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Cover – Dr. Herbert Silverstein – The Silverstein Institute, Composer/Musician

Dr. Herbert Silverstein

An Ear For Music

By Ed Bertha

Photography by Giovanni Lunardi

Layout by Christian Lunardi

Medicine

Raised in the center city of Philadelphia, Herbert Silverstein was the number one son in the family. His father, a Neuro-Psychiatrist and Professor at Temple University, had big ideas for the boy. On Herb’s tenth birthday, his father informed him that he was going to be a doctor. Herb recalls, “In those days you did what you were told. And back then doctors were revered.”

That being said, Herb’s future was slated to become a Neuro-Surgeon because, as his father had shared, “A surgeon can do more than a neurologist.” During his internship, Herb discovered that he really didn’t like the role. It was depressing. He was frustrated. “The tools and procedures then were nowhere near the same that we have today.”

When Herb first saw an operating microscope, his future changed. Keeping within the realm of becoming a doctor, he decided to specialize in Otolaryngology, the science of the ear, nose and throat (ENT). The field was exciting. The operating microscope was just beginning, and its use opened so many more doors. Research was hot and one of Herb’s greatest passions.

dr-herbert-silverstein-400After graduating from Temple Medical School, Herb went to Harvard University to continue his training, ultimately spending eight years in Boston, teaching, doing research and clinical Otology (ear surgery). A stint in the Army landed him in Hawaii whetting his appetite for the tropical climate. After Harvard, Herb got a job at the University of Pennsylvania as assistant professor where he taught, had a clinical practice and ran a research lab. Twelve- hour days lead to burn- out at the early age of thirty-eight.

He decided to retire. He had an already retired cousin on Bird Key. In 1973, Herb packed his old car with his one suitcase and an empty wallet and headed to Sarasota. Retirement lasted only as long as the road trip. Sun, sand and beautiful weather could not stop his innate desire to continue his research and patient care. However, shortly after his arrival, the three ENT docs in town informed him that he was neither needed nor wanted.

Against all odds, he hung a shingle. Herb shares, “I was just having a ball down here. Up north, I had become so frustrated and discouraged dealing with the university inefficiency. Getting anything done was difficult.”

Sarasota was to change that. Shortly after starting his ENT practice, he met Neurosurgeon Dr. Horace Norrell. What started as a friendship turned into a serious collaboration and the resulting development of the specialized field of Neurotology (Neurology and Otology). The two produced five annual International Symposiums on the Ear and Skull Base, held in Sarasota. As they say the rest is history.

Internationally renowned, the good doctor has written over 245 scientific papers, composed eight books on ear surgery, written numerous chapters in text books, and developed many innovative surgical instruments and procedures. He also began a Clinical Fellowship, post- graduate program in 1983 which has thus far trained 41 board certified Otolaryngologists in Neurotology, many of whom have gone on to universities around the country.


Thanks to his research, beneficial procedures like the Vestibular Neurectomy are used to relieve the vertigo of Meniere’s disease. For those with Otosclerosis, the laser STAMP is used to restore hearing – without the need for a prosthesis. Herb designed a facial nerve monitor that is used during ear surgery to locate and protect that tiny winding nerve. For cases of sudden deafness and Meniere’s disease, he developed the MicroWick™ that delivers essential medication to the inner ear immediately. Herb pioneered minimally invasive ear surgery, the use of endoscopes and the laser in ear surgery. Recently he developed a minimally invasive procedure to help people with Hyperacusis (noise intolerance) tolerate loud sounds.

Among his many honors and accolades are the Howard P. House Award for Excellence in Ear Surgery and the Prosper Meniere Society Gold Medal Honor Award. Herb is one of a group of Otologists in America to be elected to the Best Doctors in the U.S.A. repeatedly since 1979. In 2002, he received the prestigious Presidential Citation from the American Academy of Otolaryngology. He served as President of the Otosclerosis Study Group in 2005, and in 2006 received the Award of Merit from the American Otological Society. Locally, March 9th was declared Herbert Silverstein Day by the City of Sarasota.

We all have heard of both the Mayo and the Cleveland Clinics The Silverstein Institute carries the same international notoriety in the field of Otology. What started in 1979 as a small practice in a small town has developed into the Silverstein Institute which is comprised of four divisions; Florida Ear & Sinus Center, Medical Hearing Systems, Premier Facial Plastic Surgery and the Ear Research Foundation, housed in a 30,000 square foot facility.

Music

Music ran in Herb’s family. His mother played piano and an uncle played violin in the Philadelphia Orchestra. At age five, Herb began taking piano lessons, eventually studying classical music until age 15. That was when the medical profession, along with the persuasion of his father, won out over the artistical musician.

Never dissuaded, during the time before college Herb followed his passion and frequented the jazz clubs in Philadelphia and New York. However, while in college Herb eschewed the piano for the drums, and joined a jazz band. After college and ensconced in his medical studies, the twelve- hour work days left no time for music. That love had to wither for his career. Coincidentally, the emergence of rock and roll put jazz into a steady decline.

All was not lost. In the 1970’s, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock introduced Fusion/Jazz. Jazz had returned to the States. Knowing of Herb’s jazz love, one of his sons brought him a record of Chick Corea’s –“Return to Forever”. That is just what Herb did. His musical flame was reignited, and at age forty-eight, he re-entered the world of music thus beginning his long running affair with Jazz – forever.


The entry was slow. He had to start at the beginning with painful piano lessons. Leaning back Herb reflects, “Starting again was tough. I had to re-learn how to read music. It was one note at a time.” Ten years later, Herb recorded his first CD, “For your Ears Only”. To this day Herb continues to take lessons.

Now the master Jazz pianist has recorded 12 CDs, written 58 original songs (48 recorded) and produced 1 concert DVD. His 12th CD, “Monday Morning”, featured an all-star cast: Herb; piano, Marty Morell; drums, Jeff Rupert; tenor sax, Richard Drexler; bass, and LaRue Nickelson; guitar.

Ken Franckling of Jazz Notes has rated “Wish You Were Here” from the “Monday Morning” album, one of the 10 best Jazz recordings in 2014. Lucky album 13, untitled and in the works, is slated to contain the unrecorded 10 tracks. And let’s not forget his book, “Jazz Harmony & Improvisation” written with Richard Drexler.

Herb’s passion for Jazz rivals that of the MD. Herb offers, “There is a connection between jazz music and ear surgery. Both are difficult to master. Both are meticulous, require manual dexterity and improvisation. Both are time-consuming and require lots of patience.” Music is his passion. His recordings and various appearances are done for the benefit of the Ear Research Foundation. Check it out on www.HerbSilverstein.com.

Mind, music and medicine. An interesting composition.

Life

Meeting with Herb one quickly notices one man in love with life. When you remove medicine and music the athlete emerges. Investing in himself keeps the creativity flowing and the body young. A little- known fact is Herb played tournament tennis until his love for jazz displaced it due to time constraints. Scuba diving and underwater photography played a part in his younger years.

Now Herb is an avid biker. You’ll see Herb the biker leave the Silverstein Institute for a ride most days across the Ringling Bridge. Additionally, Herb rides the Legacy Trail several times a week. You’ll also find Herb on the elliptical machine every day and hitting the weights three times a week. Add in some swimming and you have one fit individual.


Herb enjoys travels out west where he hikes, climbs and skis. “I love Aspen. It has a lot in common with Sarasota.” Regarding Sarasota he offers, “When I came down to Sarasota in 1973 it was a clean place with great weather, a small town quietness and the ability to do a lot of things.” Herb continues, “Now I see Sarasota like New York, a big city. I disappear to quiet Manasota Key with my buddy, Australian cattle dog Zorro, each weekend to enjoy the beach, bay, water, sunsets, my Piano and let’s not forget my trains.”

Herb started building model trains as a young child and continued collecting and building till age 14 or 15 when girls garnered his interest. Now, as an adult, what started out as an 8’ x 10’ oval has grown. The HO gauge model railway grew to take up the basement of his Manasota Key Home. It overflowed from there into the garage requiring the home to be remodeled to accommodate the railway. With his wife Beth they spent 25 years building a large layout which can be seen on You Tube as the “B and H Railway”.

“When I was young, building trains and train layouts, I knew I would become a surgeon. I was always doing intricate things with my hands and so continue to this day.

Maybe we need to add conductor to his list of credentials. “All Aboard!”

Herbert Silverstein, MD
The Silverstein Institute
1901 Floyd Street
Sarasota, Florida 34239
400 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 260
Venice, Florida 34285
(941) 366.9222
www.EarSinus.com

Herb Silverstein, Musician/Composer
www.HerbSilverstein.com
Copyright © 2015 REAL Exclusive Magazine
Links to this article are encouraged

Photography used under license from Giovanni Lunardi Photography
Photography Copyright © 2015 Giovanni Lunardi Photography

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