About Dr. Solomon
Dr. Solomon began her journey deep inside healthcare as a child with a life-threatening illness. Early in her career, she helped birth hundreds of newborns in high-risk, marginalized communities across Portland, California, Arizona, and Alaska as a certified nurse-midwife. She supported Spanish-speaking families through deliveries in Woodburn and welcomed babies onto the Navajo Reservation.
Dr. Solomon has several offspring of her own; four adults, one who lives with high-needs autism. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, she intimately understands adult and maternal mental health, parenting, disability, blended-family well-being, end of life, and community involvement from the inside-out. Coming from a religious minority, her intersectional identity also offers a rich perspective on equity and inclusion.
Academic Portfolio
Harvard Medical School Postgraduate Medical Education, Boston, MA, 2024
Effective Writing for Health Care Program
Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 2016
PhD in Nursing, Gerontology
Oregon Psychoanalytic Center, Portland, OR 2011
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Certificate
Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 2004
PMHNP Post-Masters Certificate
Yale University, New Haven, CT 1984
MSN, Honors in Nurse-Midwifery
Reed College, Portland, OR 1980
BA in Psychology
Awards & Honors
Grand Award, Social Media (blog post) - 2020
APEX (Awards for Publishing Excellence)
AANP Advocate State Award for Excellence - 2019
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Winner, Top Docs and Nurses - 2014, ’16 (online), ’18, ’19
Portland Monthly
Hartford Award for Research and Practice 2015
Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing
Hartford Center for Gerontological Nursing Excellence, OHSU
Dean’s Award - 2014
Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing
Other Essential Activities:
-
Emerita member, Oregon Wellness Program Executive Committee - 2024 - present
-
Chair, Implementation Task Force, Nurse Expansion, Oregon Wellness Program - 2021-2023
-
Member. OHSU School of Nursing Women’s Health Research Interest Group - 2022-2023
-
Chair, Nurse Practitioners of Oregon - 2021-2022
-
Advisory Member, Lines for Life, Substance Abuse/Mental Health Helpers Initiative - 2020-2021
-
Workforce Co-chair, Governor’s Behavioral Health Policy Advisory Council - 2019-2020
-
Chair, Nurse Practitioners of Oregon Health Policy Committee - 2018-2020
-
Board member, ONA Board of Directors - 2019-2022
-
Board member, ONA Cabinet on Health Policy - 2018-2019
-
Board member, Program Committee, Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association - 2014 – 2018
Reviews
“Diane has such a relatable voice when she writes. I instantly feel captured by her stories and I'm always looking to read more!”
Kathy Smith
Personal Acquaintance
“Diane is outstanding at both policy development and program implementation. She helped guide the Oregon Wellness Program through expansion from serving 25,000 healthcare professionals to 130,000 eligible licensees. She was the pivot in upscaling the network to successfully serve these clients.”
Tim Goldfarb
President, The Foundation for Medical Excellence; retired CEO of multiple academic health systems
“As Oregon House Healthcare Committee Chair, I wanted to ensure nurses enjoy the improvements in recruitment, recognition, and retention they so deserve. Collaborating with Diane was both strategic and brilliant. Highly recommend!”
Rachel Prusak
FNP, Executive Director, Oregon State Board of Nursing; Former Oregon State Representative