Case Western Reserve University
Dean, School of Dental Medicine
Professor, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery
CLASS OF 1967
A doctor, teacher, and good Samaritan—Jerold Goldberg, D.D.S., is a gifted oral surgeon whose compassion and foresight as an educator ensure that his vital work will be sustained through future generations of doctors.
In addition to running his private practice, Goldberg served as both chair of oral surgery and dean at Case Western Dental School. As chair, Goldberg developed the country’s sole five-year dentistry and doctor of medicine program. Once named dean, he created a new curriculum unique among dental programs, leading Case Western Dental School to stand out among its peers. He proclaims that his work on these programs has been the greatest accomplishment of his career.
Goldberg attributes much of his success to the experiences he had at W&J. He believes that W&J’s curriculum and professors encourage students to think before acting. This technique encourages critical thinking among students and prepares them for a rapidly changing world. In addition to building a foundation for professional success, Goldberg says, “W&J encouraged me to appreciate life.” His liberal arts education, for example, cultivated a broader range of interests beyond medicine. In fact, Goldberg credits his love of the symphony to the open-minded attitude he developed at W&J.
Humanitarian and pro-bono work also have been defining components of Goldberg’s life. Since 1985, he has spent about one month each year performing vital oral surgery, such as cleft lip procedures, in developing countries around the world. In addition to personal missionary trips to Ecuador, Nepal, and Mexico, Goldberg has created schools worldwide that support and carry out his work. In Lithuania, he progressed from performing surgeries to teaching others his craft. Today, that work has enabled his students to become self-sufficient health-care providers capable of healing others. Despite the politically sensitive issues involved, he even was able to develop an Israeli dental school that operates with both Palestinians and Israelis. Goldberg intends to continue his work healing, restructuring, and teaching for the foreseeable future.
