Silberberg, Ruth 1906-1997

Pathologist, 1906-1997. Silberberg was born in Germany and received her medical degree from the University of Breslau in 1931. She trained in pathology at the University until 1934, when she and her husband, Martin Silberberg, MD, fled to Canada to escape emerging Nazism. They conducted research in pathology at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia until 1936, when they moved to St. Louis to join the Department of Pathology at the Washington University School of Medicine. After a four-year fellowship at New York University from 1941 to 1944, both Ruth and Martin Silberberg returned to Washington University as instructors in Pathology. They often collaborated on research, particularly the study of aging and degenerative arthritis, until Martin Silberberg's death in 1966. In 1968 Ruth Silberberg was named professor of Pathology and professor emeritus in 1975. She then emigrated to Israel where she remained active in medical research until her death.

Born in Germany, Ruth Silberberg (1906-1997) studied medicine at the University of Breslau (M.D. 1931) as did her husband Martin Silberberg (1895-1966). They often collaborated on research, particularly the study of aging and degenerative arthritis, until Martin's death in 1966. The Silberbergs met at the University of Breslau, where Martin was Ruth's professor. Martin was already a specialist in bone diseases, experimental cytology, and hematology. While on a Rockefeller traveling fellowship to the United States in 1928 and 1929, Martin worked with Leo Loeb at Washington University. After getting married in 1933, the Silberbergs worked jointly in the Institute of Pathology at Breslau until forced from their positions by the Nazi regime in 1934.

After leaving Germany, the Silberbergs settled in Canada where they joined the department of Pathology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They moved to St. Louis in 1937 to work with Leo Loeb where Ruth was a researcher in the Department of Pathology. The Silberbergs were on staff at New York University in the Department of Pathology from 1941 until 1944. Then the Silberbergs returned to St. Louis to fill positions in the reorganized Department of Pathology at City Hospital and at Jewish Hospital. Both Martin and Ruth were also instructors in the Department of Pathology at Washington University. Ruth became Assistant Professor of Pathology in 1950, Associate Professor in 1957, and a full Professor in 1968. She retired as Professor Emerita and Lecturer in 1975, and later went to live and work in Israel in 1977. Biographies of Ruth and Martin Silberberg may be found in Medical Journeys, an online exhibit (http://beckerexhibits.wustl.edu/mig/bios/silberberg.html), along with bibliographies and digital images.