Page 5 of 7: Doctors Day Profile

Celebrating Our Physicians: Champions of Compassion and Excellence

On May 1, Unity Health Toronto celebrated National Physicians Day, recognizing the outstanding contributions of our physicians who prioritize kindness, innovation, education, and excellent care. Across our network, physicians are dedicated not only to patient care, but also to advancing education, research, and innovation. Their efforts continue to inspire and strengthen the compassionate, excellent care we strive to deliver every day.  Dr. Alberto Goffi from our Department was featured!

Dr. Alberto Goffi, a Critical Care and Internal Medicine physician at St. Michael’s

Your colleagues have nominated you as one of the most collegial doctors – the one who always tries the best for patient care, who lifts the load for people around them, and who offers learners engaging opportunities in a safe and supportive atmosphere. How have you cultivated such a collegial spirit?

During medical school, my best friend and classmate was diagnosed with cancer. For four years, I supported him as both a student and a family member navigating the healthcare system. That experience deeply shaped my understanding of how much compassionate, collegial care matters – not just for patients, but for families and the care team. I strive to create the environment I wished for then: one where patients are truly cared for, colleagues support one another, and learners are valued and safe to grow.

What’s something about medicine that never ceases to amaze you even after all these years?

What never ceases to amaze me about medicine is the constant element of the unknown and the opportunity for discovery. As a teenager, I loved detective novels – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie – and I find that same spirit of investigation in clinical practice. Every patient presents a new puzzle. Even after all these years, there isn’t a single day that I don’t learn something new. That blend of curiosity, challenge, and continuous learning is what keeps medicine endlessly fascinating.

What’s the most unexpected lesson medicine has taught you about people? What’s something your patients have taught you?

Medicine has taught me that everyone has a story – and that story often holds more insight than any test result. Listening to patients and families share their life experiences has given me a deeper understanding of human behavior, resilience, and the power of relationships. They remind me, time and again, of what truly matters: connection, compassion, and the bonds we build. In the midst of illness and uncertainty, it’s often love, not medicine, that carries people through. That’s a lesson I carry with me every day.

Who was your most influential mentor (physician or non-physician) and why?

My most influential mentors have been my mother and Dr. Simon Abrahamson. As a primary school teacher, my mother instilled in me a love of learning and a deep respect for people – the foundation of how I approach both medicine and life. Later, during my fellowship at St. Michael’s, Dr. Abrahamson shaped my clinical identity. His remarkable clinical reasoning, unwavering commitment to patient care, and passion for critical care medicine continue to inspire how I practice and teach. Both taught me that excellence comes from curiosity, passion, and integrity.

What drives you in your career, and how does your unique perspective shape the way you contribute to Unity Health’s mission?

What drives me is a deep passion for what I do – caring for patients and families with compassion and purpose, while helping to shape the next generation of clinicians. I believe our role isn’t just to care, but to teach, inspire, and lead by example. I am grounded in the belief that each generation should elevate the next, and that humanity – empathy, humility, and connection – is at the heart of good medicine. My family keeps me centered and reminds me daily of the importance of balance, perspective, and living the values I hope to pass on.

To read the full article and learn more about these inspiring individuals, click the link below:

https://unitynet.unity.local/2025/05/get-to-know-more-of-our-physicians-who-prioritize-kindness-innovation-education-and-excellent-care/