A monumental change that shaped the Royal College

Dr. William Goldberg
“I had the privilege and honour to be on the Council of the Royal College from 1964 to 1972. I think the major accomplishment in that period, which shaped the future of the Royal College, was the linking of all residency programs under the aegis of the faculties of medicine throughout Canada. Prior to that time, they were under control of the individual hospitals with a rather loose relationship to the academic institution they were attached to. In fact, some were not even in teaching hospitals. I believe we were the first country to do so. I know we did it before the Americans. This was led by Dr. Robert Dickson from Dalhousie who personally visited all the faculties of medicine to gain their cooperation.
I was on the Residency Accreditation Committee at that time and later reviewed the programs in Sherbrooke, Toronto and Ottawa. I feel this monumental change really lies at the source of the great strides the Royal College has made since then and should be recognized by current members. This change was not easy given the then individuality of the involved hospitals with their rival and controlling temperaments.
I just thought I would bring this to the attention of the Royal College because some historical context must be maintained in order to understand the present and influence the future.”
– William M. Goldberg, MD, FRCPC, FACP
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Annual meeting 1964. New members of Council. Dr. Goldberg is on the left.

Council members (1970). Dr. Goldberg is the seventh from the left. From the left: Dr. F. E. Bryans; Dr. K. McFarlane; Dr. Douglas Miller; Dr. C. Drake; Dr. J. Hilton; Dr. R. Dickson; Dr. W. Goldberg; Dr. C. Crosby; Dr. J. Gemmel; Dr. R. Laird; Dr. Malcolm G. Brown; Dr. Jacques Turcotte; Dr. Fraser N. Gurd; Dr. Walter C. MacKenzie; Dr. F.G. Kergin; Dr. R. G. Christie; Dr. Ian Rusted; Dr. D. Wilson; Dr. Robert B. Kerr; Dr. E. Gagnon; Dr. D.F. Moore; Dr. J Grandbois; Dr. C. Ferguson