Meet Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon Christine Goodbody, MD
Published on
Christine Goodbody, MD, MBE, attending pediatric orthopaedic surgeon
Meet Christine Goodbody, MD, MBE, one of our newest attending pediatric orthopaedic surgeons in the Division of Orthopaedics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Though Dr. Goodbody has only been in her current role a few months, she’s no stranger to Philadelphia, CHOP or orthopaedics. She attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, served as a Benjamin Fox Orthopaedic Research Scholar at CHOP (where she confirmed her interest in orthopaedics) and completed a pediatric orthopaedic surgery fellowship at CHOP.
Dr. Goodbody recently sat down for an informal Q&A to discuss a gamut of topics including why she choose CHOP, what she wishes her patients knew about her and why she enjoys working with youth with bone, joint and muscle conditions.
Q: Why did you choose CHOP?
A: I decided to work at CHOP because I actually have a very long history of being here, especially with this department. I trained at Penn as a medical student and have been very familiar with the institution all along. Then I took a research year out with the Orthopaedic Department specifically and fell in love with the people here and the amazing work that they do. I know what a center of excellence that CHOP is, and I’m honored to be a part of it.
Q: Why did you decide to specialize in orthopaedics?
A: I love that the field really focuses on giving people back their function and getting them back to doing the things that they love doing.
Q: What do you like most about working with children with orthopaedic conditions?
A: To see the smiles on their faces when we get them back to doing what they love.
Q: What do you wish your pediatric patients knew about you?
A: That I really care about them as individuals and that I’m going to be with them every step of the way throughout their recovery and getting them back to the things they enjoy doing.
Q: What’s your advice to families coming to CHOP?
A: Take a deep breath because you have an amazing group of people who are going to be here to help you every step of the way.
Q: What are your clinical interests?
A: My specific interests are in lower extremity deformities and treating kids who have congenital or acquired limb deficiencies, and specifically ambulatory neuromuscular and genetic syndromes. So, helping kids who have difficulty walking to be able to do that better.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Outside of work I really love traveling and very long-distance running. I do ultra-marathons, which I often pair with traveling, and spending lots of time with my family, friends and my adorable dog, Josie.
Q: If you weren’t a doctor, what do you think you’d be doing?
A: I’d run a farm sanctuary for rescue animals.
Q: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
A: To get every kid back to doing the things they love – but also to be able to fly!
Q: What’s your favorite children’s book?
A: My favorite children’s book is actually a newer one that I enjoy reading to my nephews called “Giraffes can’t dance.” That’s because it’s about the beauty in every unique individual and even if you can’t do everything exactly the way other people do it, getting to do it in your own special way is really what matters.
