by John Chapman Urbaitis, M.D.
[September 1995; Vol. 22 No. 4]
Stuart B. Silver, M.D., Director of Maryland’s Mental Hygiene Administration, has been honored by the dedication of a new wing at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital. The new building is named for Dr. Silver in recognition of his efforts to better the living conditions for patients at Perkins, Maryland’s forensic psychiatric hospital. Dr. Silver was Superintendent of Perkins 1979-88, Clinical Director there 1976-79, and had started his career there in 1973 as a consultant and staff psychiatrist after completing his training in psychiatry at Johns Hopkins, followed by a forensic psychiatry fellowship at University of Maryland.
The Silver Wing, dedicated July 21, 1995, includes a new admission unit and a new residential unit, in addition to gymnasium, library, chapel, visiting area and conference center. Phase 2 of the Silver Wing, to be completed in 1997, will add four patient residential units, a new medical clinic, new dining facility, and other areas to support patient care. The hospitals’ bed capacity will then be 250.
At the dedication ceremonies, Martin Wasserman M.D., J.D., Secretary of Health, said that the Silver Wing was a step in his vision of building healthy people in healthy communities, with a community partnership, and high quality, culturally sensitive services. He stated, “Dr. Silver, this is your gift to society.”
Anne-Louise S. Silver, M.D., in her keynote speech, commented on the “quiet moral dignity and Shaker simplicity” of the structure. She pointed out that “Stu is opposed to notoriety, so naming this building after him is a huge practical joke.” Remarks by others, including the architect for the project, and the chairman of the Perkins Citizens Advisory Panel, emphasized Dr. Silver’s dedication to sensitive, high quality clinical services.
Dr. Silver’s other activities include founding the association of State Mental Health Forensic Directors, of which he was President in 1985. He is now President-Elect of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. He has led Maryland’s forensic psychiatry services with establishing outpatient screening for forensic evaluations, building a strong partnership with the local community around the Hospital Center, and pioneering the program of conditional release for persons found not criminally responsible but in need of continuing psychiatric treatment.
Maryland’s forensic psychiatry system is known as a model for other states. Dr. Silver has continued to promote its development: in 1994 he established a forensic steering committee as part of a reform process for Maryland’s extended forensic psychiatry system. This work will consider services in juvenile courts, jails and prisons.
Honors related to the naming of the Silver Wing began with Governor Schaefer naming the new wing the Stuart B. Silver Wing at the State’s Board of Estimate in December 1994, and continued with a day of activities July 21. A symposium “Emerging Issues in Forensic Services” inaugurated the new conference facilities in the Silver Wing. Speakers included Jonas R. Rappeport M.D., Russell C. Petrella Ph.D., and Robert T.M. Phillips, M.D., Ph.D., APA’s Deputy Medical Director for Psychiatric Services.
Closing the dedication ceremonies, Dr. Silver offered praise to the staff and project group for their teamwork. He said that the new space, open and airy, will provide a good environment; he also renewed his commitment to including the community in the work at Perkins, to promote understanding and support.