Doctor returns to patient care

A long-time Lake Havasu City physician and Mohave Community College professor is looking forward to helping patients again as he comes out of retirement next week to join the staff at Physicians Weight Management Centers.

Dr. Robert Goodrich was forced to retire from his 20-year career as an obstetrician/gynecologist because of a hand injury that made it impossible to do surgery or even perform a basic examination. He’d been practicing in Lake Havasu City for 10 years.

Goodrich started teaching anatomy, physiology and pharmacology at Mohave Community College in 2001 and in 2007 became the head of the college’s surgical technology program. He’ll continue teaching at the college while seeing clients about one day a week at Physicians Weight Management.

Goodrich said his new role won’t be a stretch because he formerly operated his own wellness center, offering smoking cessation and dietary counseling.

“So it’s a pretty easy fit for me,” Goodrich said.

Center co-owner Marcia Cox said Goodrich was the final missing piece.

“When we opened up the center in January, Jennifer and I wanted to have a provider that would have empathy for patients who are dealing with obesity. Dr. Goodrich’s name kept coming up,” said Cox, who owns and operates Physicians Weight Management with business partner Jennifer Aranguena.

Cox had a history with Dr. Goodrich; she’d been his patient and he’d even delivered her grandchild. When she spotted him at the Home Show and decided to approach him about joining Physicians Weight Management, she thought he might not recognize her because she’s lost 100 pounds since the last time he saw her.

Not only did Goodrich recognize Cox, he was intrigued by joining her new business.

Goodrich said he liked Cox’s multi-disciplinary approach that focuses on diet, behavior and exercise and helps clients “sculpt a long-term plan.”

“I also like that she doesn’t use any pills, which I believe are just a crutch,” Goodrich said. “The goal here is to change people’s way of living.”

Cox said she remembers having conversations with Goodrich about the health problems associated with her weight when she was his patient.

“If you treat the obesity, you don’t have to treat the heart attack,” Goodrich said.

Cox said she’s up front with clients that her own weight loss was a result of gastric bypass surgery she had four years ago. She also makes clear the program she preaches helps her maintain her weight and keep a toned, healthy appearance. The same is true for other members of the center’s staff, Cox said.

“We walk the walk,” she said.

Physicians Weight Management starts clients out using Robard meal replacement products then lets them transition back to regular food as they approach their target weight. Cox said it’s an occasion for celebration when clients resume a diet of regular foods.

“Our goal is not to sell meal replacements — it’s to get (clients) to the point where they don’t need them,” Cox said. “They’re an important tool. We know they’re nutritionally complete.”

Goodrich said clients can choose to have him follow their weight loss program or they can stick with their own physician.

“My job is to make sure it’s safe, what they do here. Even the diabetics — we have a big spot in our heart for the diabetics,” Goodrich said, adding the program has a lot of success helping people with diabetes get off medication.

The Number 1 priority, Cox said, is to create a positive atmosphere for clients who “beat themselves up enough as it is.”

“All of us want to treat people with courtesy and respect, because a lot of people don’t do that,” Goodrich said.

You may contact the reporter at dparker@havasunews.com.

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