RICHARD SILVERMAN, MD, NAMED WATERBURY HOSPITAL’S 2010 HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR

Physician to be honored at annual Waterbury Hospital Gala in November

WATERBURY – Waterbury Hospital announced that Richard Silverman, MD, a pulmonologist, has been selected to receive the hospital’s highest honor, the 2010 Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Dr. Silverman, who has been affiliated with the hospital for more than 17 years as an attending physician in the Intensive Care Unit, is the founder and executive director of the Home-to-Home Foundation. Dr. Silverman founded the Home-to-Home Foundation seven years ago, an organization that seeks to alleviate the physical and emotional issues associated with isolation in nursing home facilities. The mission of the organization is to bring joy, purpose and fulfillment to nursing home residents through meaningful, individualized programs and extensive community involvement.

The foundation has raised more than a half million dollars over the years and has introduced well-known community events like the annual Bowl-A-Thon, celebrity basketball game, the motorcycle rally, golf tournament and many others which not only raise money for programming, but provide enjoyable social outings for nursing home residents. Additionally, the organization organizes manicures, pet therapy, professional wrestling matches, outdoor movie nights, holiday visits, birthday car and newspaper deliveries and mini concerts at numerous nursing home facilities in the Greater Waterbury Area. Annually, the Foundation touches the lives of approximately 1,000 nursing home residents.

Dr. Silverman decided to form the foundation seven years ago while working with patients at nursing homes in the Greater Waterbury Region. As he got to know many of them, he grew concerned that so many long-term nursing home residents rarely, if ever, receive visits from family or friends. In fact, national statistics show that, over the course of an average year, more than 70 percent of long-term nursing home residents never receive visits from friends or loved ones.

“Dr. Silverman is richly deserving of this award,” said Steven E. Schneider, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Waterbury Hospital. “He is an enormously popular and respected physician. His devotion to long-term nursing home residents is truly astounding to comprehend. He has made a profound difference in the community our hospital serves.”   

The Humanitarian of the Year Award is bestowed upon those who have demonstrated a history of providing above-and-beyond service to Waterbury Hospital and the community. Now in its seventh year, the award is designed to honor those who best exemplify the hospital’s healing mission through sustained and dedicated service or philanthropy. 

A multidisciplinary committee selected Dr. Silverman based upon the posted criteria for the award which included: outstanding volunteer or clinical service to the hospital that exceeds the expected or customary; ambassadorship of the hospital in the Greater Waterbury community; and personification of the hospital’s healing mission and the ability to inspire the same in others. Past Humanitarian winners include: David Reed, MD, and his wife Joan Reed; Rev. Richard Bollea; Shirley Harkins, RN; Howard Parsons; Vickie Luddy; and Richard Smith, MSW. 

Dr. Silverman’s contributions to Waterbury Hospital will be celebrated at the 11^th Annual Waterbury Hospital Charity Gala on Nov. 20 at the Villa Rosa Ponte Club in Waterbury. The hospital will also be celebrating its 120^th year during the evening’s festivities. For additional information on the Gala, please contact Gege Pelletier at (203) 573-7691.