile, Ala. She died pre-
maturely, and he remarried to Georgia Fredrick of Louisville in
1922. His extensive community service included participation in the
founding of Jewish Hospital in 1903 to 1905. In 1926, the Hospital
nearly closed due to charity care deficits, and Solomon was credited
with saving it by securing large philanthropic support from com-
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