Some people remember when they found their calling. For Margaret H. Goodman,
M.D., FACOG, it happened during her medical residency. She recalls her
wide eyed excitement when she discovered obstetrics and gynecology. She
could not only guide young girls into womanhood, she could help mothers
through childbirth and enhance quality of life for post-menopausal women.
To this day, Dr. Goodman says her work is truly rewarding.
A board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Goodman practices at
Southeast Georgia Physician Associates – Obstetrics and Gynecology in Brunswick.
An Instant Bond
After graduating from the Medical College of Ohio, Dr. Goodman completed
her internship and residency at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Colorado.
A major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, she was then called to report
to Fort Benning’s Martin Army Community Hospital. It was there she met
Dr. Shirley D. Wilson. Both women were army majors, obstetricians and gynecologists and both
had children the same age. Not surprisingly, they bonded instantly. More
surprising perhaps, they continue to practice medicine together after
nearly 30 years.
A Built-in Support System
The unique bond forged by Dr. Goodman and Dr. Wilson instills confidence
in patients. Expectant mothers know that if their baby arrives when one
doctor is out of town, the other doctor will step in. Patients undergoing
major surgery feel reassured that not one, but two doctors are present.
The partnership proves invaluable for the doctors, too. Faced with a challenging
case, they consult each other by simply walking down the office hall.
In surgery, they anticipate one another’s moves, based on years
of working together and their military training.
When she considers how much medicine has progressed in the last few decades,
Dr. Goodman feels grateful for technology’s role in improving medical
care. During her residency, laparoscopy was used for diagnostic purposes
only. Now, 98 percent of all gynecological surgeries are done laparoscopically
using the
da Vinci robot. Even hysterectomies are an outpatient procedure, which means patients
have an easier, faster recovery.
Even as she keeps pace with technology, Dr. Goodman cherishes the personal
side of medicine. Her solid skills and scientific expertise allow her
to focus on the patient as a whole person. It’s an approach that
has served her and the women of Brunswick well. Her patients, and the
Brunswick community, have become her extended family. Babies she brought
into the world are now leaving for college or seeking her advice as they
start families of their own. Being part of Brunswick’s circle of
life is rewarding for Dr. Goodman and a testament to her commitment to women.