A Good Man to Have in Your Corner

At one point during the Cascade Cycling Classic, Mark Goodman found himself hanging halfway out of a moving vehicle. Near Prineville, a professional bicycle racer had crashed. Despite rips in his cycling kit and road rash on his arm and leg, the racer hopped back on his bike in pursuit of the field. Goodman, who is a certified doctor of both emergency and sports medicines, was there, riding in the medical car as a volunteer medic. With Lisa, Goodman’s wife, at the wheel, he recalled pulling even with the racer, who then grabbed onto the door so he could coast. Traveling at 30 miles an hour, Goodman rubbed antiseptic to the racer’s road rash before applying bandages.

The racer then powered away to rejoin the peloton.

“I have some wild stories working in the ER,” Goodman said. “But hanging out of a moving car is one of the more unique ways to take care of someone.”

By day, Goodman, 44, is a partner at High Desert Sports & Spine, a clinic whose specialties include non-invasive orthopedics, sports medicine and spine care. He’s made a point of blurring the lines of work and philanthropy. A passion for the outdoors, volunteerism and an interest in medicine came together for Goodman as a teenager. Originally from Redmond, Goodman spent his winters at Mt. Bachelor. There, he volunteered as a junior ski patroller. He aided banged up skiers and snowboarders. Others just needed a patient hand to guide them through a technical section so they could return to the lodge.

Goodman was there for them.

“Some people were really banged up. The urgent care staff didn’t give me too much responsibility, but I helped out,” Goodman said. “Volunteering sparked my passion for going to medical school.”

Also a longtime competitive cyclist, Goodman has contributed volunteer medical service and financial sponsorship to a variety of Central Oregon bicycle races, including the Bend Dirt Fest, High Cascade 100 and the Thrilla cyclocross series. Seemingly indefatigable, Goodman is also the volunteer team doctor for the Ridgeview High School football team. Each Friday night for six years, Goodman has stood at the sidelines, ready to help.

And at this year’s Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium in downtown Bend, Goodman and his High Desert Sports & Spine colleagues were on hand to help racers who’d crashed on the fast, technical course — just as they had been the year before. Aside from dressing plenty of road rash, Goodman’s team also aided someone who’d dislocated a shoulder. Goodman says wanting to give back in this way is a unifying trait among staff at High Desert Sports & Spine.

“We’ve got a medical staff that’s really interested in donating their own time to spend a day or two at a bike race,” Goodman said. “We’re just super lucky to have a staff like this.”

After graduating cum laude from Oregon Health & Science University in 2009, Goodman completed his residency at the University of Utah, serving as chief resident. He volunteered with Utah collegiate football and ice hockey teams. Returning to Central Oregon, Goodman has worked as an emergency physician in Redmond, Madras and Prineville. He has practiced sports medicine in Bend from 2016 through the present. He’s still board certified in emergency medicine.

Goodman says finding a unique way to combine medicine, outdoor sports and volunteerism has been key to a gratifying work-life balance.

“I wanted to find volunteer opportunities I was passionate about, but also ones where I could be of service to people,” Goodman said. “This way I can go skiing and biking but also put service behind that.”