Mark Goldberg, MD’86, and Nancy Goldberg boost student opportunity with scholarship

Mark A. Goldberg, MD’86, and his wife, Nancy E. Goldberg, MSN, RN, APRN, PPCNP-BC​, of Lexington, recently endowed a scholarship at UMass Chan Medical School to help offset the cost of tuition for students pursuing medicine. Mark credits UMass Chan with paving the way for his own distinguished career as a leader in helping to advance transformative treatments and health care technologies, and is committed to expanding opportunities for aspiring physicians.

Enduring legacy in primary care inspires support

When Mark matriculated at UMass Chan in 1982, the rising institution had already distinguished itself as a leader in primary care education, focused on training physicians to serve the commonwealth while offering a supportive, collegial learning environment. 

“I have nothing but fond memories of the Medical School as an institution that cared about the people there,” said Mark. “It had attracted a talented faculty, I think by offering something unique to medical leaders and educators who saw a viable alternative to the politics and magnitude of the Boston institutions.

“There was a clear emphasis on training students to be physicians, with a preference for the practice of primary care in Massachusetts. That mission was felt throughout the Medical School.”

UMass Chan’s continued focus on primary care education largely inspired the couple’s recent gift. Nancy has also dedicated her career to health care, working as a pediatric nurse practitioner at Boston Children’s Hospital for more than three decades.

Recognizing the importance of cultivating the future health care workforce, the Goldbergs are committed to supporting the Medical School and strengthening its mission to educate and inspire the next generation of compassionate, dedicated physicians.

“Encouraging students to pursue careers in medicine, especially in primary care, is critically important,” said Mark. “We need a sufficient number of medical professionals who can deliver this essential care, guide patients through the health care system and empower them to advocate for their own health.”

Removing barriers to medical careers

The couple also recognizes the significant financial challenges of pursuing a medical education today and how educational debt can influence students’ career decisions.

“We need to encourage the pursuit of primary care by eliminating financial obstacles,” said Mark. “Scholarships are important for giving medical students more peace of mind, so they can choose career paths that feel right with less worry about finances.

“That’s ultimately why we’re giving to the Medical School.”

Mark noted that classmate Dan Sullivan, MD’86, and his wife Anne Melvin set a positive example last year with their own philanthropic commitment to UMass Chan, including an endowed scholarship and bequest intention. Mark and Dan were roommates during their internships and, after losing touch for a number of years, found themselves in the same cycling group and have since enjoyed many bike tours together.

“It was certainly motivating to see the generosity of Dan and Anne at the Medical School,” said Mark.  

An affordable medical education, a fulfilling career 

Looking back, Mark is grateful for the role UMass Chan has played in shaping his long and impactful career.

“I was fortunate to have attended the Medical School,” said Mark. “Here, you got a great education, and at the same time, had the freedom to make decisions about your path in life without the burden of high educational debt hanging over you.”

His own path to the Medical School began with genuine fascination with how the human body works. His career trajectory reflects a parallel interest in computer science and medicine, along with what he describes as a “motivation to contribute to society in a meaningful way.”

As a medical student, Mark worked in the Laboratory of Computer Science at Massachusetts General Hospital. He later joined MGH as a resident, fellow, and staff radiologist during a period that was “essentially the dawn of digital technology in radiology,” sparking his leading role in advancing new health care technologies.

While at MGH, Mark joined a telehealth spinoff that worked with Procter & Gamble to digitally capture X-rays from thousands of women for a pioneering osteoporosis clinical trial. In 1997, he joined Parexel, one of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical services companies, where he established the company’s medical imaging business and later became president and chief operating officer, overseeing 19,000 employees and operations in more than 50 countries. In 2018, after retiring “for about a month,” Mark and investors launched Allucent, a global clinical research organization focused on the special needs of small and mid-sized biopharmaceutical companies. He remains its chairman and also works as an operating partner at private equity firm Arsenal Capital Partners in New York.  

“Ultimately, my medical education got me where I wanted to go,” said Mark. “Nancy and I are honored to help today’s medical students pursue their own dreams in medicine.”