We were delighted to chat to Dr Derrick DeSilva, internationally recognised expert in optimal ageing and longevity medicine, about his career and involvement in next year’s AMWC Monaco.
Derrick DeSilva.
What first attracted you to medicine and what then led you to specialise in anti-ageing and longevity medicine?
The better question is, who led me to medicine? And the answer to that question is my grandmother; she was somebody who always talked to me about healing and healing with what Mother Earth provides us with. Herbs and botanicals are where it all starts. From there, I saw that longevity and ageing optimally was the next progression in my journey to healing the complete person.
What have been your career highlights so far?
My career highlights include being nominated and winning the Allen Mintz Award for Excellence in Clinical Age Management Medicine. The other would be being named one of the top doctors in New York and New Jersey for the past 20-plus consecutive years. I've also had the pleasure of taking care of some very prominent people throughout the world and making a difference in their lives over the years. But not only the prominent people, but the everyday people who truly need help along their journey of health and wellness. The other career highlight that I'm very proud of is my ability to teach young physicians about the world of integrative and longevity medicine.
Who has inspired you along the way and what advice has stuck with you?
The person who inspired me along my journey has been my dear mother, who always reminded me of the fact that people need to be healthy, and it was my job, according to her, to do the best I can to guide people along this journey of health and wellness. The advice my mother also gave me was to treat everybody equally. I really take that to heart every day when I see people in my practice. I make sure that I treat everybody with the same respect that they deserve, no matter who they are.
You are on the Scientific Committee for next year’s AMWC in Monaco. Can you tell us about the themes and potential highlights of the event?
The obvious themes are longevity and wellness. The idea of shortening the gap between lifespan and health span. There are so many new and exciting modalities that are surfacing. Everything from biologic agents, such as exosomes, to mitochondrial agents to revitalise the cell. Also, new peptides and so many other new therapies will have an impact on longevity. As far as I'm concerned, the exciting themes in Monaco will be our ability to improve health span, and at the same time increase lifespan, and allow people to live long and more productive lives. The themes will focus on quality of life and quantity of life.
Do you enjoy your role with AMWC and medical education in general?
One of the things that I have enjoyed throughout my career has been education. I have been teaching medical students and residents most of my career, and it is something that I enjoy very much. The knowledge that I have gained over the past three decades in clinical practice needs to be passed on, and it needs to be passed on to the younger generation. Therefore, my role at AMWC and as an educator is something that I not only enjoy and truly cherish but also take very seriously. I would also like to thank AMWC for this opportunity to share my knowledge via the platform of education.
And finally, if you have any spare time, how do you like to relax?
By the way, believe it or not, I have plenty of spare time. I have always been an avid fan and participant in the world of tennis. I played competitive tennis in college and continue to do so at this time. My other passion has always been cars. I have had the pleasure of working with the drivers and instructors at the Mercedes-Benz AMG Driving Academy, and have driven some of the most beautiful and most incredibly engineered vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. I also very much enjoy my grandchildren, all four of them, because they always breathe new life and energy into my mitochondria every time I see them. The other thing I really love to do is to spend time at the beach. I see patients in Sarasota, Florida, and do my best to get to the beach as often as possible and enjoy the serenity and the reenergizing that Mother Earth offers.
Many thanks for your time!
SAVE THE DATE
AMWC Monaco
26-28 March 2026
https://www.amwc-conference.com/en/home.html
