Paul Silverstein passed away after a long illness on April 19, 2021. Born on July 11, 1938, and raised in Boston, he graduated from Roxbury Latin School in 1956 and, in 1960, earned his BA magna cum laude in Biology at Harvard College, after receiving a Phi Beta Kappa key in his junior year, and where he was affiliated with Winthrop House. In 1964, he received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, after which he went back to Boston for a five-year Residency at Boston City Hospital.
The Vietnam War was raging and Paul was accepted into the Berry Plan that allowed him to finish his General Surgical training in return for a three-year enlistment. He had already developed a passion for the acute and reconstructive phase treatment of burns and was assigned to the Burn Unit at the U.S. Army's Institute of Surgical Research at Fort Sam Houston. Paul participated in evacuating burned soldiers from Vietnam and in developing new techniques for their treatment. He attained the rank of Major, received the Army's Meritorious Service Award, and then went on to complete a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship at Emory University.
Paul's desire to stay in a warmer climate led him ultimately to Oklahoma City in 1974 where he joined a plastic surgery practice with Dr W. Edward Dalton, a major proponent for the creation of a burn treatment facility. Paul set out to design and direct a state-of -the-art burn treatment center, which became a reality in 1975 at Baptist Hospital. The center was enlarged to include huge hyperbaric chambers and facilities to promote wound healing. In 2000, after 25 years of his leadership, the Burn Unit was renamed the Integris Paul Silverstein Burn Center. May 31, 2000, was, by Gubernatorial proclamation, named "Integris Baptist Burn Centers and Dr. Paul Silverstein M.D. Day". Paul stepped down as Director in 2000 but remained actively involved as a consultant until his illness intervened. In 2019, Paul was honored at the Oklahoma Creativity Ambassadors Gala as a "surgical innovator for burn victims". His research, publications, awards and testimonials are numerous. Paul rose to the rank of 1st VP of the American Burn Association and he was nationally and internationally recognized for his work. His philanthropic activities were noteworthy including his stint as Chairman of the Board of the Integris Foundation.
Paul was a collector of museum-quality art and sculpture which adorn his home and lawn. He was also an accomplished pianist, a professional waterski instructor, scuba diver, boater, and fisherman ... and he was a Jack Daniels Squire.
Paul is survived by his wife, the love of his life, Amalia; his brother, Peter (Linda); his children Steven (Beth), Bruce, Andrea (Dennis), and Deborah (Stefan), and his grandchildren David (Catlin), Rebecca, Laura, Arthur, Oliver, Ilana, Samantha, Maxwell, and Henry.
Private services were held Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Published, in slightly altered form, by The Oklahoman from April 23 to April 25, 2021.
