on the town
Scenes from AN INTERVIEW: HEAR & NOW
by Gus Mollasis
DECEMBER 2017 | SARASOTA SCENE 103
He loves what he does each and every day and that is to
help folks hear their world. Consistently named as one
of the best physicians in America, Dr. Herb Silverstein
has been a leader in making strides and innovations in otology
— the science of the ear — for more than 30 years.
He is regarded internationally as a leading
authority on Meniere’s disease, having
received the prestigious Gold Medal Award
from the Prosper Meniere Society for his work
and contributions to treat the disease. Not bad
for a kid from Philly who went to med school
at Temple University and served on the teaching
staff at Harvard.
In 1979, Dr. Silverstein founded Silverstein
Institute and the Ear Research Foundation,
where today he serves as its President,
Medical Director and Director of Research.
The Foundation is close to the doctor’s heart
and is built on a three-dimensional focus —
research, education and treatment. What he
has learned he has shared, teaching medical
students, residents and fellows, while helping
people from all walks of life.
You’d think that with all that on his plate he
wouldn’t have to time to stop and smell the
flowers of life a bit. But in his case, his flowers
are the second passion of his life — jazz.
Introduced to him in the clubs of Philly in
his youth by his father, Dr. Silverstein, or just
Herb as he is known when he’s tapping the
ivories, fell in love with this great American
musical art form. So much so that up to now
he’s produced some 13 jazz albums largely
comprised and composed of his original
works.
It should also come as no surprise that the
good doctor was more than a little excited
that Mandy Harvey, the deaf singer who rose to fame on
this year’s America’s Got Talent, is coming to Sarasota to share
her talents and focus the spotlight on the good work of the Ear
Research Foundation. It is music to his ears. He couldn’t help but
crack a smile at the thought of sharing perhaps a riff or two with
the young singer. When I sat down with him after he saw his last
patient of the day, I couldn’t wait to kick back and listen to some
jazzy scenes from an interview of his life.
Dr. Herb Silverstein & Mandy Harvey
DR. HERB SILVERSTEIN