Radiologist dies in car crash, was 'heart of the office'
Radiologist Cynthia H. Goralnik, MD, died tragically following a car crash on the morning of Dec. 29, 2015, after another vehicle changed lanes without warning. Goralnik, 61, was married and had three children. She had been with SimonMed for eight years.
The Arizona Republic first reported the incident on Dec. 31, gathering quotes from Goralnik’s coworkers and family.
“Dr. Goralnik was the heart of the office,” Von Doss, vice president of strategic initiatives at SimonMed, said, as quoted by the Republic. “She was the motivator in the clinic. She was very, very close with her staff. None of them feel comfortable working right now.”
According to the Republic’s coverage, Goralnik would personally deliver cancer diagnoses when possible, and she liked to learn a lot about her patients so they could discuss hobbies and other non-medical topics during visits.
The coverage also provided several examples of the positive impact Goralnik had on both her practice and the surrounding area.
“She helped us introduce 3-D mammography and whole-breast ultrasound across the Valley, all of which are lifesaving technologies,” Doss said. “She was very active in our outreach to patients. She helped us with a sponsorship for $100,000 of free services and really led that team.”
Besides her work and her family, Goralnik also loved sports, Netflix, and traveling around the world.
A funeral service was held on Jan. 3 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.