Moi's Physician Dies
Dr. David Silverstein, longtime personal physician to former Kenyan President Moi, dies at 82
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Key Points
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Silverstein earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago in 1967, completed internal-medicine residency and cardiology fellowship training at the University of Washington in 1976, and became a Fellow of both the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physicians.
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Before moving permanently to Kenya, Silverstein served as a U.S. Air Force physician and was posted to an air base in Taiwan.
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Silverstein recalled that he and Moi first met in 1977 after Moi’s secretary contacted him at Kenyatta National Hospital. He said their conversations sometimes included prayer, medicine, the Old Testament, international politics and Israel.
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In addition to treating Moi and Nelson Mandela, Silverstein cared for former Kenyan Attorney General Charles Njonjo; Mandela received treatment from him in Nairobi in July 1990 after developing pneumonia.
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Silverstein grew up in north Chicago in a religiously observant Jewish family; his maternal grandfather was Rabbi Moshe Z. Kahn, an Orthodox rabbinic scholar and author.
Dr. David Silverstein, an American cardiologist who served as former Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi's personal physician for nearly 50 years, has died at 82 while receiving hospital treatment Tuko, Citizen Digital. Silverstein moved to Kenya in the 1970s and helped establish the country's first cardiac catheterization laboratory, becoming a trusted confidant to one of Africa's longest-serving leaders.
Moi's family, through his son Gideon Moi, praised Silverstein's empathy and personal touch. They said he treated the former president as a person, not just a patient Eagle News Feed. Silverstein also cared for Nelson Mandela during a 1990 visit to Nairobi and served as Kenya's government chief cardiothoracic physician.
From Chicago to Kenya's First Cardiac Lab
Silverstein earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago in 1967. He completed his cardiology training at the University of Washington by 1976. Before moving to Kenya, he served as a U.S. Air Force physician stationed in Taiwan Pulse. His decision to relocate marked a turning point for cardiac care in East Africa.
At Kenyatta National Hospital, Silverstein led a historic achievement: establishing Kenya's first cardiac catheterization laboratory Citizen Digital. He then directed the hospital's entire cardiology unit. His pioneering work transformed how Kenyan doctors could diagnose and treat heart disease.
A Friendship That Started in 1977
Silverstein met Moi in 1977 after the president's secretary contacted him at Kenyatta National Hospital Citizen Digital. Their relationship deepened over decades of conversations that ranged far beyond medicine. Silverstein recalled they discussed prayer, the Old Testament, international politics, and Israel.
This bond was rare in a doctor-patient relationship. Silverstein treated Moi not as a powerful figure but as a person he genuinely cared for People Daily. The family's tribute highlighted his exceptional ability to combine medical expertise with human warmth.
A Life Rooted in Faith and Medicine
Silverstein grew up in north Chicago in a religiously observant Jewish family Pulse. His maternal grandfather, Rabbi Moshe Z. Kahn, was an Orthodox rabbinic scholar and author. This foundation shaped Silverstein's values of compassion and service throughout his life.
Beyond Moi, Silverstein treated other prominent African leaders, including former Kenyan Attorney General Charles Njonjo People Daily. His credentials included fellowships in both the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physicians. He remained a bridge between Kenya's healthcare system and world-class medical expertise.
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