Diana Silver has been working in the field of public health for two decades. Currently, Dr. Silver's research explores the variation in state and local policies that affect public health, as well as the impact of accessibility to publicly funded services such as clinics, pre-school, after-school, parks and playgrounds. She is currently co-principal investigator (with Dr. James Macinko) of an NIH funded R01 grant to examine the diffusion and impact of alcohol and driving related policies on injuries and fatalites over the past 30 years. With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), she and other investigators at NYU are conducting an analysis of the costs and benefits of NYCDOMH's restaurant grading initiative.In the past three years, Dr. Silver has also received additional funding from RWJF and NYU's Institute for Human Development and Social Change to support her work.

Dr. Silver currently directs the undergraduate programs of NYU's Global Institute for Public Health. She is also affiliated with NYU's Institute for Education and Social Policy, and its Institute for Human Development and Social Change. She is a member of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Advisory Board.