Dancing with the Herd - David & Elaine

David Gozal, M.D., MBA, Ph.D. (Hon) - Country Roads First Steps Scholarship David is Vice President for Health Affairs at Marshall University and Dean of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. An internationally recognized physician-scientist and leader in pediatric sleep medicine, David has devoted his career to advancing discovery, mentoring future physicians and scientists, and improving health around the world. Among his many international honors, he was made a Knight of the Order of Merit of Cameroon. At Marshall, David is passionate about strengthening medical education, research, and opportunities for the next generation. Beyond medicine, his singular passion is the love of his life Elaine. Now, David is embracing a new challenge alongside Elaine: learning the bachata and discovering that sometimes the most memorable journeys begin with a single step. 

Elaine Gozal, proudly Canadian, built more than two decades of her professional career in dentistry and sleep medicine in Canada before a new chapter brought her to West Virginia—where she quickly fell in love with its people, its mountains, and, quite literally, its country roads. Today, Elaine is the Dental Sleep Medicine Program Coordinator at Marshall Health Network, where she brings her clinical experience and passion for patient-centered care to expanding access to treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. She holds a Master of Science in Marketing from the University of Salford in Manchester, England, where her graduate research explored strategic approaches to advancing awareness and adoption of oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea, with particular interest in improving access for underserved communities. 

Beyond their professional lives, Elaine and her husband, David, share a love of languages, travel and adventure. Together they speak several languages and can often be found scuba diving, stand-up paddle surfing, or horseback riding along the Appalachian trails. Most of all, they treasure their wonderfully big family: together they have seven children, ten grandchildren—and three very spoiled dachshunds, Taco, Beni, and Lola, who happily complete the Gozal family.

Dancing with the Herd is a student-led, fundraising event, planned within the Honors College and presented by Marshall Health Network, where famous Marshall University couples and groups perform choreographed routines while raising money for student-centered funds at the Marshall University Foundation and the Big Green Scholarship Foundation. We have partnered with the Marshall Contemporary Dance Company, and each couple has been paired with a team of student or faculty choreographers to bring their performance to life. During the event, a panel of judges will provide feedback and scores. The winners of The Marco Mirrorball Trophy will be determined using a rubric that weighs both the judges’ scores and the total amount of money raised. Your donation directly supports the participating couples and the student-focused causes they champion. 

The event will take place on Friday, November 20, 2026, in the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall. For additional information, please contact Connor Waller at waller45@marshall.edu or Piper Cook at cookpi@marshall.edu.