A husband and father of two, Steve Silvestro, MD, was raised in Hamilton, NJ, by parents who encouraged the belief that a focused mind could achieve anything. He went on to complete his undergraduate studies in Biology and English at Georgetown University, and continued to earn his M.D. at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.
While in medical school, Dr. Silvestro participated in the Georgetown University School of Medicine’s Mind-Body Medicine Program for three years, learning various meditation, imagery, and mindfulness techniques. He contributed to research involving the effects of such a mind-body course on medical students’ self-awareness and well-being.
Following medical school, Dr. Silvestro received his training in Pediatrics at Georgetown University Hospital, where he first utilized mindfulness-based techniques with hospitalized patients. During his residency, he was nominated for the String of Pearls Award, an honor given to residents recognized as outstanding teachers of medical students.
In 2010, Dr. Silvestro received training to facilitate mind-body medicine groups for medical students at Georgetown. He began co-facilitating groups in the Spring of 2011, with the belief that a physician-in-training who is more self-aware can journey on to become a more mindful, compassionate physician.
Dr. Silvestro also believes in the power of humor in healing. As an undergraduate, he became involved with Patch Adams and created a clown troupe that brought laughter and good cheer to DC area hospitals, nursing homes, and public spaces. He continued his clowning in medical school, traveling to Russia with Patch and forty other clowns from around the world to bring joy to children’s hospitals and orphanages. Dr. Silvestro currently enjoys performing magic and encouraging laughter in his pediatric patients and their parents.
Dr. Silvestro currently practices as a general pediatrician in North Bethesda, MD.
