Dr. Gonzales is the self-described quarterback of the medical team, coordinating care, educating patients, ensuring that the correct lab tests are performed, and that the right specialists are involved.

As a hospitalist, Dr. Gonzales is the patient’s main point of contact and believes that listening to patients is paramount in his job. “Once the patient is on board with the treatment plan, they are much more successful in achieving their health goals, he said. He sees all hospital patients at least once a day, or more frequently, depending on the severity of their condition.

Dr. Gonzales completed his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, earned his medical degree at Andrew Taylor Still University in Kirkland, Mo., and finished his residency at Indiana University, Evansville, Evansville, Ind.

Dr. Gonzales fell in love with medicine and became a physician during courses in the basic sciences in high school and college. As a hospitalist, he felt he could utilize all of his medical training, as opposed to specialists who focus on a narrower scope. He calls himself a jack of all trades: part physician, part patient advocate, and part educator.

Originally from Atlanta, Ga, Dr. Gonzales looks forward to putting down roots in Moses Lake and exploring the area. He prefers the community hospital setting, which allows him to get to know the staff and colleagues better. “Once I get settled in, it will feel like home,” he said.

When he isn’t caring for patients, Dr. Gonzales, who lived in Alaska, is partial to the outdoor winter sports Moses Lake has to offer. He skis, snowboards, and enjoys outdoor activities with his wife and their three-year-old daughter