VITAL WorkLife

Physician Peer Coach and Consulting Physician

GR Coaching and Consulting

Founder and Executive Coach

ChristianaCare

Clinical Faculty, Department of Medicine

Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program

Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program

Program Director, Transitional Year Residency Program

US Army

Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Tripler Army Medical Center

Chief Resident, Department of Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center

Resident Physician, Department of Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center

Concur Technologies

Senior Consultant

Systems and Computer Technology

Product Consultant

I am an executive coach who empowers high-achieving professionals to elevate their leadership, embrace transitions, and thrive through change.

Change is hard, especially for high achievers who hold themselves to exceptionally high standards and value stability while often grappling with fear of failure.  

However, transitions don’t have to be daunting. Coaching can provide the tools and mindset to confidently navigate change with purpose and joy.

As your coach, I will partner with you through life's twists and turns, transforming these transitions into opportunities for growth and fulfillment. Through one-on-one coaching and tailored leadership development programming, I foster holistic personal and professional growth through every step of the journey.

--

My Story:

My story is filled with many unique chapters. In short, over the course of my career I’ve been a consultant, physician, military officer, healthcare leader, medical education leader, and professional coach -- often wearing three or more of these hats at the same time. Along the way, I’ve found the most joy in providing inspiring leadership through change and helping high-achieving individuals successfully navigate transitions and challenges. I look forward to utilizing my deep expertise in leadership, professional development, and coaching to help you elevate your leadership and thrive through change.

Gretchen Rickards

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁.

Today marks 13 years of marriage to my husband, Nealanjon (Neal) Das.

Our origin story breaks every workplace romance rule. He was my attending during residency, though the dynamic was far from romantic — I actually considered him the second scariest attending in the entire program. We didn’t start dating until after I graduated and stayed on as staff, and we fell in love against the backdrop of Hawaii.

But this post isn’t about how we met. It’s about a moment that changed everything.

During COVID, when I was physically and emotionally depleted but still pushing through, Neal had the courage to tell me I wasn’t OK. He also suggested I try the free physician peer coaching offered through my institution.

That one conversation opened the door to getting the support I needed and eventually led me to my purpose in coaching.

If not for that suggestion, I doubt I would have sought help on my own. The physician mentality of pushing through at all costs, never showing weakness, and always putting work and patients first, was deeply ingrained — even as a leader who regularly suggested wellbeing resources to others.

Over the years, we’ve navigated two children, two cats, seven moves, parental illness, breast cancer, a craniotomy, six job changes, and two major career transitions, and I can’t imagine a more supportive partner every step of the way.

In leadership circles, we celebrate mentors and sponsors, but we rarely acknowledge the partners who make our work possible — the ones who see us clearly even when we can’t see ourselves, and love us enough to tell us hard truths.

Neal, I’m grateful for you beyond words. Here’s to lucky 13 and many more.

Leadership and Transitions Coach | Physician | Educator | Lifelong Learner

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗿𝗮𝗽.

After a few days of recovery and reflection, I’m finally putting words to an unforgettable weekend.

Our inaugural 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘺 𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 brought eleven women physicians together from across the country, representing different specialties and career stages, for a meaningful blend of leadership development, well-being, and community in Chadds Ford, PA.

When Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH and I created this retreat, our guiding intention was this: 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵. And based on what participants shared, many did.

The magic happened in the small group conversations, the honest stories shared over meals, and the space to pause and reconnect with what matters most. Many participants shared that they left with more clarity, stronger boundaries, new tools, and renewed confidence. Perhaps most powerfully, they left feeling part of a supportive community of women physicians and reminded that they aren’t alone.

To the remarkable women who joined us, thank you. Your openness and generosity shaped the entire experience. And sincere thanks to the Fairville Inn, InJest Events, and Laura Robinson for helping bring this retreat to life.

We’re already planning the next Lead Your Way Retreat for October 2026 at the same location. ✨ If you want priority updates as we finalize plans, feel free to reach out.

#WomenPhysicians #WomenInMedicine #PhysicianLeadership #PhysicianWellbeing #LeadershipDevelopment

“𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱.”

I recently caught up with a former coaching client, a woman physician I worked with nearly three years ago as she was preparing to negotiate a new contract. Back then, we focused on the fundamentals: knowing what she wanted, asking for it clearly, and trusting her own value.

Fast forward to today. Because of a family move, she needed to navigate another job transition. When we spoke a few months ago, I encouraged her to consider building in some time off between roles (if financially feasible) to create space for her and her young family to settle and reset.

She confidently negotiated for that and so much more, including:
✔️ A start date of her choosing, with several months off in between
✔️ A significantly higher salary than the initial offer
✔️ A signing bonus
✔️ An administrative role and title with protected time to do it well

She was glowing as she shared the news and expressed gratitude for the groundwork we laid together years ago.

She used the skills she built through coaching to design the job that fits the season she’s in now.

That’s the staying power of coaching: an empowered mindset, tools that last, and a career built with intention.

#LeadershipDevelopment #NegotiationSkills #LeadershipCoaching #SustainableLeadership

No alternative text description for this image

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Last Tuesday, my 12-year-old daughter was almost hit by a car while crossing to her bus stop. The stop sits on a busy road with poor visibility, made even more challenging by recent construction that has changed traffic patterns near our home. Needless to say, it was a frightening moment for both of us.

At 7:30 a.m., I called the school. By pure chance, the 6th grade principal, Ms. Katie King, picked up. She listened, empathized, and immediately connected me with the district’s transportation director, Mr. Tom Jenkins.

When I couldn’t reach Mr. Jenkins by phone, I sent an email. At 4:30 p.m., he called me back, agreed the situation was unsafe, and took immediate action. By the next morning, the bus stop had been moved to the end of our driveway.

Two days later, Ms. King followed up to express her concern and make sure everything had been resolved.

Listening, empathy, decisive action, accountability, follow through, and strong communication skills were present in every step of this experience.

The entire situation left my daughter feeling safe, our family feeling heard, and me grateful to be part of a district where compassionate, responsive, values-driven leadership isn’t just talked about – it’s practiced and role modeled.

I am proud to be part of Kennett Consolidated School District and so appreciative of the leadership team at Kennett Middle School.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆?

#leadership #everydayleadership #gratitude

𝗪𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

Last January, my family bought this “unplug” box on Etsy. We came up with the tagline together: 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘞𝘪-𝘍𝘪.

It’s been sitting on a shelf most of the year, but that phrase has become our family code for “Put down the device and be present with us.”

On a recent Saturday, I set an intention to be more present, so we finally put the box to use and ended up having an impromptu digital detox.

What unfolded felt almost magical and reminded me that connection doesn’t always require more time — just more intention.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 — 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

What tools or practices help you reset and reconnect?

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

This Giving Tuesday, I’m supporting the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation 
 — an organization dedicated to protecting the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare workers.

As an Ambassador, I’ve seen the impact they make through meaningful advocacy, education, and efforts to remove the stigma around help-seeking.

If you're looking to give today, I hope you'll consider this important mission. Because when we care for the people who care for us, we strengthen the entire foundation of healthcare.

𝘈 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

#GivingTuesday #PhysicianWellbeing #CareForTheCaregivers

𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 — 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀.

But if you're a healthcare professional building a business, exploring a pivot, or interviewing for non-clinical roles, your network matters more than ever.

That’s why I’m presenting:
𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝟬𝟭: 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹
📅 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 5 𝘢𝘵 8 𝘗𝘔 𝘌𝘛
🎤 SoMeDocs(Doctors on Social Media) 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢, 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 & 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦

I’ll share practical, timeless strategies to take the pain out of networking — especially for healthcare professionals navigating growth and transitions.

𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹: The conference is offering 20% off. I’ll put the course link and the discount code in the comments.

Hope to see you there!

Open article: Networking 101: Timeless Principles for Today’s Healthcare Professional | SoMeDocs: Doctors on Social Media by doctorsonsocialmedia.com

Networking 101: Timeless Principles for Today’s Healthcare Professional | SoMeDocs: Doctors on Social Media

𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻?
You might not need more hours — you might need stronger boundaries.

I’ve had boundaries on the brain this week. They’ve come up in multiple coaching sessions and were also a key theme in my recent leadership retreat.

When the topic arises, it can feel a little nebulous. Here’s how I frame it with clients:

Boundaries aren’t about shutting people out. They’re about giving yourself permission to decide who and what gets access to your energy.

𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂:
→ Protect your well-being and mental space
→ Strengthen relationships through mutual respect
→ Increase focus and effectiveness at work
→ Build confidence and strengthen your leadership presence

Without them, we risk resentment, overcommitment, and exhaustion.

𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁?
Pay attention to the moments when you feel resentful or emotionally drained. Those feelings are data points — clues indicating where a boundary may be missing or unclear.

The goal isn’t to build walls; it’s to open doors with intention.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀?

#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #SustainableLeadership #Boundaries

Anchored Coaching

Partnering with clients to hold a vision for their potential, guiding them through life’s challenges and transitions until they are ready to fully embrace their growth.

Providing holistic coaching services focused on ADHD support, parenting, and life wellness, enabling clients to gain clarity, confidence, and actionable tools.

Creating a collaborative and empowering environment that respects each individual’s journey and honors their unique path to personal success.

Successes:
- Empowering clients to achieve sustainable progress, ultimately enabling them to independently navigate their journey and become the best versions of themselves.
- Supporting clients to develop resilience, balanced lifestyles, and proactive mindsets, while equipping them with long-term skills.
- Celebrating transformations in clients' lives as they transition to confidently leading themselves and achieving personal and family goals.

Certified Life Coach

Anchored Pediatric Mental Health & Family Coaching

As the owner and founder of Anchored Pediatric Mental Health and Family Coaching, I am proud to have launched a business with the mission of providing compassionate and effective mental health care to neurodivergent children and their families. Our goal is to create a supportive and collaborative environment where families can feel safe to share their experiences and work towards their goals. At our practice, we believe in authenticity and aim to provide an anchor for families who may feel lost or overwhelmed.  

We recognize that mental health care is not a one-size-fits-all solution, which is why we take a holistic approach to treatment. We understand that medication management is just one aspect of treatment and that the whole person needs to be considered. That's why we focus on developing personalized treatment plans that take into account each individual's unique needs and circumstances. By doing so, we can provide the most effective and comprehensive care possible.

At Anchored Pediatric Mental Health and Family Coaching, we are committed to helping families thrive. We understand that seeking mental health care can be daunting, but we are here to support you every step of the way. Let us be your anchor as you navigate the challenges that come with raising a neurodivergent child.

Owner

Mind Works

As an experienced physician, I had the privilege to work for over 3 years at Mind Works, where I became the first physician to offer medication management services. During my time there, I was able to witness firsthand how a collaborative approach can benefit everyone involved, including the patients and their families. I had the opportunity to work alongside a team of talented and dedicated therapists and learn from them as well as from my patients and their families. The experience enabled me to grow both personally and professionally, and I am grateful for the time I spent at Mind Works.

Pediatrician

THROUGH THE YEARS PEDIATRICS

As a general pediatrician at Through The Years Pediatrics for over 7 years, I had the privilege of caring for children from birth to young adulthood. During my time there, I learned and grew immensely, both as a physician and as a parent myself. One of the most valuable aspects of my experience was the trust I gained from my patients and colleagues. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such a dedicated team, and for the countless lessons and memories that I will carry with me throughout my career.

General Pediatrician

Children's Critical Care Specialists

As a pediatric hospitalist at Children's Methodist Hospital, I had the privilege of overseeing general pediatric hospital admissions, newborns, and patients who transitioned from the ICU, including post-op heart patients. Working closely with families, nurses, physicians, and the entire support staff, including custodians, I gained a wealth of knowledge and experience. The opportunity to learn from such a diverse group of people allowed me to develop a well-rounded approach to patient care and hone my skills as a healthcare provider. I am grateful for my time at Children's Methodist and the invaluable lessons I learned there.

Pediatric Hospitalist

👋🏼 Hey parents! 👋🏼 Are you ready to get the support your family deserves when dealing with mental health concerns such as ADHD, anxiety, or depression? 🤔 It's okay to admit that you need help. Sometimes, we all need a little extra support to get through tough times. 💪🏼

📌 Here are some things that may be needed: behavioral parent training, family coaching, and medication management when indicated. These are all tools that can help your family manage and overcome mental health challenges. 🧠

💡 Remember, things can get better, relationships can improve, and it's not too late. You are not alone! 💛

As a mental health pediatrician, certified professional coach, sanity school certified trainer, and a mom parenting with ADHD, I understand how overwhelming and challenging these issues can be. But with the right support and resources, your family can thrive.

🙌 I have been blessed with witnessing the transformative benefits of the holistic approach to consider exercise, nutrition, sleep, family dynamics, and relationships before considering medications. 💊

👉🏼 So, if you're ready to take the first step towards a brighter future, reach out to me! Let's work together to create a plan that works for you and your family. 🤝

taplio

The Battle

Gretchen Rickards

Grizelda Anguiano, MD, CPC, ELI-MP

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreGretchen Rickards's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Gretchen Rickards

Grizelda Anguiano, MD, CPC, ELI-MP

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Gretchen Rickards's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreGretchen Rickards's LinkedIn Performance