Jarod E. Goodrich, DO

Home is what drew Orthopaedic Surgeon Jarod E. Goodrich, DO, back to the Berkshires, where he has joined Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates and is bringing expertise in hand and upper extremity surgery to the practice.

Raised in Windsor and a graduate of Wahconah Regional High School, Dr. Goodrich earned an undergraduate and graduate degree in physical therapy from Northeastern University, followed by his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

While a third-year medical student, Dr. Goodrich joined the Navy, completing his residency at the Navy Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA, and his four-year military service in Guam. After separating from the Navy, he completed fellowship training in hand and upper extremity surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Initially, Dr. Goodrich was heading toward a career in general surgery. “I did all of my rotations in general surgery when my medical school told me I had done too many. I needed a surgical rotation in another specialty,” he said. “Orthopaedics was the only rotation available so I did one in spinal surgery. That one month changed everything. I knew I wanted to be an orthopaedic surgeon and I’ve never looked back.”

During his training in orthopaedics, Dr. Goodrich became fascinated by the hand and upper arm and decided to specialize in these areas. “The hand is so complex,” he said. “A small problem can be a big functional impairment. For example, if you sprain your ankle, the long-term problems are minimal. But if you sprain a joint on a finger, you will have stiffness and with stiffness comes a loss of strength. Your hand will not be as functional as you need it to be.”

Major problems, such as trauma to the hand or upper extremity, tendon and nerve injuries can lead to serious challenges for patients, he continued. Patients with nerve damage in the upper arm are at risk for losing the complete use of their hand.

“I believe in evidence-based care,” he said. “While I love to operate, surgery is not always the best option for a patient. So, I problem-solve with each patient and ultimately decide on the best plan of care for that individual person.”

Dr. Goodrich, who is also a member of the BHS Sports & Wellness Team, brings specialized care for athletes, including wrist sprains that are prevalent in many sports, as well as throwing-arm injuries. As he does in his overall practice, Dr. Goodrich said he isn’t quick to operate when a better treatment will bring more value to an athlete in the long run.

“I help them get back to their sport in a safe, timely manner, working closely with physical and occupational therapists to make sure our patients receive the best overall care,” he said. “I know how much a sport can mean to someone, as well as the health and wellness benefits that regular activity provides athletes. My goal is to treat all hand and upper extremity injuries and conditions with evidence-based care. I want them to be back on their bikes, or on the field as soon and as safely as possible.”