The gift was celebrated during a special ceremony on September 4, where Quinnipiac President Marie Hardin, medical school faculty and staff, students, administrators, and university leaders gathered to thank Silver for his longstanding generosity and vision.

“Rick Silver is a treasured trustee for many reasons, including his vision and his generosity, and this collection brings those two qualities together,” Hardin said. “It is now a unique and powerful part of the Netter experience for students, providing important insight and value to their education.”

The curated collection, showcased in two glass display cabinets at the library entrance, features 30 historic instruments and artifacts that trace the evolution of medical technology — from 19th-century ether anesthesia bottles to early anesthesia monitors and other devices that highlight both progress and shortcomings in medical innovation.

Silver, who has served on Quinnipiac’s School of Law Advisory Board for more than 40 years, said he began collecting antique medical instruments more than 35 years ago, inspired by his fascination with medicine and his extensive legal work in medical malpractice.

“What we’re looking at with this collection is the progress and failures of medical equipment over the years,” Silver said. “The development of new projects in medicine often takes a long time; and in that long time, there are people who are being injured because we don’t have improvement.”

Dr. Lisa D. Coplit, interim dean of the School of Medicine, emphasized that the donation offers students more than a history lesson.



“At many of the nation’s great medical schools, collections such as this are a treasured tradition,” Coplit said. “They are not only historical archives, but powerful teaching tools — helping future physicians appreciate both the triumphs and humbling lessons of the past."

Silver’s latest gift builds on decades of philanthropy and service to Quinnipiac. Recently, his support helped launch the Silver Scholars program, a paid summer internship at Stamford Health for top undergraduate students and enabled the School of Law to pilot a 3L Pre-Bar course in 2024 to strengthen bar exam preparation.

Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs Nick Wormley, who introduced Silver at the ceremony, praised his commitment.



“We couldn’t ask for more dedication than you have given to the university,” Wormley said. “Your generosity, mentorship and true commitment to student success are an enduring example for us all.”

Silver’s collection will now serve as a lasting educational resource, allowing future generations of Netter medical students to engage with the history of medicine while preparing to advance its future.

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