Gina Solomon, MD

Professor

Gina Solomon, M.D., M.P.H. is the Chief of the Division of Occupational, Environmental and Climate Medicine at UCSF. In this role she oversees clinical occupational and environmental health at UCSF Health, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center. She is also the Program Director of the UCSF Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency program, teaches medical and nursing students, and leads the research efforts in the Division.

Before coming to UCSF, Dr. Solomon founded and directed the Achieving Resilient Communities program at the Public Health Institute, where she worked from 2018-2023. From 2012-2018 she was appointed by Governor Brown as the Deputy Secretary for Science and Health at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Dr. Solomon previously served as the director of the occupational and environmental medicine residency program at UCSF from 2008-2012, the associate director of the UCSF Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit from 2003-2009, and as a Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) from 1996-2012.

Dr. Solomon’s research has encompassed cumulative impacts of environmental and social stressors in disadvantaged communities, environmental justice, farmworker health, new approach methodologies in toxicology and risk assessment, drinking water quality, air pollution, endocrine disrupting chemicals, pesticides, environmental contaminants in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and in communities after wildfires, the health implications of the 2010 Gulf oil spill, and the health effects of climate change. Currently, Dr. Solomon is Chair of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Advisory Council.

Education
1996 - Occupational Medicine, Harvard University
1995 - Internal Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital
MPH, 1994 - Occupational Health, Harvard School of Public Health
M.D., 1991 - Medicine, Yale School of Medicine
BA, 1986 - Comparative Literature, Brown University
Honors and Awards
  • Jean Spencer Felton Award for Excellence in Medical Writing, Western Occupational and Environmental Medical Association, 2023
  • Birth Defects Research Distinguished Scholar Award, Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, 2021
  • Elected Member, Sigma Xi, 2020
  • Humanitarian Award, California Safe Schools, 2016
  • Certificate of Recognition, California State Assembly, 2016
  • Certificate of Recognition, City of Los Angeles, 2016
  • James G. Wilson Publication Award, Teratology Society, 2016
  • Essential Core Teaching Award (Elective), UCSF, 2015
  • Faculty Sustainability Award, UCSF, 2015
  • Damu Smith Environmental Achievement Award, American Public Health Association, 2012
  • Recognition Award, Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, 2009
  • Certificate of Appreciation, Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, 2007
  • Clean Air Award for Research, American Lung Association of the Bay Area, 2004
  • Certificate of Appreciation, California Safe Schools, 2004
  • Ten Women's Health Pioneers, The Green Guide, 2004
  • Environmental Heroes Award, The Breast Cancer Fund, 2002
  • Will Solimene Award in Medical Writing, American Medical Writers Association, 2000
  • Phi Beta Kappa, Rhode Island Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, 1986
Websites
Publications

  1. Fadadu RP, Solomon G, Balmes JR. Wildfires and Human Health. JAMA 2024. PMID: 38985542


  2. Manczek E, Reuben A, Solomon G.. Wexler P (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Toxicology Disasters and Mental Health 2023. PMID:


  3. Solomon G.. Wexler P (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Toxicology Environmental Health 2023. PMID:


  4. Stanton R, Little A, Miller L, Solomon G, Ryan S, Paulukonis S, Cajina S. Microcystins at the tap: A closer look at unregulated drinking water contaminants American Water Works Association Journal 2023. PMID:


  5. Woodruff TJ, Rayasam SDG, Axelrad DA, Koman PD, Chartres N, Bennett DH, Birnbaum LS, Brown P, Carignan CC, Cooper C, Cranor CF, Diamond ML, Franjevic S, Gartner EC, Hattis D, Hauser R, Heiger-Bernays W, Joglekar R, Lam J, Levy JI, MacRoy PM, Maffini MV, Marquez EC, Morello-Frosch R, Nachman KE, Nielsen GH, Oksas C, Abrahamsson DP, Patisaul HB, Patton S, Robinson JF, Rodgers KM, Rossi MS, Rudel RA, Sass JB, Sathyanarayana S, Schettler T, Shaffer RM, Shamasunder B, Shepard PM, Shrader-Frechette K, Solomon GM, Subra WA, Vandenberg LN, Varshavsky JR, White RF, Zarker K, Zeise L. A science-based agenda for health-protective chemical assessments and decisions: overview and consensus statement. Volume 21 of Issue Suppl 1. Environmental health : a global access science source 2023. PMID: 36635734


  6. Maffini MV, Rayasam SDG, Axelrad DA, Birnbaum LS, Cooper C, Franjevic S, MacRoy PM, Nachman KE, Patisaul HB, Rodgers KM, Rossi MS, Schettler T, Solomon GM, Woodruff TJ. Advancing the science on chemical classes. Volume 21 of Issue Suppl 1. Environmental health : a global access science source 2023. PMID: 36635752


  7. Solomon GM, Stanton B, Ryan S, Little A, Carpenter C, Paulukonis S. Notes from the Field: Harmful Algal Bloom Affecting Private Drinking Water Intakes - Clear Lake, California, June-November 2021. Volume 71 of Issue 41. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 2022. PMID: 36227773


  8. Garzón-Galvis C, Richardson MJ, Solomon GM. Tracking Environmental and Health Disparities to Strengthen Resilience Before the Next Crisis. Volume 15 of Issue 5. Environmental justice (Print) 2022. PMID: 36312222


  9. Namulanda G, Monti M, Werner A, Nogueira I, Solomon G, English P, Karlsson N, Cosser A, Bush K, Mitchell C. Environmental Public Health Tracking, an untapped resource for occupational health. Volume 19 of Issue 10-11. Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene 2022. PMID: 36099082


  10. English PB, Von Behren J, Balmes JR, Boscardin J, Carpenter C, Goldberg DE, Horiuchi S, Richardson M, Solomon G, Valle J, Reynolds P. Association between long-term exposure to particulate air pollution with SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 deaths in California, U.S.A. Environmental advances 2022. PMID: 35912397


  11. Reuben A, Manczak EM, Cabrera LY, Alegria M, Bucher ML, Freeman EC, Miller GW, Solomon GM, Perry MJ. The Interplay of Environmental Exposures and Mental Health: Setting an Agenda. Volume 130 of Issue 2. Environmental health perspectives 2022. PMID: 35171017


  12. Draper WM, Li N, Solomon GM, Heaney YC, Crenshaw RB, Hinrichs RL, Chandrasena REP. Organic Chemical Contaminants in Water System Infrastructure Following Wildfire. Volume 2 of Issue 2. ACS ES&T water 2022. PMID: 35647583


  13. Von Behren J, Wong M, Morales D, Reynolds P, English PB, Solomon G. Returning Individual Tap Water Testing Results to Research Study Participants after a Wildfire Disaster. Volume 19 of Issue 2. International journal of environmental research and public health 2022. PMID: 35055730


  14. Solomon GM, Hurley S, Carpenter C, Young TM, English P, Reynolds P. Fire and Water: Assessing Drinking Water Contamination After a Major Wildfire. Volume 1 of Issue 8. ACS ES&T water 2021. PMID: 34423333


  15. Ginsberg GL, Pullen Fedinick K, Solomon GM, Elliott KC, Vandenberg JJ, Barone S, Bucher JR. New Toxicology Tools and the Emerging Paradigm Shift in Environmental Health Decision-Making. Volume 127 of Issue 12. Environmental health perspectives 2019. PMID: 31834829


  16. Luderer U, Eskenazi B, Hauser R, Korach KS, McHale CM, Moran F, Rieswijk L, Solomon G, Udagawa O, Zhang L, Zlatnik M, Zeise L, Smith MT. Proposed Key Characteristics of Female Reproductive Toxicants as an Approach for Organizing and Evaluating Mechanistic Data in Hazard Assessment. Volume 127 of Issue 7. Environmental health perspectives 2019. PMID: 31322437


  17. Solomon GM, Hoang A, Reynolds P. The California Safer Consumer Products Program: Evaluating a Novel Chemical Policy Strategy. Volume 29 of Issue 2. New solutions : a journal of environmental and occupational health policy : NS 2019. PMID: 31132920


  18. Iyer S, Pham N, Marty M, Sandy M, Solomon G, Zeise L. An Integrated Approach Using Publicly Available Resources for Identifying and Characterizing Chemicals of Potential Toxicity Concern: Proof-of-Concept With Chemicals That Affect Cancer Pathways. Volume 169 of Issue 1. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology 2019. PMID: 30649495


  19. McHale CM, Osborne G, Morello-Frosch R, Salmon AG, Sandy MS, Solomon G, Zhang L, Smith MT, Zeise L. Assessing health risks from multiple environmental stressors: Moving from G×E to I×E. Volume 775. Mutation research. Reviews in mutation research 2017. PMID: 29555026


  20. Krowech G, Hoover S, Plummer L, Sandy M, Zeise L, Solomon G. Identifying Chemical Groups for Biomonitoring. Volume 124 of Issue 12. Environmental health perspectives 2016. PMID: 27905275


  21. Solomon GM, Faust JB, Morello-Frosch, R, Zeise, L. Integrating environmental justice into public health: approaches for understanding cumulative impacts Frontiers Public Health Serv Sys Res 2016. PMID:


  22. Pham N, Iyer S, Hackett E, Lock BH, Sandy M, Zeise L, Solomon G, Marty M. Using ToxCast to Explore Chemical Activities and Hazard Traits: A Case Study With Ortho-Phthalates. Volume 151 of Issue 2. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology 2016. PMID: 26969370


  23. Solomon GM, Morello-Frosch R, Zeise L, Faust JB. Cumulative Environmental Impacts: Science and Policy to Protect Communities. Volume 37. Annual review of public health 2016. PMID: 26735429


  24. Schwarzman MR, Ackerman JM, Dairkee SH, Fenton SE, Johnson D, Navarro KM, Osborne G, Rudel RA, Solomon GM, Zeise L, Janssen S. Screening for Chemical Contributions to Breast Cancer Risk: A Case Study for Chemical Safety Evaluation. Volume 123 of Issue 12. Environmental health perspectives 2015. PMID: 26032647


  25. Silva M, Pham N, Lewis C, Iyer S, Kwok E, Solomon G, Zeise L. A Comparison of ToxCast Test Results with In Vivo and Other In Vitro Endpoints for Neuro, Endocrine, and Developmental Toxicities: A Case Study Using Endosulfan and Methidathion. Volume 104 of Issue 2. Birth defects research. Part B, Developmental and reproductive toxicology 2015. PMID: 26017137


  26. Knowlton K, Rotkin-Ellman M, Geballe L, Max W, Solomon GM. Six climate change-related events in the United States accounted for about $14 billion in lost lives and health costs. Volume 30 of Issue 11. Health affairs (Project Hope) 2011. PMID: 22068410


  27. Rotkin-Ellman M, Wong KK, Solomon GM. Seafood contamination after the BP Gulf oil spill and risks to vulnerable populations: a critique of the FDA risk assessment. Volume 120 of Issue 2. Environmental health perspectives 2011. PMID: 21990339


  28. Rotkin-Ellman M, Navarro KM, Solomon GM. Gulf oil spill air quality monitoring: lessons learned to improve emergency response. Volume 44 of Issue 22. Environmental science & technology 2010. PMID: 20964292


  29. Solomon GM, Janssen S. Health effects of the Gulf oil spill. Volume 304 of Issue 10. JAMA 2010. PMID: 20713544


  30. Krewski D, Acosta D, Andersen M, Anderson H, Bailar JC, Boekelheide K, Brent R, Charnley G, Cheung VG, Green S, Kelsey KT, Kerkvliet NI, Li AA, McCray L, Meyer O, Patterson RD, Pennie W, Scala RA, Solomon GM, Stephens M, Yager J, Zeise L. Toxicity testing in the 21st century: a vision and a strategy. Volume 13 of Issue 2-4. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part B, Critical reviews 2010. PMID: 20574894


  31. Rotkin-Ellman M, Solomon G, Gonzales CR, Agwaramgbo L, Mielke HW. Arsenic contamination in New Orleans soil: temporal changes associated with flooding. Volume 110 of Issue 1. Environmental research 2010. PMID: 19837403


  32. Solomon GM, Kirkhorn SR. Physicians' duty to be aware of and report environmental toxins. Volume 11 of Issue 6. The virtual mentor : VM 2009. PMID: 23199352


  33. Knowlton K, Rotkin-Ellman M, King G, Margolis HG, Smith D, Solomon G, Trent R, English P. The 2006 California heat wave: impacts on hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Volume 117 of Issue 1. Environmental health perspectives 2008. PMID: 19165388


  34. Woodruff TJ, Zeise L, Axelrad DA, Guyton KZ, Janssen S, Miller M, Miller GG, Schwartz JM, Alexeeff G, Anderson H, Birnbaum L, Bois F, Cogliano VJ, Crofton K, Euling SY, Foster PM, Germolec DR, Gray E, Hattis DB, Kyle AD, Luebke RW, Luster MI, Portier C, Rice DC, Solomon G, Vandenberg J, Zoeller RT. Meeting report: moving upstream-evaluating adverse upstream end points for improved risk assessment and decision-making. Volume 116 of Issue 11. Environmental health perspectives 2008. PMID: 19057713


  35. Humphreys EH, Janssen S, Heil A, Hiatt P, Solomon G, Miller MD. Outcomes of the California ban on pharmaceutical lindane: clinical and ecologic impacts. Volume 116 of Issue 3. Environmental health perspectives 2008. PMID: 18335094


  36. Petersen KF, Dufour S, Savage DB, Bilz S, Solomon G, Yonemitsu S, Cline GW, Befroy D, Zemany L, Kahn BB, Papademetris X, Rothman DL, Shulman GI. The role of skeletal muscle insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome. Volume 104 of Issue 31. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2007. PMID: 17640906


  37. Karr CJ, Solomon GM, Brock-Utne AC. Health effects of common home, lawn, and garden pesticides. Volume 54 of Issue 1. Pediatric clinics of North America 2007. PMID: 17306684


  38. Thundiyil JG, Solomon GM, Miller MD. Transgenerational exposures: persistent chemical pollutants in the environment and breast milk. Volume 54 of Issue 1. Pediatric clinics of North America 2007. PMID: 17306685


  39. Solomon GM, Hjelmroos-Koski M, Rotkin-Ellman M, Hammond SK. Airborne mold and endotoxin concentrations in New Orleans, Louisiana, after flooding, October through November 2005. Volume 114 of Issue 9. Environmental health perspectives 2006. PMID: 16966092


  40. McDaniel PA, Solomon G, Malone RE. The tobacco industry and pesticide regulations: case studies from tobacco industry archives. Volume 113 of Issue 12. Environmental health perspectives 2005. PMID: 16330343


  41. McDaniel PA, Solomon G, Malone RE. The ethics of industry experimentation using employees: the case of taste-testing pesticide-treated tobacco. Volume 96 of Issue 1. American journal of public health 2005. PMID: 16317198


  42. Sass J, Solomon G. Inappropriate influence by industry on EHP news article. Volume 113 of Issue 2. Environmental health perspectives 2005. PMID: 15687042


  43. Miller M, Solomon G. Environmental risk communication for the clinician. Volume 112 of Issue 1 Pt 2. Pediatrics 2003. PMID: 12837913


  44. Solomon GM, Huddle AM. Low levels of persistent organic pollutants raise concerns for future generations. Volume 56 of Issue 11. Journal of epidemiology and community health 2002. PMID: 12388571


  45. Solomon GM, Weiss PM. Chemical contaminants in breast milk: time trends and regional variability. Volume 110 of Issue 6. Environmental health perspectives 2002. PMID: 12055065


  46. Pandya RJ, Solomon G, Kinner A, Balmes JR. Diesel exhaust and asthma: hypotheses and molecular mechanisms of action. Volume 110 Suppl 1. Environmental health perspectives 2002. PMID: 11834468


  47. Milton DK, Solomon GM, Rosiello RA, Herrick RF. Risk and incidence of asthma attributable to occupational exposure among HMO members. Volume 33 of Issue 1. American journal of industrial medicine 1998. PMID: 9408523


  48. Solomon GM. Reproductive toxins: a growing concern at work and in the community. Volume 39 of Issue 2. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 1997. PMID: 9048315


  49. Solomon GM, Huddle AM, Silbergeld EK, Herman J. Manganese in gasoline:. Volume 7 of Issue 2. New solutions : a journal of environmental and occupational health policy : NS 1997. PMID: 22910009


  50. Solomon GM, Morse EP, Garbo MJ, Milton DK. Stillbirth after occupational exposure to N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. A case report and review of the literature. Volume 38 of Issue 7. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 1996. PMID: 8823662


  51. Tarentino AL, Maley F. A comparison of the substrate specificities of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidases from Streptomyces griseus and Diplococcus Pneumoniae. Volume 67 of Issue 1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 1975. PMID: 1016


  52. Fujii T, Kühn K. Isolation and characterization of pepsin-treated type III collagen from calf skin. Volume 356 of Issue 11. Hoppe-Seyler's Zeitschrift fur physiologische Chemie 1975. PMID: 1337


  53. Bose KS, Sarma RH. Delineation of the intimate details of the backbone conformation of pyridine nucleotide coenzymes in aqueous solution. Volume 66 of Issue 4. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 1975. PMID: 2


  54. Smith RJ, Bryant RG. Metal substitutions incarbonic anhydrase: a halide ion probe study. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 1975. PMID: 3


  55. Lefkowitz RJ. Identification of adenylate cyclase-coupled beta-adrenergic receptors with radiolabeled beta-adrenergic antagonists. Volume 24 of Issue 18. Biochemical pharmacology 1975. PMID: 11


  56. Ehrhart IC, Parker PE, Weidner WJ, Dabney JM, Scott JB, Haddy FJ. Coronary vascular and myocardial responses to carotid body stimulation in the dog. Volume 229 of Issue 3. The American journal of physiology 1975. PMID: 2017


  57. Schmoldt A, Benthe HF, Haberland G. Digitoxin metabolism by rat liver microsomes. Biochemical pharmacology 1975. PMID: 10


  58. Holder AA, Wootton JC, Baron AJ, Chambers GK, Fincham JR. The amino acid sequence of Neurospora NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase. Peptic and chymotryptic peptides and the complete sequence. Volume 149 of Issue 3. The Biochemical journal 1975. PMID: 1002