Margaret H. Goodman, M.D., FACOG

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.