We're excited to connect with our alumni through our new Darlington Connects series. Today we hear from Dr. Raul Gonzalez (‘00), a pathologist.
Raul began Darlington in the sixth grade and fondly remembers being taught by such legends as Jim Van Es and Gordon Neville. “I had so many great teachers that knew when I was, or wasn’t, doing my best; they gave me the motivation to be my best self,” he said.
I recently connected (virtually) with Dr. Gonzalez while he was in his pathology lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital in Boston. In addition to his work as an anatomic pathologist, he is currently an associate professor with Harvard University Medical School. His specialty and research is in gastrointestinal diseases.
After Darlington, Raul went on to graduate from Emory University and then pursued medical school at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. For residency, he returned to Atlanta with work at Emory, and this was followed by a two-year fellowship at Vanderbilt in Nashville. He then moved on to Rochester, N.Y., for four years before taking a position as staff pathologist and assistant professor in Boston.
“So much was expected of us at Darlington,” Raul said. “[It prepared me because] medical school takes such dedication and has those high expectations.”
When asked what drew him to pathology, Raul said Darlington connections played a big role. In his second year of medical school, his father, also a physician, arranged for Raul to shadow several doctors in Rome. A Darlington parent and pathologist in Rome, Dr. Steven Hom hosted him. He knew Dr. Hom from being a part of Darlington’s theater program where Dr. Hom’s wife, Linda, was an integral part of the program. Raul said that after spending some time with Dr. Hom, he knew pathology was what he wanted to pursue.
"It’s the behind the scene story connected with each tissue sample that really makes my work intriguing," he said. “I really enjoy the teaching aspect of my work."
Recently promoted to associate professor, he lectures a couple of times a year but spends the majority of his teaching time one on one with resident students at Beth Isreal Deaconess. “It's rewarding to be able to share my knowledge with these dedicated Harvard Medical School students," he said.
Although he and his wife, Lindsey, are true southerners, they both have enjoyed living in the Northeast.
“Travel in New England has been fantastic,” Raul said. “We’ve taken advantage of the closeness of some really great parts of our country.”
They love live music, and pre-COVID-19 they were able to see many great concerts in Boston and the surrounding areas.
Raul is happy to be a part of Darlington Connects program and would love to connect with alumni interested in pathology or medicine or anyone in or moving to the Boston area.
Are you a Darlington alum (or do you know one) with an interesting career or community involvement? We'd love to spotlight you in a future blog! Please email connect@darlingtonschool.org if you are interested in being featured.
