Most Influential Women 2007: Anne Winkler

Winkler, a physician with St. John’s Clinic-Rheumatology, divides her accomplishments into two areas: her profession and her community. She has served as governor of the Missouri Chapter of the American College of Physicians and on the board of governors for the American College of Physicians. She also has worked on several committees for the ACP, which has more than 100,000 members.

Her efforts to network area doctors led to a women’s physician group bridging CoxHealth and St. John’s health care systems and the Ozark Chapter of the Midwest Rheumatology Association.

Working as the medical director for Fibromyalgia Support Services, Winkler manages the first program in the area to incorporate exercise, coping skills and massage for patients with fibromyalgia.

She also helped develop and serves as the director of the rheumatology clinical research group at St. John’s Medical Research Institute, but she considers her efforts to help start the Summit Preparatory School of Southwest Missouri her biggest community accomplishment. She now serves as chairwoman of the school’s board of directors.

“Our children are our best resource,” Winkler said. “Education is key to give them opportunities to reach their full potential, which benefits not only them and their families but the community and world at large.”

The principles of the school, which opened in August 2005 and has 130 students enrolled for the 2007–08 school year, include integrated curriculum, small class size and daily conversational study in a foreign language.

Winkler also regularly gives of herself in a variety of medical-related positions. She has served as the medical editor of the Arthritis News Letter and assistant director of the Regional Arthritis Center. Winkler teaches an intensive weeklong course on rheumatology for the physician assistants program at Missouri State University and serves on the Arthritis Foundation Board of the Ozarks and on the board of the St. John’s Medical Research Institute.

She still finds time to teach a summer course on ancient Egypt for third through eighth-grade students each year.

One-on-one with Anne Winkler

What advice do you have for young women preparing to enter the work force?

I would advise women entering the work force to never assume that you cannot achieve your dreams. There will be roadblocks ahead, but with a little thought and some effort, most roadblocks can be circumvented.

Beyond the Golden Rule, what philosophy guides you?

I follow the philosophy that it is never too late to do the right thing. If something needs to be done – do it. If there is a problem, stop and rethink your strategy and you can usually find a way to solve the problem. And I keep in mind that every day is a new day with potential to accomplish great things.

What’s something about you that most people don’t know?

I adore chocolate ice cream, I do needlepoint using my own designs, I devour mystery stories, and I sing to the radio in my car.

Please tell us about your family.

I have two remarkable sons. Nate is 13 and definitely hitting the teenage years. Toby is 11.