Sol Silverman
Sol Silverman, Jr., professor of Oral Medicine in the Department of Orofacial Sciences at the UCSF School of Dentistry, has been named recipient of the 2005 School of Dentistry Faculty Researcher Lecturer Award for his outstanding research contributions.
Silverman will deliver his presentation, "Selected Topics in Oral Medicine: A 50-Year Journey," at the School's Research Day on Wednesday, March 2, 2005, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Cole Hall, 513 Parnassus Ave.
Throughout his long career, Silverman has worked to better understand a broad spectrum of patient care problems in oral medicine, including prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Although he has investigated many diseases and conditions, Silverman's focus has always been on oral oncology and collaborative studies.
"In addition to his tangible work in the field of oral cancer, Dr. Silverman has had a profound influence on an untold number of dentists, specialists and dental educators around the world," said Dean Charles N. Bertolami. "He has mentored numerous protégés in the field of dental education - educators who now populate the nation's dental schools."
Past winners of the Faculty Researcher Award are: Ernest Newbrun, John Greenspan, Rajendra Bhatnagar, Sheldon Baumrind, Grayson Marshall, Caroline Damsky, Sally Marshall, Jon Levine, Rik Derynck, John Featherstone and Susan Fisher.
Detecting Oral Cancer
Currently, Silverman is principal investigator on a five-year National Cancer Institute grant that aims to improve early detection of oral cancer, and to provide dental professionals with continuing education courses that teach them to educate patients on the benefits of quitting smoking. There is an outcome assessment component to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in modifying clinician behavior in this aspect of patient care.
Silverman's earlier contributions focused on cytology and descriptions of benign and malignant cells and lesions. His work helped lead to greater awareness of the importance of screening for oral cancer and premalignant lesions in dental health care settings. Follow-up studies with adjunctive techniques (toluidine blue, brush biopsy, and chemiluminescence) have furthered the goal of early recognition and acceleration of biopsy. The original description and biology of the most dangerous leukoplakia, proliferative verrucous leukoplakia, has contributed to the understanding and management of premalignant lesions.
Silverman is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine, past-president of the Board, and past-president of the American Academy of Oral Medicine. He has published more than 300 scientific articles, chapters in text books and monographs. He is author of texts on oral cancer, the oral manifestations of AIDS and essentials of oral medicine.
Silverman serves as a consultant to the American Dental Association (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs, and he is a national spokesperson for the ADA. His many honors include: the UCSF Medal of Honor in 1981; the prestigious ADA Norton Ross award in 1996 for excellence in clinical research; an honorary Doctor of Science Degree from McGill University in Montreal, Canada in 1998; and the prestigious Margaret Hay Edwards medal in 2002 from the American Association for Cancer Education for outstanding contributions to cancer education.
He is a reviewer and editorial consultant to many scientific journals. Silverman heads an active Oral Medicine Clinic involved in patient care, research and teaching.
Source: Cameron Heffernan
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