UNC’s ‘Dancing Doctors’ have time of their lives in sendoff video for retiring oncologist

Brian Gordon
·2 min read
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No one puts Dr. Stuart Gold in a corner.

In what’s now a whimsical annual tradition, the so-called Dancing Doctors of UNC Children’s Hospital created a year-end parody video with this year’s number a reenactment of a classic scene from “Dirty Dancing.”

While aiming to provide some smiles, the video also marks the retirement of Gold, a pediatric oncologist, who originated the videos during the pandemic.

This year’s video, released Sunday, is set to “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from the 1987 film, “Dirty Dancing.” As the video’s star, Gold leads colleagues through the well-choreographed production while wearing a kaleidoscopic-patterned outfit.

The routine includes several nods to the final scene in the movie, with Gold leaping off the stage (in place of Jennifer Grey’s character, Baby) to the culmination of the dance’s high point — the lift.

In what’s now a whimsical annual tradition, the so-called Dancing Doctors of UNC Children’s Hospital created a year-end parody video with this year’s number a reenactment of a classic scene from “Dirty Dancing.” Dr. Stuart Gold, center, is retiring.
In what’s now a whimsical annual tradition, the so-called Dancing Doctors of UNC Children’s Hospital created a year-end parody video with this year’s number a reenactment of a classic scene from “Dirty Dancing.” Dr. Stuart Gold, center, is retiring.

In the video, Dr. Benny Joyner, pediatric ICU medical director, attempts to lift Gold, as Patrick Swayze did Grey. The rest of the doctors dance in unison behind Gold as he ends the video twirling on top of a building in front of a UNC Health helicopter. Doctors wave as he presumably flies off to his retirement.

“I hope everyone recognizes that scene, even if my dancing isn’t nearly as fabulous as Patrick Swayze’s,” he said in a statement. “I appreciate everyone on our team who spent a couple of days filming this year’s video. We all work so hard caring for patients and their families, and it’s a way to give back with something fun.”

In what’s now a whimsical annual tradition, the so-called Dancing Doctors of UNC Children’s Hospital created a year-end parody video with this year’s number a reenactment of a classic scene from “Dirty Dancing.” Dr. Stuart Gold, center, is retiring.
In what’s now a whimsical annual tradition, the so-called Dancing Doctors of UNC Children’s Hospital created a year-end parody video with this year’s number a reenactment of a classic scene from “Dirty Dancing.” Dr. Stuart Gold, center, is retiring.

Gold is retiring after a 35-year career treating children with cancer. He began leading team dance projects a couple years ago, with previous songs from Whitney Houston and Earth, Wind, and Fire. Last year, the dancing doctors used the 1980 Kool and the Gang song “Celebration.”

“The pandemic changed the world so dramatically, and stress and burnout in the medical community are still very high,” Gold said near the start of 2023. “We wanted to brighten the day, even if just for a few moments, for our hard-working staff and show appreciation to everyone who works at UNC Children’s. We also wanted to bring a laugh to our patients and their families.”