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In Memoriam: George A. Silver, M.D., M.P.H., Professor Emeritus of Public Health

Message from Dr. Leaderer:

I write to inform you that Dr. George Silver, Professor Emeritus of Public Health, passed away on Friday, January 7, 2005, in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

George was born on December 23, 1913 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1934 and an M.D. from Jefferson Medical College in 1938. He went on to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II and as a Regional Health Officer in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Migrant Labor Program before receiving his M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins in 1948.

From 1951 to 1965, George was Chief of the Division of Social Medicine at Montefiore Hospital in New York City, where his leadership made that group’s family health demonstration, home care program, prepaid group practice and patient care research a model for medical care world-wide. In 1965, he became Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Scientific Affairs in the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (now the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). He held that post until 1968, and during his tenure had important influence on health policy and program innovations. He served as Executive Associate for Health Affairs at the Urban Coalition from 1968 to 1971, working on a program to improve inner city health services.

While still serving in other capacities, George came to Yale in 1965 as a Lecturer in Medical Care. He became a Professor in 1969, and felt he learned a great deal from his students, who loved to engage him in vigorous discussion of public health issues. He retired in 1984.

A recognized authority on international health, health services and health care delivery programs, George’s research interests were in the areas of federal health policy, manpower problems in the health field, social medicine, and program and policy evaluation. His concern about racial disparity and economic inequality informed and influenced his work.

He was a Senior Member of the Institute of Medicine, served on the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Medical Care from 1962 to 1982, and served as Secretary of the Federation of American Scientists’ National Council from 1980 to 1987. He received the Superior Service Medal from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the Martha May Eliot Award from the American Public Health Association.

George moved from New Haven to Chevy Chase in 2001. He remained active in his fields of interest, and authored “Health Care: Beyond Markets,” which appeared in The Washington Post on November 11, 2004.

George is survived by his wife, Mitzi, three children, James, Jane and Judith Barrett, a brother, Paul, a sister, Mildred Granatir, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in George’s honor to the George Washington University School of Public Health, Health Policy Department. A memorial service will be announced.