Carole Gruson

Ronda Green WOA Inspirational Award

Dr. Carole Gruson is a retired Periodontist. She was in clinical practice for 35 years and a clinical associate in Dentistry at the U of T faculty of Dentistry, for 36 years receiving a 25 year service award.

Carole has served as president of multiple dental professional societies and as chair of the Board of BIALIK HDS, and Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity. She has sat on the board of CHAT, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre, DARA ( Doctors against Racism and anti-semitism), and is on the UJA executive council. She has acted as co-chair of doctors4wiesenthal, a committee of FSWC. Carole is the founder and past chair of the Advocacy committee for Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity, Toronto chapter and has played an integral role in bringing webinars on anti-semitism to university students, faculty and the international community in partnership with UJA.

Carole has been a fundraiser for UJA for several years and has held many leadership roles. She is a recipient of a Shem Tov award for volunteerism and the Phil Granovsky award for campaign excellence both for UJA. She is also a recipient of an Ontario Volunteer Service Award, a Queen’s Jubilee pin and multiple awards from Alpha Omega International and Alpha Omega Toronto including most recently the Sheila Rodney Humanitarium Award.

In 2019, Carole was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. After ignoring the ominous prognosis, she was given by several surgeons, she underwent a year of traumatic treatment ultimately ending with life saving extensive surgery.

Currently, Carole is very involved in canvassing for Cancer research, most specifically Pancreatic Cancer research  and has organized two very successful “Carole’s annual charity golf tournaments in support of Pancreatic Cancer Research”, a third party event for Pancreatic Cancer Canada and Princess Margaret Hospital. She is a top fundraiser for PMH through the Journey to Conquer Cancer.

Carole has been a volunteer for Wellspring, a cancer support centre and mentors many other pancreatic cancer patients. She is also an active member of HADASSAH WIZO, Tzedakah Chapter. Carole has been married to Charles Goldberg for 43 years and they have 3 married children, Stephanie and Corey, Hailey and Jeff, Justin and Ronly and 4 amazing grandchildren, Madison, Jax, Nathan and Bodie with one more on the way.