Dr. Charles Goldfarb '88

Q: What challenges have you faced working during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: We have faced many challenges. The first and most important is safety. We are providing medical care for sick patients but are doing so in a way that minimizes risk to the healthcare team and other patients.  This is tricky, and PPE has not been sufficiently available (although that is getting better). We have canceled hundreds of elective surgeries to, again, keep the work environment safe and maintain as much PPE as possible. The cancellation of these procedures has created immense financial challenges for doctors in every practice environment (academics, big private groups, smaller groups).

Q: How has your work changed during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: Everything about our work has changed. I am an orthopedic surgeon specializing in the hand and upper extremity. Before COVID, my days were spent treating patients in the clinic and the operating room or engaged in research. My clinic volume and surgical volume have both decreased dramatically. However, my administrative work in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Washington University has been very busy. Initially, there was a huge amount of effort around logistical planning for patient and staff safety, and now, we are working on plans for emergence from the limitations previously placed on patient care.  I have not (at least yet) been redeployed to help with COVID+ patient care in our large academic hospital. That could happen, especially if a second wave of COVID hits.

Q: What successes have you celebrated during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: First, and most importantly, we have celebrated our hospitals’ success in providing outstanding care to very sick patients. Our physicians, nurses, and staff have been able to provide this care in a safe fashion. In addition, we continue to celebrate the ‘flattened’ COVID curve. This has been crucial to allowing us to provide care to the sickest of patients (those requiring intensive care). Unfortunately, the flatter curve means a longer course of this pandemic. As our communities open back up to daily activities, I am concerned about what this will mean for healthcare, the COVID curve, and the impact on the most vulnerable populations.

Q: What has been your most challenging moment working in healthcare?
A: My challenging moments are centered on patient care. Like most physicians, I take great pride in providing great care and achieving the best possible outcome for each patient. When that does not happen, it is tough for the patient (obviously) but also tough on the healthcare team (who take these outcomes personally). Thankfully, the vast majority of patients in orthopedic surgery do well with our surgeries and the care that we provide.

Q: What has been your proudest moment working in healthcare?
A: Similarly, my proudest moments are around patient success stories. I am fortunate to work in a major academic center and have two unique aspects to my clinical practice: the care of children born with unusual conditions affecting the upper extremities and the care of athletes. These two (very different) populations provide examples of great results, which are quite rewarding. One of the most unusual surgeries for me was the reconstructive surgery for a child from Central American who was born with three arms. We were able to merge two of the arms to create a single functional arm in complex surgery. On the athlete side, getting professional and collegiate athletes back to their sports is both fun and rewarding.  St. Louis has great professional teams, and the opportunity to work with those athletes has been great.

Q: When and how did you decide to pursue a career in healthcare?
A: My father is a surgeon in Birmingham, and he certainly influenced my career choice. Orthopedic surgery appealed to me for many reasons, including the sports focus and the ability to intervene actively with all age groups and with patients having many different problems. While I had thoughts of becoming a physician even in high school, my decision became more concrete in college, especially after I was able to spend time in various clinics shadowing physicians. Experiencing the day-to-day of the surgeon lifestyle and the satisfaction that surgeons experience solidified my career choice.

Q: How did your experience at Springs shape your career choice?
A: Indian Springs influenced me in many different ways and gave me the education platform on which to build at every level.  It is not cliché to say that the most important things that Springs taught me are how to engage in learning and instilled in me the love of learning.  Continuous learning is a big part of being a physician. Springs may not have influenced my career choice, but it made me more confident in my ability to succeed in whatever path I chose.

Q: What advice would you give Springs students who want to pursue a career in healthcare?
A: Go for it. Healthcare is a great field with many benefits. I feel privileged to work in healthcare as I am challenged every day and find great enjoyment in what I do. The academic role at Washington University has been important for me. I think back to my days at Springs and with Dr. Cooper, most specifically. His teaching style and engagement with me as a student continues to impact me and my teaching style. While I teach in a different environment (in the clinics and the operating rooms), I love the process, and teaching makes me better at what I do.

Q: What can the Springs community do to help during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: Be smart. Stay healthy and stay out of the emergency departments. Observe social distancing because it matters, and it works.