Hello, my name is . . . Leanne Winchester

On Mondays, the Daily Voice introduces you to a member of the UMass Chan Medical School community—could be a new face, or maybe one that’s has been around for a while. We’ve asked our subjects to answer a few questions that might give you insight into their personalities. If you have a suggestion as to someone who might be profiled, let us know at UMassChanCommunications@umassmed.edu.

Leanne Winchester, RN, is project director of the Massachusetts Personal and Home Care Aide State Training Grant, MassAHEC Network. Before joining UMMS in January 2011, she was New Hampshire state health specialist and program manager for Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Office.

What brought you here to UMass Chan Medical School?
I was part of a grant-funded project with the UMass President’s Office and fell in love with the UMass system. As a registered nurse, I sought out opportunities with UMMS.

What do you love most about the work that you do?
It combines my two passions: working to support the under-served and health policy.

What is the practical application of your work?
Curriculum development, training and grant management.

Which trait do you most admire in yourself?
I’m extremely organized and I view my work as a passion, not as a job.

What’s the question you’re most often asked about your work – and the answer?
What does PHCAST stand for? (It stands for Personal and Home Care Aide State Training.)

Describe yourself in six words or fewer.
Organized, patient, nonjudgmental, attentive, thoughtful, and focused.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, name three things you would want.
My husband, my iPhone (with the 3G) and my dog.

If you could have dinner with a famous person, living or dead, who would that be?
Rosa Parks

What are some of your hobbies/interests outside of work?
I love to read and garden.

What do you consider the most interesting thing about yourself that most people might not know (and you would want to tell them).
I have close ties to Naivasha, Kenya, and the orphans there. I’ve gotten to know them personally after spending time in their village and later through writing. I am a board member for a nonprofit organization (www.gracerace.org) with a primary goal of completing a vocational school in Naivasha, Kenya, and strengthening the health and community programs through education and training of health care workers.