Resident Spotlight: Pathology Resident - Emily Goebel
While pathology resident Emily Goebel, MD, is not yet on the front lines of patient care, the complicated and interesting cases she is exposed to on a daily basis keep her wanting more. As part of our ongoing series to profile Schulich Medicine Residents, Goebel discusses her love of the great outdoors, a good Jodi Picoult novel and the weird and wonderful experiences that the pathology service continues to give her.
Where were you born and raised?
Born: Brampton, ON
Raised: Brampton, ON
What degrees do you have, and from what universities?
Honours Bachelor Science, Biochemistry with a specialization in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (McMaster University, 2009)
Doctor of Medicine (University of Toronto, 2013)
What special interests or hobbies do you have?
Anything that involves sports and outdoor activities. Whether it’s playing beach volleyball, rollerblading along the Thames River or canoeing at the cottage, I love to get out there and catch some rays (with my sunscreen on, of course)!
Why did you choose to pursue your residency at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry?
Western has a strong Anatomical Pathology program with excellent staff and a great group of residents. It is the perfect size program for developing your skills as a well-rounded pathologist while providing enough exposure and opportunity to hone in on your specific interests through research and electives. In London, the pathologists have a great working relationship with the clinicians, which is essential for optimal patient care.
What inspires you in your work?
Knowing that your bottom-line diagnosis can truly change a patient’s life and can play a critical role in ensuring that the patient receives the appropriate treatment.
What has been your greatest experience to date in your residency?
There is no one greatest experience, it has all been great! I really enjoy the collaboration between physicians across different specialties. As a pathology resident, we aren’t on the front lines of patient care, but through multidisciplinary rounds we are able to meet with our clinical colleagues to discuss very complicated and interesting cases.
Being on the pathology service full time and immersing myself in what it is to be a pathology resident is very gratifying. It is those times when you diagnose something that was clinically unexpected or you see the weird and wonderful that keeps things extremely exciting. You could say that pathology is like a box of chocolates…you never know what you’re going to get!
What do you do when you aren’t working?
Spending time with friends, family and my cat, going to concerts or settling down with a good book (Jodi Picoult is my favourite author).
