Full circle
Posted: November 14, 2014
Brian Goodman, DO, MBA, ’14, began his journey at SOMA with one goal in mind: to return to his hometown and practice medicine. Now completing his first year of medical residency at Mountain Vista Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz., he is well on his way to reaching his goal.
Prior to medical school, Dr. Goodman was on a highly successful career track working for a major for-profit educational institution in Phoenix. But he always yearned to return to his childhood roots in a small, rural town in northern Arizona.
“The rural community where I am from has limited career options,” says Dr. Goodman. “But it has always been important to me and my family to ultimately go back.”
He decided to leave his career as a business executive and begin a journey in healthcare.
The field of osteopathic medicine underscored Dr. Goodman’s goal and the culture at SOMA fit the mold of his vision for medical school, so he applied.
“There is a major focus on compassion and genuine whole patient care,” says Dr. Goodman. “In the whirlwind we call medical school, SOMA was able to maintain a focus on why students truly want to be doctors—because we love the people in our communities.”
Dr. Goodman considers himself fortunate to graduate medical school so close to home. He even completed three of his four years of training at one of the School’s community health center partner campuses, North Country Healthcare, in Flagstaff.
There are many difficult transitions from medical student to resident—a sudden increase in responsibility, a new title, and a lack of sleep—but one thing has remained the same for Dr. Goodman: “I absolutely love being around patients,” he says. “During some of my particularly challenging and busy rotations, I have found comfort and joy from circling back with my patients, visiting about their family, upbringing, and life experiences.
“My medical journey has been very challenging, and at the same time, one of the most rewarding things I have done. It is like life has come full circle.”