Top Doctors Spotlight: Patient Care Built on Relationships

Exeter Hospital's Dr. Gregory Goodkin Among New Hampshire's Top Doctors

When Dr. Gregory Goodkin, then a medical student at New York University (NYU), first visited New Hampshire’s seacoast area for a job interview at Exeter Hospital, he knew right away it was where he wanted to put down roots.

“The area is spectacular,” he says. “It’s very pretty, it’s not too crowded – and the commute is short!”

Although he grew up on Staten Island, Dr. Goodkin was no stranger to New Hampshire. Having completed his residency tucked away in the mountains at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, it was about as familiar as home.

Still, the jump from the Big Apple to coastal New England was unexpected. While wrapping up his cardiology fellowship at NYU, Dr. Goodkin received a surprise call from a former co-resident; he had a second cousin who was looking to hire a cardiologist at Exeter Hospital and wanted to know if Dr. Goodkin was interested. One thing led to another, and before he knew it, he was on his way back north.

“I’ve essentially been sitting at this same desk since 2001,” he says with a laugh.

Now a seasoned cardiologist at Exeter, Dr. Goodkin was recently named one of New Hampshire Magazine’s Top Doctors, an annual recognition showcasing the physicians who go above and beyond to deliver exceptional patient care. For him, the Top Doctors award is a humbling validation of the often unseen work he puts into his patient relationships.

“I spend a lot of time in the room with people talking to them and listening to their stories,” he says. It’s the most gratifying part of his job, and the rewards can sometimes stretch across generations.

“Some of my patients have been with me since the very first day I arrived. You get to meet them and their families. Sometimes you start with one and then the husband or the wife comes and even the kids may come when they’re old enough.” More than anything else, it’s those deep, rock-solid relationships that enable him to provide quality care that actually helps his patients get better.

But relationships don’t just shape his clinical work; they also make his day-to-day interactions with colleagues easy and enjoyable.

From support staff to maintenance and transporters, Exeter Hospital has shown a knack for attracting people who like their work, are eager to collaborate and care deeply about helping patients. It’s that collegial atmosphere that makes Dr. Goodkin comfortable drawing on the expertise of others – which, in turn, ensures patients receive exactly the care they need.

“Everyone’s willing to help. People want to answer your questions, and you never feel belittled for not knowing something,” he says. “It makes it a very pleasant place to work.”

Even as Dr. Goodkin considers what the next phase of his career looks like, he knows one thing for certain: This is what he wants to do and where he wants to do it.

“It’s been a good couple decades,” he says. “This is what I always wanted to do, and it happened. I’m very lucky.”