Rush Pediatrics Chair Jean Silvestri, MD, has retired after 41 years, closing a remarkable chapter in a career defined by hands-on care, deep human connection and a passion for teaching. Her last day was June 30.
“Jean has been an extraordinary leader and colleague throughout her career at Rush,” said Rush Medical College Dean and Senior Vice President Pete S. Batra, MD. “She has always been thoughtful, collaborative and unwavering in her advocacy for children, families and the faculty she led.”
Steven Rothschild, MD, chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, said Silvestri was always one of the first people he turned to when he needed to think through a problem.
“She is someone I have come to trust for her clear vision, candor and honesty. More than anything, I will miss her humanism and her humor. Even in the most frustrating times we have been able to laugh together.”
Early calling
Silvestri’s calling to care for others was shaped very early in life. Her mother was an “old time pediatrician,” who would make house calls. Watching that care firsthand inspired Silvestri to play doctor with her stuffed animals, listening to their hearts with a toy stethoscope and imagining herself one day following the same path.
Given her upbringing, it is no surprise that Silvestri would choose to pursue a career in healthcare. Despite challenges and setbacks — from being told she would not be accepted into medical school to financial instability — Silvestri persisted. She graduated from Cornell University, followed by medical school at the University of Pittsburgh.
Silvestri completed her residency at Children’s Memorial Hospital (now Lurie Children’s), followed by a fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where she developed a passion for infant care and neonatology. It was here that she found her stride by embracing a hands-on, relationship-driven model of care.
When she joined Rush in 1985 as a neonatologist, neonatal care was evolving toward a more family-centered model. This evolution launched Silvestri into the academic specialty she is now known for, where her research focused on neonatal care, infant safety and neonatal resuscitation.
Beyond the bedside
As she moved into leadership roles, Silvestri expanded the Department of Pediatrics’ impact beyond the bedside. Through initiatives supported by the Woman’s Board endowment, she championed programs that boosted resident training in quality and patient safety and strengthened diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the department.
Under her leadership, faculty and trainees developed scholarly work, restorative justice programming and community-centered projects that improved access to care, advanced health equity and helped prepare the next generation of pediatric leaders.
Reflecting on her lifelong commitment to caring for infants and families, Silvestri has come to realize that patient care has long served as her anchor and purpose. But, in the end, “Relationships are the heart of my work,” she says.
“Success is not defined by just outcomes, but by the people we help along the way,” Silvestri said. “The same holds true for the many trainees. I get emotional thinking about it, but when I sign their diplomas, I’m telling residents that I’m with them forever.”
Looking ahead, Silvestri plans to approach the next chapter of her life with the same curiosity and intention that defined her career. She’ll spend time traveling, staying engaged with her community, reading “at least three books at a time” and spending time with husband, two children and their partners. Above all, she is committed to embracing whatever comes next with gratitude and joy.
