UNC pediatricians break a leg in new dance video to start 2022

Pediatric oncologist Dr. Stuart Gold is the star of the act, in what he said is a tribute to the entire team at the hospital after a trying stretch since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020.

“We really did the video with the same hopes and thoughts of cheering up people in the hospital,” Gold said. “We just wanted to make people smile, and the best way of doing that is to make fun of yourself.”

Gold wears a velvet jacket (which he swears is from his own wardrobe) and has his hair colored green and slicked back. The 66-year-old takes the liberty of doing some light break dancing in a hospital hallway, while grabbing onto a door frame for support. Fear not, no pediatricians were harmed in the making of the video.

"The first and last time I'm break-dancing," Gold said with a laugh.

Their goal was to celebrate and thank the hard-working health heroes who treat patients at the hospital.

An extended dancing scene shows Gold with fellow pediatrician Kenya McNeal Trice. Trice came up with the concept of the video, and her two daughters, Sala and Zuri, helped stage the choreography.

A message at the end of the video reads: "This video is dedicated to everyone who works tirelessly in North Carolina Children's to care for our wonderful children and their families."

Gold has been with UNC for 33 years and seen a lot of tragedy during COVID. He hopes the video's message isn't lost on viewers even if it only provides a fleeting laugh.

"It made us happy doing this, too," he said. "The nurses, we don't see each other as much with isolation. It was meant for us to get together, a group effort to make life a little better."

Every adult shown in the video is fully vaccinated.