VIDEO: Kelowna doctor's joke book goes national

He's a Kelowna family doctor and surgical assistant, but lately, Dr. David Goldberg is gaining more notoriety for his side hustle.

He's now publishing an updated edition of a jokebook that's been getting laughs and raising funds for the KGH Foundation for most of the year.

The book is called Jokes You'll Love to Tell.

"After it got the attention of some distributors it turns out the book could be sold right across Canada," said Dr. Goldberg.

The plan is to distribute the publication nationally.

"Because it's a fundraiser, it needs a cause that's beyond just Kelowna General Hospital," he explained.

"Because I made this book while being treated for prostate cancer, it was a pretty easy decision to make this a prostate cancer fundraiser."

Goldberg's bout with prostate cancer is proving successful and he credits a routine PSA test for that.

"It showed up early enough that I was able to get treatment which should be curative."

The second edition of Goldberg's book includes some new jokes and the subtitle: 'A Prescription for Laughter', which echoes his belief that laughter is good medicine.

"I think it's really true," he said.

He's witnessed patients who have a hard time coping with the stresses of life while dealing with medical problems.

"If you're able to remove some of those stresses or at least relieve them for periods of time," said Goldberg, "I think you'll do much better."

An anecdote shared by his daughter is now depicted in a comic illustration in the book and supports this whole premise.

"The patient was quite ill, lying in bed laughing as his wife read jokes out of the joke book," explained Goldberg.

So why not share it with more people?

"This book can have more of an effect than just raising awareness or raising funds," he said.

"It can actually help people cope with their problems."

Dr. Goldberg doesn't claim authorship of the jokes in the book, he has just brought them together as a collection.

But the new edition contains some material that's all his.

'Humourous stories from my own medical practice," is how he describes it.

The new edition is available at the KGH gift shop, Indigo, independent booksellers and online through Amazon.