Andrew Paley Goldberg

Andrew P. Goldberg, M.D., Professor Emeritus in the Department of Medicine at The University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, passed away peacefully from complications of pancreatic cancer on October 25, 2022, at the age of 77, in the company of his immediate family. Dr. Goldberg was Chief of the Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine at The University of Maryland from 1992 until his retirement in 2015 and devoted his life to improving the lives of the elderly and of veterans.

Born to Hy and Lucy Goldberg in Queens, NY, on March 12, 1945, Dr. Goldberg's interest in medicine began when he contracted poliomyelitis as a young child and witnessed the death of a classmate while in the hospital. He was an avid tennis player, oenophile, and fan of the Brooklyn (and then Los Angeles) Dodgers. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York, NY at age sixteen to attend Clark University in Massachusetts, where he majored in Chemistry. He received his medical degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, and completed his internship at SUNY Kings County in Brooklyn, NY. He served in the United States Coast Guard from 1970-72, and traveled to the North Pole as the medic aboard an expedition. Dr. Goldberg then completed his residency in internal medicine at New York University Bellevue Hospital.

Dr. Goldberg and his wife Gail were married in 1973 and moved to Seattle, WA, where Dr. Goldberg conducted a fellowship in endocrinology under the mentorship of Edward L. Bierman at The University of Washington School of Medicine and Seattle VA Medical Center. Their son Ethan was born in 1977. The family moved to St. Louis, MO that year, where Dr. Goldberg started his first faculty position as Assistant Professor at Washington University School of Medicine. Their second son Justin was born there in 1980.

The family settled in Baltimore in 1983, where Dr. Goldberg was Associate Professor and served as Director of Research in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at Johns Hopkins University and Francis Scott Key Medical Center for seven years before moving to University of Maryland in 1990. Two years later, he was appointed Head of the Division of Gerontology at University of Maryland and Director of the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the Baltimore VA Medical Center.

A prolific researcher and a champion for wellness and dignity in aging, Dr. Goldberg was awarded over $100 million in grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute on Aging (NIA) during his career. He served as Principal Investigator of the NIA-funded Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center and the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)-funded Nutrition Obesity Research Center from 1992 until 2015. He founded and was director of the Baltimore VA Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) in the Baltimore VA Maryland Health Care System from 1992 until 2015.



His work investigated such topics as exercise and weight loss, obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolism, and the rehabilitation of patients following stroke or complications of cardiovascular disease. He authored over 200 publications in journals such as Diabetes, Metabolism, JAMA, and the New England Journal of Medicine, served on numerous committees and editorial boards, and was recognized with awards from the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the Gerontological Society of America, among many others.

Dr. Goldberg was also a passionate teacher. He was committed to mentoring the next generation of clinical researchers, and served as Principal Investigator of an NIA-funded training program in exercise, nutrition and metabolism in aging. He mentored nearly fifty post-doctoral fellows on NIA-funded training grants and over twenty junior faculty on NIH/VA Career Development Awards. Even after his diagnosis with metastatic pancreatic cancer in February, he routinely called colleagues and former students to offer support and inquire as to the progress of their research. He took great pride in opening doors for others, and advocated for patients, students, and peers alike, no matter the cost. His global network in the field of geriatric medicine was like an extended family.

His own family was also a great source of pride. Both of his sons attended and graduated from Friends School of Baltimore. Dr. Goldberg was an enthusiastic booster at little league games and wrestling matches, delivered heartfelt toasts at his sons' weddings, and doted on his five grandchildren, teaching them to play gin rummy and chess.

Together with Gail, he traveled widely, hiking and kayaking, taking thousands of photographs, and enjoying the cuisines and wines of the world. He rode an elephant in Cambodia, climbed Machu Picchu, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, and had many other adventures, all thanks to the woman he credited as the world's greatest travel planner and companion. They would have celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary next year.

Dr. Goldberg is survived by his wife Gail and sons Ethan (Elizabeth) and Justin (Sara); grandchildren Greta, Rose, Peter, Vivian and Emmett; his sister, Florence Elon Zwerdling (Alex; predeceased), and nephew Tony (Ginger).

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to the compassionate doctors and nurses of Johns Hopkins Medical Center and Gilchrist Hospice. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Diabetes Association in his honor at diabetes.org. At Dr. Goldberg's request, in lieu of a funeral service, a memorial event will be held in December.

Services are private. Please omit flowers. Contributions in his memory may be sent to the American Diabetes Association. The family will be in mourning at 2766 Westminster Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043, beginning Wednesday evening from 6:30p - 8:30p, Thursday 2p -4:30p and 6:30p - 8:30p, and Friday 2p - 4:30p.