Memorial Hospital Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation

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.

Asthma Allergy Centers was established in 1980 as a solo allergy practice with one location. Over the years, we have grown to 14 locations and 6 providers. The concept of multiple locations was not a popular model in the beginning. Years ago, we knew we had to provide service to remote areas for those patients suffering with asthma and allergies so that they did not need to drive far to see one of our allergists. Through widespread internet access, all of our locations are connected with each other in order to provide our patients the convenience of being seen in any of our locations. Our vision of having multiple locations is beneficial to us as we cover all of southwest Michigan. Our patient portal feature allows patients to easily contact us and grants access to their own medical information. We are trying very hard to keep communication open between patients, doctors and staff at all hours of the day.

About Dr. Iftikhar Asma Iftikhar, MD, is a graduate of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, where a residency in Internal Medicine and Obstetrics was completed. An internal medicine residency was completed at North Shore LIJ Hofstra University at Forest Hill Hospital, Forest Hill, NY. Also, Dr. Iftikhar finished a pulmonary and critical care fellowship at New York Presbyterian Queens – Flushing, NY.