July 7, 2000

Before Brian Silber lost his three-year battle with spinal cord cancer in 1996, the 28-year-old’s wish was to help others who suffered from this rare type of tumor. Through the hard work of Silber’s parents, Sharon and Jason, (right) his sister, Karen, other family members, friends and many at the MGH, Brian’s wish came to fruition in 1999. In recognition of the Silber family’s goal to raise a $1 million endowment in Brian’s memory, the Brian D. Silber Spine Tumor Clinic was established at the MGH.

According to Jay Loeffler, MD, Brian’s physician and a radiation oncologist at the MGH, the Silber Spine Tumor Clinic is believed to be the first multidisciplinary clinic in the United States specifically dedicated to the care of patients with spine tumors. Researchers at the clinic also are investigating the causes of such tumors and possible new treatments, including the use of chemotherapy. John Henson, MD, executive director of the MGH Brain Tumor Center, published an article about this type of treatment in the journal Neurology, which led to Linda Falgiani’s successful treatment at the MGH (See "Spine tumor clinic helps patient while a family history is discovered" in this issue of Hotline).

The clinic is supported through an annual golf tournament organized by the Silber family and through individual gifts from family and friends. The third annual Brian D. Silber Golf Tournament will be held July 19 at the Colonial Golf Club in Lynnfield. For more information about the tournament, call Amy Fontanella at 4-6426. For more information about the clinic, call Henson at 4-8770 or visit http://spinetumorcenter.mgh.harvard.edu.