On Dr. William Goldberg’s 100th birthday, we celebrate his rich legacy and transformational leadership and the compassion he brought to patient care
“It was the right thing to do.” And that was it.
For Dr. William Goldberg and Sister Mary Grace that defining belief was rationale enough to establish the dialysis program at St. Joe’s in 1964.
The establishment of the program was a milestone for Dr. Goldberg, who served as chief of medicine from 1962 to 1981, as well as Sister Mary Grace, who was then the hospital’s administrator. And it would become an inspiring story of courage and conviction in the ensuing decades. At a time, when the public health system was still in its formative years and resources were scant, Dr. Goldberg forged the way for a large-scale medical program that would offer a new lease on life to thousands. But for all his successes, Dr. Goldberg resists the “visionary” label.
“We did what the time demanded,” he recalled in a recent interview on the eve of his 100th birthday. “Patients were dying of kidney ailments and opening a chronic dialysis centre was a natural thing to do.”
Since then, the program has grown to become one of the largest in the province, providing vital care to thousands of people across the region. Currently, the program operates across four St. Joe’s sites and provides 76,000 treatments to its patient population annually. Over the next decade, the number of dialysis patients receiving care at St. Joe’s is expected to rise by 15 per cent.
Several such intersections of the past, present and future spotlight the enduring impact of Dr. Goldberg’s contributions. Founding the dialysis program is just one of these.
Winning over the challenges
The 1950s-60s were a tumultuous period for St. Joe’s. On the brink of losing its accreditation, Sister Mary Grace, then administrator, decided to sail against the wind. With a provisional accreditation — hardly a badge of honour — she brought on board Dr. Goldberg beside Dr. Ken Williams, the first medical director of any of Catholic hospital in Canada, to chart the path of excellence.
From Dr. Goldberg’s perspective, exceptional patient care delivered with compassion could bring back the hospital’s accreditation.
“It was only possible if we had a teaching hospital where interns and residents trained while caring for the patients,” he said.
To bring their vision to fruition, Dr. Goldberg, alongside his fellow pioneers, laid the groundwork for clinical and educational excellence by launching a one-year residency program in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Soon, the cohorts would fill up as the program gained immense popularity. “And that’s how St. Joe’s transitioned from being a cottage hospital into teaching hospital,” added Dr. Goldberg.
The leadership also introduced a comprehensive quality of care and medical audit program at St. Joe’s. The initiative set out clear expectations of physician charting and clinical standards that transformed hospital’s reputation for delivering high-quality care.
The result: Accreditation was achieved.
Each accomplishment that Dr. Goldberg recounts is wrapped in humility. He unfurls them as simple facts rather than personal triumphs. Taking credit is challenging for Dr. Goldberg.
“Other hospitals were headed towards the same direction too. I was merely drawing inspiration from hospitals across North America. To set up the dialysis program, a technician was sent to a hospital in Cleveland. For setting up a respirology unit, we studied the one at Montreal General Hospital.”
As the chief of medicine for 20 years at St. Joe’s, his foresight was instrumental in creating an ecosystem that gradually established nephrology, respirology, behavioural medicine programs among others. His forever favourite, however, remained medicine “He loved his medicine the most,” his wife, Geraldine Goldberg, confirmed.
Dr. Goldberg retired from his role as chief of medicine at St. Joe’s in 1981.
Beyond space and time
Dr. Goldberg’s legacy extended well beyond the hospital walls. When McMaster Medical School opened in 1969, St. Joe’s with its medicine, pediatric and psychiatric units served as the perfect training ground for aspiring physicians.
His contributions also transcended time, much like the lessons that resonate today. As Dr. Madeleine Verhovsek, chief of medicine, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, notes, “The overarching lesson that we can all take away from him is, ‘The quality of care that you provide is the most important thing.”
Dr. Goldberg, however, also acknowledges the mounting complexity behind that simple principle.
“It’s harder to do a good job today. It was very simple in those days. Like building a chicken coop versus building a skyscraper," reflected Dr. Goldberg.
And Dr. Verhovsek echoes the sentiment.
“Medicine has become increasingly complex, from the standpoints of diagnosis and treatment, as well as looking at the healthcare system. We need clinicians and leaders who can meet the current and future challenges head on.”
It is Dr. Goldberg’s acuity that Dr. Alistair Ingram, former chief of medicine at St. Joes, deeply admires, “His intellectual vigour remains unfazed by the passage of time. When there were no fancy scans or tests, he ensured the highest quality of care was delivered.”
Quality of care, the principle stemmed again from the defining belief, “It was the right thing to do.”
And that was it.
A celebration of legacy
For Dr. Goldberg, who turns 100 on July 4, this milestone birthday is celebrated with family and friends. But for all of us at St. Joe’s, it’s an important reminder of the people who have helped to shape our rich history. Dr. Goldberg’s remarkable legacy and reputation for compassionate care are an ongoing testament to the work we do every day at St. Joe’s.
Know more about Dr. Goldberg
- Dr. Goldberg and his wife, Geraldine, were born at St. Joe's.
- He missed the birth of his fourth child in 1959 because he was staying overnight in the hospital supervising overnight dialysis treatments.
- He set up Canada’s one of the first intensive care units at St. Joe’s by repurposing space from a surgical recovery room in 1966.