Romesh Khardori, Norfolk, Virginia writes:

Last year Springfield bade farewell to a hero who brought laurels to the community where he lived.

It has been a year since the respected and beloved physician Norman Soler left us. His impact was global. A consummate scholar, a gifted teacher and an outstanding physician, his gift to millions of patients with diabetes was the introduction of low-dose insulin infusion therapy in the management of diabetic emergencies, such as diabetic ketoacidosis. This has literally saved millions of lives since its introduction.

He also contributed to the management of diabetic patients with pregnancy. He taught resident and students and changed the lives of many trainees who were fortunate to have him as their mentor.

His work was published in prestigious journals and he remains a figure who stands shoulder to shoulder with many physician scientists who introduced life-saving treatments and made important discoveries.

The medical community in Springfield perhaps did not know of the many of Dr Soler’s gifts to the medical community at large and to have such a gifted man in their midst who never boasted about how accomplished he was.

I was blessed to have him as my mentor and friend. His friendship remains an important gift to me.