William Silverstein

MD, MSc, FRCPC
Associate Scientist, General Internist
william.silverstein@sunnybrook.ca
Phone: 416-480-4290
Fax: 416-480-4563

Research Assistant:

Assistant
Phone: 416-480-6737
Fax: 416-480-6739
Email: GIMclinic@sunnybrook.ca

Upwards of 30 per cent of tests, treatments, and procedures are ordered without an indication and can expose patients to harm, consume precious health care resources, and contribute to the climate crisis. Dr. Silverstein’s research program aims to reduce the delivery of these unnecessary tests, treatments, and procedures. He aims to accomplish this in three ways – the first is using health system databases to define the scope of low-value care being provided in Canada and internationally. His second pillar is to develop, pilot, and scale quality improvement initiatives and broader system changes that promote appropriate care. Last, he leads educational programs (such as Choosing Wisely Canada STARS) that teach medical students, residents, and other interprofessional health colleagues on resource stewardship principles. He is also an Editor of the Teachable Moments Series at JAMA Internal Medicine, which publishes articles that seek to educate medical trainees about the harms that result from overuse of health services.

Education

  • BMSc, 2013, Honors Specialization in Medical Sciences with distinction, Minor in Pharmacology, Western University, Canada
  • MD, 2017, University of Toronto, Canada
  • FRCPC, 2021, Internal Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada
  • MSc, 2021, Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, University of Toronto, Canada
  • FRCPC, 2023, General Internal Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada

Appointments & Affiliations

  • Associate Scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences Platform, Integrated Community Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute,
  • Staff Physician, Division of General Internal Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre,
  • Lead, Choosing Wisely Canada STARS,
  • Teachable Moments Editor, JAMA Internal Medicine,
  • Affiliate Member, Centre for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, University of Toronto,
  • Assistant Professor (Clinician in Quality and Innovation), Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto,

Research Foci

  • Medical Education
  • Quality Improvement/Patient Safety
  • Resource Stewardship

Affiliated Labs & Programs

Selected Publications

  1. Silverstein WK, Lin Y, Dharma C, Croxford R, Earle CC, Cheung MC. Prevalence of Inappropriateness of Parenteral Vitamin B12 Administration in Ontario, Canada. JAMA Intern Med. 2019 Oct 1;179(10):1434-1436. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.1859. Erratum in: JAMA Intern Med. 2019 Aug 26;: PMID: 31305876; PMCID: PMC6632124

  2. Silverstein WK, Weinerman AS, Born K, Dumba C, Moriates CP. Reducing routine inpatient blood testing. BMJ. 2022 Oct 26;379:e070698. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2022-070698. PMID: 36288811

  3. Lakhani A, Lass E, Silverstein WK, Born KB, Levinson W, Wong BM. Choosing Wisely for Medical Education: Six Things Medical Students and Trainees Should Question. Acad Med. 2016 Oct;91(10):1374-1378. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000001325. PMID: 27489017

  4. Silverstein WK, Zipursky JS, Shadowitz S. Closing the Osteoporosis Care Gap: A Teachable Moment. JAMA Intern Med. 2021 Dec 1;181(12):1635-1636. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.5972. PMID: 34661618

  5. Silverstein WK, Stroud L, Cleghorn GE, Leis JA. First imported case of 2019 novel coronavirus in Canada, presenting as mild pneumonia. Lancet. 2020 Feb 29;395(10225):734. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30370-6. Epub 2020 Feb 13. Erratum in: Lancet. 2020 Feb 29;395(10225):e41. PMID: 32061312; PMCID: PMC7134552

  6. Silverstein WK, Leis JA, Moriates C. “4 E’s” Ways That Clinicians Can Reduce Low-Value Care on Medical Wards. JAMA Intern Med. Published online January 29, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.7632

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