It is with deep sadness that we share the loss of Richard T. Silver, M.D, who died on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the age of 97. He leaves a legacy that will endure far beyond his years. In addition to his profound contributions to hematology, his commitment to Weill Cornell Medicine and to philanthropy will continue to shape our institution for generations.
Dr. Silver was a dedicated “Triple Cornellian”, having completed his undergraduate degree, medical degree, and residency training at Cornell University. For more than seven decades, Dr. Silver devoted his career to understanding and treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). He is widely recognized as a pioneer in the clinical investigation of these diseases, a distinction rooted in his enduring commitment to discovery, patient advocacy and scientific excellence, and in his deep loyalty to the institution he called home for the entirety of his storied career.
Dr. Silver's contributions to medicine are both sweeping and deeply personal to our institution. He was instrumental in defining the diagnostic criteria for polycythemia vera (PV) and was among the first to introduce interferon as a treatment for MPNs — work that reshaped how an entire class of blood cancers is managed worldwide. He also chaired the American Society of Hematology (ASH)'s guidelines committee for the treatment of CML and is credited with developing the bone marrow biopsy technique used throughout the world for diagnosing hematologic disorders.
In 1968, Dr. Silver founded the Cancer Research & Treatment Fund (CR&T), which has since awarded approximately $17 million in research grants spanning MPNs, CML, and breast, lung, and prostate cancers. CR&T’s philanthropic contributions were the backbone of establishing the Richard T. Silver, M.D. Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Silver received numerous awards and honors and established the first International Congress focused on Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, which for more than 25 years brought together physician-scientists and patients alike. He held strong views and was never hesitant to express them, yet he was equally committed to fostering open, constructive dialogue. At Weill Cornell Medicine, colleagues and patients honored his lasting impact by establishing the Richard T. Silver M.D. Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Center, a named Distinguished Professor of Hematology/Oncology Chair, and a Visiting Professorship in the Weill Department of Medicine.
Those who knew Dr. Silver will remember not only his accomplishments, but his intellectual generosity, sense of humor and enduring curiosity about what medicine could achieve. He believed deeply in bringing people together across disciplines and perspective in a spirit of collegiality and shared purpose. The generations of clinicians and researchers he mentored, the patients whose lives were extended by his care or discoveries, and the institution he helped shape stand as a lasting testament to his impact. He was part of the fabric of New York hematology, and he will be missed.