10/25/2025
Dr. Goen will be greatly missed. I had the great pleasure of knowing him and partnering to help patients. Deepest condolences to Jewell and the family during this sudden loss. ๐โค๏ธ
๐๐๐ฆ๐ข ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฟ. ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฒ๐ป
The Buncombe County Sheriffโs Office is deeply saddened to share the passing of Dr. Tracy Goen on Sunday, October 12, 2025. Dr. Goen served as the Medical Director for the Buncombe County Detention Facility (BCDF), where he played a pivotal role in advancing medical care for those in custody.
Dr. Goen first joined the Sheriffโs Office as a volunteer in March 2019, offering his expertise to help develop the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program for individuals struggling with substance use disorder. His extensive experience in addiction medicine and commitment to current medical research made him the foundation of BCDFโs treatment initiatives.
Throughout his tenure, Dr. Goen became an indispensable part of our efforts to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for vulnerable populations. His impact extended beyond the detention facility to key community partners, including Buncombe Countyโs Community Paramedics, TASC, and regional recovery providers.
In 2021, Dr. Goen spoke to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, reflecting that his work in the jail mirrored his medical mission work in Africa, both offering profound, long-term opportunities to deliver lifesaving and life-changing care. His deep compassion, humility, and dedication left a lasting impression on his patients, colleagues, and the community he served.
The loss of Dr. Goen will be felt for years to come. His laughter once echoed through the halls of the medical wing, and his legacy continues through the lives he touched in Buncombe County, Southern Appalachia, and beyond.
A family service in Dr. Goenโs home state of Texas will be scheduled at a later date. His family, including his mother, three brothers, five children, five grandchildren, and fiancรฉe, welcome memorial notes at https://www.ashevilleareaalternative.com/obituary/Tracy-Goen.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be directed to organizations aligned with Dr. Goenโs lifeโs work.
During his partnership with the Sheriffโs Office, Dr. Goen worked closely alongside Peer Support Professionals from Sunrise Community for Wellness and Recovery through the Jail MAT Program, and with the Umoja Health, Wellness, and Justice Collaborative through the Community Paramedic Program. His influence and compassion will continue to guide the work of these and many other organizations dedicated to healing and recovery.
