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Who is Barb Goodman? From Research to Education
Barb took a lot of science classes because she knew science would be necessary for her as a doctor and also because she just liked science. She tried to take as much science and math as possible in high school. When it came time for Barb to go to college, she chose to go to Duke University in North Carolina. She chose it because she knew that it was a very good school academically and that it trained both students wanting to be doctors and those wanting to be scientists well. In addition, it was close to home and also was affiliated with the Methodist Church, to which she belongs. Choosing Physiology over MedicineDuring college, Barb was still sure she would become either a doctor or a veterinarian. That meant lots more science classes. After getting a chemistry degree in 1972, Barb tried for 4 years to get into veterinary school. She first stayed in the South, going to Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL for 2 years, and then moving to Auburn University in Auburn, AL for a year. While at those schools, she took a lot of biology courses. It was then that she took her first physiology class. It was that class that made her sure that she was much more interested in finding out WHY THINGS HAPPEN than in being a doctor or veterinarian. That was when she changed her mind and decided to become a physiologist. She had to decide which school to go to for her training to be a physiologist. Finally, she ended up going far north to the University of Minnesota to get her degree. Once again, she was sure she knew what she wanted to do with her life. She would be a college teacher and to do research like her adviser, Dr. Doug Wangensteen. He was a great teacher, friend, and researcher and provided her with a wonderful role model. After finishing her Ph.D. degree in 1981, Dr. Goodman went to the University of California in Los Angeles to get more specific training in her research area. In 1983, she started working there as an assistant researcher and teacher in both the medical school and in the nursing school. A couple years later she began applying for faculty positions around the country where she could have her own lab. Dr. Goodman was hired by the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. She began her career there doing research on the lungs and how chemicals and water are transported in and out of them. She taught undergraduate and medical students in physiology and she taught graduate students how to be good teachers. Changing Career Paths AgainAs Dr. Goodman worked in the job she’d wanted for years, she found out that she liked teaching and working with students of all ages to help them become excited about science in addition to doing research. That reminded her that in high school she had vowed that if she ever did become a teacher, she would be a good teacher like her high school biology teacher Ms. Hubbard. Dr. Goodman wanted to learn more about working in science education, so she began volunteering with APS in its many activities with teachers and students at all grade levels. She did a lot of work for many years and got to be very well known by other physiologists. As a result, she first was asked to serve on the APS Education Committee and then to be its Chair. As Chair, she helped to expand the educational activities of APS in many new ways. Dr. Goodman is now a full professor of physiology at the Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota. In her current job she spends half her time working with science faculty and undergraduates from all over South Dakota to help with biomedical research, a third of her time teaching undergraduate students in biology or physiology and developing new ways to better teach those classes, and the rest of her time teaching physiology to medical students. Her current research is focused on improving science teaching and learning at all levels. Away From WorkNow that her children are all grown up and moved out of the house, Dr. Goodman and her husband (a math teacher) have time to travel and see new places. She has been to South America and the Galapagos Islands to see the wonderful birds and animals. She has also been to New Zealand to attend an international meeting for physiology educators and to Alaska on a cruise with lots of natural history and wildlife. She has lots of animals of her own and loves to take care of her horses, dogs, fish, and cats. She is very active in her church and helps out doing anything they need her to do. She also likes to read books. She is currently reading lots of different mysteries. Dr. Goodman gets to go to many meetings. She enjoys being in charge of programs and activities for a variety of groups. As a result, she is currently President of the Community Day Care Center in her town. She also volunteers as scientist-in-residence for the local school district. Her latest role is to write grants asking for money from various places to help support different educational programs. In all she does, she tries to make sure that other people have opportunities for improvement (more money, more education, more support). Advice for High School StudentsTry to understand the science and math courses that you are taking and to learn physiology by concepts and the big picture. In physiology, you can use many different techniques to learn about function -- molecular biology, pharmacology, biochemistry, biophysics, genomics, proteomics, etc.
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