Eighty-one years after he first enrolled in Grade 1 at Bancroft Elementary School in the Plateau, former Montreal General Hospital Physician and Chief Dr. Phil Gold returned to talk to students about his new autobiography entitled Gold's Rounds on February 22.
In the book Dr. Gold tells the story of dating and marrying the love of his life Evelyn, studying under the brilliant Sir Arnold Burgen and his discovery of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) in a clear, fast-moving narrative that grips and fascinates. And there was space allotted for his days as student at Bancroft Elementary and Baron Byng High. The former is where he met nephrologist Dr. Mortimer Levy and the two have remained best friends their entire lives.
Dr. Gold, 87, said he wrote the book primarily for his children and grandchildren. Growing up on the Main, he shares his brushes with acts of antisemitism. Before deciding to pursue a medical career, he held jobs at Molson Brewery, at a clothing company owned by his dad and selling encyclopedias door to door. Drs. Gold and Levy entered McGill at the same time and were eyeing geology until they discovered that discipline would require Saturday fielding trips. Not happy with that option, they chose biology instead and the rest is history.
Dr. Gold's discovery of CEA, the world's first marker for cancer that could be used in clinical practice, made him world famous to this day. And he did so remarkably as a resident.
Dr. Gold formally retired in June 2021, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he remains busy and continues to make time to meet with medical residents, something that has always been important to him.
The book is available on Amazon and at Bibliophile on Queen Mary Road.
