Chin-Lin Ching, MD

Chin-Lin Ching, MD, is Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Ching trained at the University of Rochester for medical school as well as in Internal Medicine Residency. Dr. Ching is the Medical Director of the Palliative Care Consultation Service at Highland Hospital, where she has grown the program to include a dedicated Palliative Care unit, a pain service, and helped create a regional Palliative Care consult service to the rural regions of Western NY. She is also an Associate Hospice Medical Director.

My journey into Palliative Care was more like scattered stepping stones rather than a clear path. Seminal moments in my life such as the my father's death when I was in college and experiencing the mourning/death rituals of the Chinese culture certainly influenced me. But I believe that it started with my love of writing. When I was in college I wanted to be a writer, not a physician. During medical school and residency, I often felt lost in understanding what my true calling was, what kind of doctor I was meant to be. It wasn't until I found myself at the bedside, collecting and curating patients' stories and helping them write their last chapters that I truly felt at home. I have found that magical specialty where I have the privilege of sitting at the bedside with patients and families, hearing their stories, and collecting their narratives.

My journey as a Palliative Care leader has taught me so many valuable things about growing and building a program. My area of focus has become helping other young leaders understand the importance of collaboration, relationship building, and team health. I also have a professional interest in system work flows.

My "origin story" as a Palliative Care leader starts with a serendipitous meeting with Dr. Diane Meier. I had just begun as the new Medical Director of my program, with very little guidance and a lot of burn out. Diane came to town to give a lecture and I was invited to have lunch with her. I think that she could sense my level of burn out from across the room. At the end of the day, she gave me her card and told me that our work is too important for young leaders like me to burn out so easily. We had monthly calls for almost a year. I was absolutely blown away by the idea that someone as important and busy as Diane would find the time to call little-ol'-me. But she did, and she mentored me by showing me what it was to be a true leader. Investing in relationships is the secret to successful leadership.

When I became the Medical Director of my program, I had a 5 year "vision" of how I wanted our program to grow. Our program is an inpatient and outpatient Palliative Care service at a community hospital. My "wish list" included getting our own dedicated Palliative Care unit in the hospital, creating a Regional Palliative Care consult service to the smaller rural affiliate hospitals in our area, and starting a dedicated pain service at our hospital. Exactly 5 years later, we accomplished all 3 goals. I am incredibly proud of my team for all that we have accomplished together. Our volumes more than doubled during this time period and it required us to extend our services in ways that we had not anticipated. But they stepped up each and every time. It is an incredible accomplishment.

I was a coxswain for my high school and college crew teams. I still love the sport and miss being on the water.