GET TO KNOW YOUR LEADERSHIP
Q&A With Gretchen Winter, MD
Palliative and End-of-Life Care Section Chair
CHEST member since 2016
August 4, 2026
Where do you work?
I am a locum tenens physician.
What are your research interests?
Patient-physician communication, medical education, and health care worker wellness.
What led you to join your Network?
I am passionate about improving communication, especially at the end of life, as well as training the next generation of health care workers. I believe that the Critical Care Network has great opportunities for developing communication skills!
What achievements are you most proud of contributing to within your Network?
Over the years, I have been able to create content such as webinars and podcasts to help train members on important topics. I have also given numerous talks at the annual meetings and helped create others that spread my passion!
Has being in a Network benefited your career and your experience as a CHEST member?
I am a better physician because of CHEST. My work with CHEST has helped me to develop greater expertise because you can’t teach something you don't know. It has helped me reexamine my biases, challenge myself to grow, and develop mentorships and friendships that are invaluable to me personally and professionally.
What are your hobbies?
ANIMALS! I have six rescue dogs and have fostered so many more dogs and cats. You can almost always find me at the zoo or a wildlife sanctuary, volunteering with an animal rescue, or hiking through a jungle or diving in an ocean looking for animals. I also love reading (I read 200 books last year), camping (I’m trying to hit all the national parks, but I’m only at 28 so far), and travel (I’ve been to all 50 states, all 10 Canadian provinces, all seven continents, and 37 countries so far).
What is something you cannot live without (after family and friends)?
Dogs and books. Easy. Next question!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with your Network peers?
Get involved! And if at first you don't succeed, keep trying. CHEST is an incredible resource and can make a huge difference in your career.
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