In Memoriam

Abstract

On February 18, 2014, the international scientific community of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) lost our friend and colleague, Offie P. Soldin, PhD, MBA. Offie was a long term member of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Editorial Board, and the first Review Editor of the Journal. She was a loving mother, grandmother and wife, and in addition to her scientific career she completed an MBA and was a licensed pilot. During her high school years she completed Cume Laude the London Royal Conservatory of Music (piano). The term “impossible” did not exist in her vocabulary. Offie, a Georgetown Lombardi member in DC since 2003, was an associate professor in the Departments of Oncology, Medicine, Physiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her research focused on thyroid disease and tobacco control, and she was equally comfortable and effective working with both clinical and population science colleagues. Publishing 80 peer review papers and well funded by the NIH and other agencies, Offie was a committed educator: she directed two graduate courses; co-directed a pharmacology elective for second-year medical students; and taught thyroid cancer genetics, tumor biology and radiation health within the Department of Oncology. Offie focused her research making excellent innovative contributions regarding the simultaneous quantification of free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine by tandem mass spectrometry. With regard to TDM, Offie Soldin established and published pediatric reference ranges for various clinical chemistry, toxicological and endocrinological parameters. In the field of toxicology, she had a long-standing cooperation with the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the Motherisk program, which focuses on the effects of drugs, chemicals, radiation, and infection in pregnancy and lactation. Of special note, Offie presented an excellent comprehensive review article on developmental neuropathology of environmental agents such as methylmercury, lead, antiepileptic drugs, and ethanol. Dr Steven Lamm of DC, who introduced Offie to the field of thyroid therapeutic monitoring wrote: “Offie made a considerable name for herself in the American Thyroid Association where she brought her keen mind and laboratory skills to establishing trimester-specific thyroid parameters.” As the president of Georgetown Women in Medicine (GWIM), she created a mentorship program for women at the rank of associate professor. Offie also served on the university senate steering committee, was the chair of the American Thyroid Association clinical laboratory services committee, and the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women. Most recently, Offie received the GWIM Fall 2013 Estelle Ramey Mentorship Award in honor of her exemplary teaching and mentoring work at Georgetown University Medical Center. She believed that knowledge is transformative and exemplary teaching essential, a belief clearly evidenced in her interactions with her students and mentees. She continuously sought to have a noteworthy impact in multiple communities through her clinical research and proactive work within Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Prior to her arrival in DC, Offie was a member of the Motherisk Program in Toronto, and she continued as a consultant to the Program until her death. In DC, Offie commenced her interest in therapeutic drug monitoring while working with Steven Lamm. This work had initiated her interest in fetal thyroid function, an area she excelled in until her passing. Dr Janine Polifka of Seattle commented: “Offie was a beautiful, talented and extremely bright person. She was a joy to be with and so committed to her work and the people in her life.” When Offie told her close friends that she planned to come to the Summer 2013 scientific meetings, they were surprised, being aware of her grave situation. But she said: “I am on the program talking about thyroid in pregnancy, so I need to be there.” And she was—no one could tell how gravely ill she was. And during the party that evening she was smiling and joking as if everything would be okay. Offie’s legacy will certainly be highlighted by her unique way of doing everything with great passion, combined with talent, creativity and outstanding relationships with colleagues. And above all, an individual for whom the term “impossible” did not exist.