Asma Iftikhar, MD - Beacon Medical Group Pulmonology and General Surgery

Dr. Kate Goze decided on a career in medicine when she was 15 years old. Being exposed to her grandmother who loved being a nurse, and spending time herself in the hospital for her own illness as a child confirmed this decision. "Not only was I raised knowing that nursing is a truly noble profession," Dr. Goze said, "but the comfort I felt knowing that the doctors and nurses would take care of me was something I knew I had to share with others." She began her career as a nurse in the Emergency Department at Memorial Hospital. Dr. Goze enrolled at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis to transition from registered nurse to physician, initially expecting to choose a path in Emergency Medicine. The more time she spent in the operating room, however, the more she realized surgery would be the perfect fit so she can care for patients throughout their journey. "I wanted to be able to see patients through their entire hospital experience and then back in the clinic after they recovered," Dr. Goze said. "This was the biggest thing that led me to a career in surgery. I fell in love with the operating room and the feeling of being able to ‘fix' a problem and see the result in a very rewarding way. I knew that there was no other job for me." Dr. Goze has returned to Beacon Health System because of its model for excellence and patient-centered care. "I hope my patients know that I truly care about their well being and their outcome. I treat each patient as if they are family; that way, I am certain that they are always getting my best," she said. "And my nursing background gives me a unique perspective and a very compassionate approach to patient care." What was your first job? My first job was babysitting. I loved it because I got paid to play! What's your favorite food? Chocolate. If it were up to me, it would be its own food group. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? I love music. I enjoy playing the piano and I am learning the violin. I also enjoy attending live music and musical theater performances, as well as cooking, baking, hiking and spending time with my family. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone who would it be and why? I would have dinner with Neil Armstrong to discuss his journey to walk on the moon. Who is the most influential person in your life? My mother has always been a very important role model for me. She gave me both the courage to believe in myself, and the support to be who I wanted to become.

Dr. Hanberg is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. He earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Loyola University Medical Center.