Sharon D. Solomon, M.D., was honored on the Senate and House floors at the Maryland State House in Annapolis with citations from the governor and the general assembly recognizing her as the first African-American promoted to full professor in the history of the Wilmer Eye Institute.

Many colleagues, dignitaries, and family members were in attendance to honor Dr. Solomon, including Senator Mary Washington, Senator Shirley Nathan-Pulliam and Wilmer Eye Institute Director, Peter J. McDonnell.

"Becoming a doctor is a calling and it is a privilege," Dr. Solomon said while speaking to the general assembly. "What other profession empowers you to minister to and to intervene when someone is at his most vulnerable? To improve not only the quality of life, but to increase its shear length by diagnosing and treating? To recalibrate the mind as you heal the body? To restore sight as well as a sense of value and purpose in the world? To affect change one patient at a time? To educate future leaders one generation at a time? To make scientific discoveries that could change humanity over the course of time?"

Senator Nathan-Pulliam introduced Dr. Solomon, recognizing her for her many accomplishments thus far, including her extensive work chairing various international ophthalmology committees, serving on the editorial board of major journals in her field, and presenting and publishing her research across the globe, among many more.

"Thank you for the unparalleled privilege... to be recognized for something that I feel fortunate to be able to do every day - practice medicine," Dr. Solomon said.

Dr. Solomon (center) was joined by family and colleagues (left to right): Dr. Winsome Leslie, Kimberly Hudson, Darlene Taylor-Lee, Dr. Eva Higgins, Theresa Lee, Christa Lee, Ian Kang, Aidan Kang, Li-Wen Kang, Monica Solomon, Henry Kramer, Jane Kramer, Kimberly Butler and Dr. Basil Morgan.

Dr. Peter J. McDonnell, Senator Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, Dr. Sharon D. Solomon and Dr. Morton F. Goldberg