Dr. Richard T. Silver (Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City) established himself as a leader in clinical cancer research in 1958, when he coauthored a groundbreaking paper that reported the first significant success in achieving remissions in acute leukemia.

As a researcher and medical oncologist, Dr. Silver wrote hundreds of peer-reviewed articles, wrote or edited several books, created over 100 abstracts and served on numerous review boards. Throughout his distinguished career, he combined clinical investigation, teaching and private practice to make progress towards finding a cure for cancer. As a member, chairman and the president of multiple boards, including the New York State Society of Medical Oncologists and Hematologists, Dr. Silver was involved in a variety of medical societies, visiting professorships and international lectures.

He was a recipient of numerous awards, including routine recognition among The Best Doctors in New York, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Science. In 2000, CR&T and Weill Cornell established the Richard T. Silver Distinguished Professorship of Hematology and Medical Oncology to honor his life’s work and dedication. In recognition of his transformative leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing MPN research and patient care, Weill Cornell Medicine renamed its MPN Center the Richard T. Silver, MD MPN Center, ensuring his legacy continues to inspire future generations of physicians and researchers dedicated to finding better treatments and cures for blood cancers.

Dr. Silver was one of the first physicians to use the anti-viral agent interferon in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and the first to report its effectiveness against polycythemia vera. He developed courses to train physicians in the biopsy of bone marrow and interpretation of the results. His research contributed significantly to current understandings of how infections develop in leukemia.

In addition to his pioneering work in clinical hematology, Dr. Silver advanced the treatment of solid tumors through innovations in chemotherapies for breast and ovarian cancer. His career reflected the special role that blood cancer research plays in the development of treatments for all cancers.

CR&T’s annual Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame Dinner, which celebrates excellence in the cancer patient and research community, has honored Dr. Silver’s compassionate spirit and dedication to improving patients’ lives by naming its Humanitarian Award in his honor. This prestigious recognition serves as a testament to his belief that exceptional medicine must always be coupled with genuine care and advocacy for those affected by cancer, embodying the values he championed throughout his remarkable career.