Dr. Peter Winkelstein is a physician-scientist, healthcare executive, and nationally recognized leader in clinical and biomedical informatics. He serves as Executive Director of the Institute for Healthcare Informatics at the University at Buffalo, Chief Medical Information Officer of UBMD, and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Clinical Biomedical Informatics at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He previously served for more than a decade as Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer at Kaleida Health, the largest healthcare system in Western New York, and has held senior clinical informatics roles at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Eclipsys Corporation. Dr. Winkelstein brings a multidisciplinary perspective spanning medicine, health-system operations, data science, artificial intelligence, technology strategy, and business. His work focuses on the practical and ethical use of technology in healthcare, especially clinical decision support, workflow redesign, clinician burnout, patient safety, and real-world evaluation. He has taught and spoken extensively on AI in medicine and biomedical ethics, and his scholarship includes predictive modeling, health information technology, clinical workflow, and professional standards for medical informatics. Throughout his career, Dr. Winkelstein has been dedicated to advancing healthcare through technology and education. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and has been an invited speaker at national and regional conferences. His research interests include the impact of technology on healthcare burnout and the ethical challenges of electronic health records in clinical medicine. Dr. Winkelstein earned a B.S. with distinction in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Rochester, an M.S. in Astronomy from Stony Brook University, and both his M.D., magna cum laude, and M.B.A. from the University at Buffalo. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a certified medical staff leader, and a certified leadership coach. He has served in medical staff and nonprofit board leadership roles and has been recognized among Western New York’s leading healthcare executives.
Education and Training:
Certificate, Certified Leadership Coach, University at Buffalo (2024)
Certificate, Certified Medical Staff Leader, Greeley Medical Staff Institute (2011)
MBA, Business Administration, University at Buffalo (2010)
Residency, Pediatrics, University at Buffalo (1994)
Residency, Pediatrics, University at Buffalo (1993)
Internship, Pediatrics, University at Buffalo (1991)
MD, Medicine, University at Buffalo, Magna Cum Laude (1990)
MS, Astronomy, State University of New York at Stony Brook (1982)
BS, Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester (1979)
Employment:
Executive Director, Institute for Healthcare Informatics, JSMBS (2012-present)
CMIO, UBMD (2007-present)
Professor, Biomedical Informatics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2014-present)
Executive Director, Institute for Healthcare Informatics (2012-present)
Clinical Professor, Pediatrics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2009-present)
Chief Medical Information Officer, Kaleida Health (2007-present)
Chief Medical Information Officer, UBMD Physicians‘ Group (2007-present)
CMIO, Kaleida Health (2014–2025)
Attending Physician, General Pediatrics, Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo (1994–2017)
Division Chief, General Pediatrics, UBMD Pediatrics (2007–2012)
Director, Medical Informatics, University at Buffalo (1997–2012)
Clinical Associate Professor, Pediatrics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2001–2009)
Chair, Clinical and Scientific Informatics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (2005–2006)
Adjunct Associate Professor, Informatics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2003–2006)
American Medical Association: Physicians' Recognition Award in Continuing Medical Education (2000)
New York State Department of Health: Certificate of Excellence for Immunization Rates (West Side Health Center and Jesse Nash Health Center) (1998)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Commendation for Excellence in Teaching (1998)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Teaching Award for Outstanding Teaching (1995)
American Academy of Pediatrics: Award for Outstanding Performance as a Pediatric House Officer (1994)
American Academy of Pediatrics: Scholarship (1992)
University at Buffalo: Dean's Commendation (1988)
Gibson Anatomical Society (1988)
University at Buffalo: Dean's Commendation (1987)
University at Buffalo: Dean's Commendation (1987)
University at Buffalo: Summer Research Fellow (1987)
University of Rochester: Stoddard Prize in Physics (1979)
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society
Research Expertise:
Ethical issues in informatics
Grants and Sponsored Research:
August 2015–March 2020 Clinical Translational Science Award NIH/NCATS Role: Co-Investigator
January 2014–September 2019 Buffalo Institute for Genomics and Data Analytics New York State Role: Principal Investigator $50,000,000
June 2015–May 2016 Child Health Disparities Research Foundation for SUNY Role: Co-Investigator $150,000
June 2014–November 2015 Planning Grant to Produce a Roadmap to the Creation of the SUNY-Wide Centralized 'Big Data' Repository of SUNY Electronic Health Record Data Research Foundation for SUNY Role: Principal Investigator $149,912
July 2008–June 2011 SUNY at Buffalo Primary Care Master Educator Program Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Role: Co-Investigator $1,059,964
December 2019 Clinical Translational Science Award NIH/NCATS Role: Co-Investigator
Journal Articles:
Arvisais-Anhalt S, Ravi A, Weia B, Aarts J, Ahmad HB, Araj E, Bauml JA, Benham-Hutchins M, Boyd AD, Brecht-Doscher A, Butler-Henderson K, Butte AJ, Cardilo AB, Chilukuri N, Cho MK, Cohen JK, Craven CK, Crusco S, Dadabhoy F, Dash D, DeBolt C, Elkin PL, Fayanju OA, Fochtmann LJ, Graham JV, Hanna JJ, Hersh W, Hofford MR, Hron JD, Huang SS, Jackson BR, Kaplan B, Kelly W, Ko K, Koppel R, Kurapati N, Labbad G, Lee JJ, Lehmann CU, Leitner S, Liao ZC, Medford RJ, Melnick ER, Muniyappa AN, Murray SG, Neinstein AB, Nichols-Johnson V, Novak LL, Ogan WS, Ozeran L, Pageler NM, Pandita D, Perumbeti A, Petersen C, Pierce L, Puttagunta R, Ramaswamy P, Rogers KM, Rosenbloom ST, Ryan A, Saleh S, Sarabu C, Schreiber R, Shaw KA, Sim I, Sirintrapun SJ, Solomonides A, Spector JD, Starren JB, Stoffel M, Subbian V, Swanson K, Tomes A, Trang K, Unertl KM, Weon JL, Whooley MA, Wiley K, Williamson DFK, Winkelstein P, Wong J, Xie J, Yarahuan JKW, Yung N, Zera C, Ratanawongsa N, Sadasivaiah S. (2023) Paging the Clinical Informatics Community: Respond STAT to Dobbs v. Jackson's Women. Applied clinical informatics (Jan), 14(1): 164-171. doi:10.1055/a-2000-7590
Petersen C, Berner ES, Embi PJ, Fultz Hollis K, Goodman KW, Koppel R, Lehmann CU, Lehmann H, Maulden SA, McGregor KA, Solomonides A, Subbian V, Terrazas E, Winkelstein P. (2018) AMIA's code of professional and ethical conduct 2018. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA (Nov), 25(11): 1579-1582. doi:10.1093/jamia/ocy092
Goodman KW, Adams S, Berner ES, Embi PJ, Hsiung R, Hurdle J, Jones DA, Lehmann CU, Maulden S, Petersen C, Terrazas E, Winkelstein P. (2013) AMIA‘s code of professional and ethical conduct. J Am Med Inform Assoc (Jan), 20(1): 141-143.
Winkelstein P. (2012) In: "Medicine 2.0: Ethical Challenges of Social Media for the Health Profession". Springer
Winkelstein P. (2005) In: "Ethical and Social Challenges of Electronic Health Information". Springer
Feld LG, Winkelstein P. (1995) In: "Fluids and Electrolytes". Chapel Hill Press
Professional Memberships:
American Academy of Pediatrics: Fellow (FAAP)
American Association for Physician Leadership
Presentations:
"Artificial Intelligence in Medicine" Grand Rounds, West Tennessee Healthcare (2025)
"Artificial Intelligence in Medicine" Grand Rounds, Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center (2025)
"Physician professionalism and wellness" Virtual Grand Rounds, Department of Neurology, University at Buffalo (2024)
"Secondary Use of EHR Data: Does the Emperor Have Clothes?" Clinical Terminology Shock and Awe Workshop; National Center for Ontological Research (2016)
"Data in Clinical and Translational Research at SUNY" AIR 2016; SUNY (2016)
"Healthcare Data" Dean's Advisory Council; University at Buffalo; School of Management (2015)
"Healthcare Data" Data Analytics Across Disciplines Conference; Buffalo State College (2015)
"Partnership Creates Opportunities for Population Health" Annual Meeting; Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (2015)
"Healthcare Data for Managers" Medical Management Program; University at Buffalo; School of Management (2014)
"Electronic Health Records and Obamacare" Invited Presentation; Leadership Buffalo (2013)
"Designing Smart Medical Devices for Health Information" Invited Presentation; MedTech (2013)
"Ethical Issues of Medicine 2.0" Clinical and Research Ethics Seminar (2012)
"AMIA's Code of Ethics: Professionalism, Patient-Centeredness and Best Practices" Annual Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (2011)
"Medicine 2.0: Healthcare Meets Facebook" Florida Ethics: Debates, Decisions, Solutions; University of Miami (2011)
"Medicine 2.0: Healthcare Meets Facebook" Center for Bioethics and Humanities; SUNY Upstate Medical University (2011)
"Should AMIA Enforce Its Code of Ethics? Or at Least Be Transparent?" Annual Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA); Workshop (2010)
"Electronic Health Record Implementation at the West Side Health Center" Pediatric Grand Rounds; University at Buffalo (2010)
"Medicine 2.0" City-Wide Grand Rounds; Erie County Medical Center (2010)
"Electronic Health Record Information: Where are Physicians Spending Their Time in a Pre-EHR Work Environment?" Annual Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (2009)
"Update on the UBMD and Kaleida Electronic Health Records" Pediatric Grand Rounds; University at Buffalo (2008)
"Electronic Health Records: Promises and Pitfalls" Grand Rounds; Mercy Hospital of Buffalo (2008)
"Electronic Health Records: Technology/Applications for Facilitating Research Initiatives" Bioinformatics and Technology Applications in Medication Management Conference; University at Buffalo (2008)
"Interoperability, Ontology and Disease Registries" Surgical Faculty Retreat; University at Buffalo (2008)
"Current QI Strategies and Results" Pediatric Grand Rounds; University at Buffalo (2007)
"Informatics and the Electronic Health Record" Pediatric Grand Rounds; University at Buffalo (2007)
"Achieving Semantic Interoperability of Cancer Registries" Annual Meeting; North American Association of Cancer Registries; Plenary Session (2007)
"EHR Implementation Environment" EHR Roundtable; American Society of Clinical Oncology (2007)
"Interoperability, Ontology and Cancer Registries" Leadership Retreat; North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (2007)
"The Impact of Electronic Health Records on Outpatient Flow: An Evaluation of Pre-and Post-Implementation Expectations" Annual Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (2006)
"Personalized Healthcare" FUSE 2006 (2006)
"Health Informatics at Roswell Park Cancer Institute" Workshop; Baylor Health Care System (2006)
"Consumer Health Informatics at Roswell Park Cancer Institute" Consumer Health Summit; United Hospital Fund (2006)
"Strategic Directions for Informatics at Roswell Park Cancer Institute" IT Summit; United Hospital Fund (2005)
"How Computers are Changing Healthcare: An Introduction to Medical/Health Informatics" UBThisSummer Workshop; University at Buffalo (2004)
"Doing Good - Implementing an Electronic Medical Record Well" Clinical Ethics: Debates, Decisions, Solutions; University of Miami (2004)
"PDA Use Among Medical Students and Residents" Annual Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (2002)
"HIPAA - Is Government Regulation of Ethics Possible?" Pediatric Grand Rounds; University at Buffalo (2002)
"HIPAA - Is Government Regulation of Ethics Possible?" Annual Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (2001)
"The Immunization Schedule: Chaos or Opportunity?" Annual Conference; Clinical Directors Network (2001)
"Which Baby Should Live? The Separating of Conjoined Twins" Live Webcast; WebMD; Health Insider (2000)
"Expanding the Scope of a Resident Sign-out Database via an Intranet" Annual Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (2000)
"HIPAA Compliance: Ethical Foundations and Practical Strategies" Annual Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (2000)
"Preventing Medical Errors: Technical, Ethical and Social Issues" Annual Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (2000)
"DNR Orders: Practical, Legal and Ethical Issues" Pediatric Grand Rounds; University at Buffalo (2000)
"Computer Use Among an Academic Pediatric Faculty" Annual Fall Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (1999)
"Outcomes Research, Practice Guidelines and Artificial Intelligence" Dialogues in Research Ethics Series; University of Miami (1998)
"Ethical Issues at the Point of Care" Annual Spring Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (1998)
"Blood from a Stone - Obtaining Clinical Information from a Billing Database" Beyond Billing Program; University at Buffalo (1997)
"Ethics Grand Rounds" Sesquicentennial Ethics Symposium; University at Buffalo (1996)
"Physician-Assisted Death" Biennial Meeting; Union of American Hebrew Congregations (1996)
"Using ODBC to Link a Legacy System with Multiple Applications" Annual Fall Symposium; American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) (1996)
"Immunization Rates in Inner-City Buffalo" Pediatric Grand Rounds; University at Buffalo (1996)
Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo/Roswell Park Cancer Institute: EHR Taskforce; Member (2015–2017)
Great Lakes Health: EHR Selection Committee; Chair (2015–2016)
University of Rochester: UNYTE Scientific Session - ‘Creating New Data Repositories: Tips and Traps‘ Facilitator (2015)
Great Lakes Health: Physician Steering Committee; Committee Member (2015–2016)
Millennium Collaborative Care: DSRIP IT Steering Committee; Committee Member (2015–present)
American Medical Informatics Association: 2015 Fall Symposium - Scientific Program Committee; Committee Member (2014)
Roswell Park Cancer Institute: Personalized Medicine Conference - 'Knowledge Databases-A Conversation in Four Perspectives'; Panel Member (2014)
University at Buffalo: Buffalo Translational Consortium; Board Member (2014–present)
Clinical Research Forum: IT Roundtable (Washington, DC) Conference Organizer and Facilitator (2014)
SUNYCON 2014 (New York, NY): ‘Implementing Large-Scale Change: Creating a Culture of Change: Notes from the Field: Collaboration in Research‘; Panel Member (2014)
University at Buffalo: Clinical Informatics Fellows Supervisor (2014–present)
Kaleida Health: Medical Staff President-Elect (2014–2016)
University at Buffalo: Search Committee for Information Security Officer; Committee Member (2014)
University at Buffalo: CTSA Steering Committee; Committee Member (2014–present)
Clinical Research Forum: IT Roundtable (Washington, DC) Conference Organizer and Facilitator (2013)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Search Committee for VP IT and CIO; Committee Member (2013)
Clinical Research Forum IT Roundtable Planning Committee; Committee Member (2013)
University at Buffalo: CTRC - CTMS Vendor Selection Committee; Committee Member (2013)
MedTech: 'Designing Smart Medical Devices for Health Information Systems Integration'; Panel Member (2013)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Search Committee for Chair of Biomedical Informatics; Committee Member (2012–2013)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: UBMD ACO Integration Committee; Committee Member (2012–2013)
Kaleida Health: Physician Steering Committee for Aligning Hospital and Physician Incentives Program; Committee Member (2012)
Buffalo Maritime Center; Board of Trustees Member (2011–2012)
Kaleida Health: Clinical IST Oversight and Governance Committee; Committee Member (2010–2012)
Kaleida Health: Medical Staff; Treasurer (2010–2014)
American Medical Informatics Association: Finance Committee; Committee Member (2010–2013)
American Medical Informatics Association: Task Force on Vendor Contracts; Member (2009–2011)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: CTSA Ethics Committee; Committee Member (2009–2010)
Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo: Physician Strategic Planning Committee; Committee Member (2009–2012)
Health Resources and Services Administration; Grant Reviewer (2009–present)
University at Buffalo: Web Content Initiative; Member (2008–2010)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Search Committee for Chair of Pediatrics; Committee Member (2008–2009)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: UBMD Information Technology Committee; Co-Chair (2008–present)
Kaleida Health: Medical Executive Committee; Committee Member (2008–2010)
P2 Collaborative of Western New York: Western New York Quality Measurement Collaborative; Advisory Board (2008–2009)
Temple Beth Zion: Prayer Book Review Committee; Committee Member (2008)
Kaleida Health: Ambulatory EHR Implementation Steering Committee; Committee Member (2008–2012)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: UNYNET Steering Committee; Committee Member (2008–2010)
Public Health Transition Committee Advised Erie County Executive-elect Chris Collins.; Committee Member (2007)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Informatics Curriculum Committee; Committee Member (2007)
University at Buffalo: BAPHIE RHIO Project UBMD Representative (2007–2009)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: UBMD EHR Subcommittee Tasked with EHR vendor selection; Committee Member (2007–2008)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Teaching Productivity Committee; Committee Member (2007–present)
Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo: Outreach and Access Team; Member (2007–2008)
Temple Beth Zion: Ritual Committee; Committee Member (2007–2010)
UBMD Pediatrics: Board of Directors; Treasurer (2007–2008)
Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo: Medical Advisory Committee; Committee Member (2007)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: UBMD Strategic Planning Team; Member (2006–2007)
University at Buffalo School of Informatics: Curriculum Review Committee; Committee Member (2006–2007)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: WNYCIE RHIO Project - Physician Advisory Committee; Committee Member (2006–2007)
American Jewish Committee: Emergency Solidarity Mission (Jerusalem, Israel); Delegate (2006)
American Jewish Committee, Buffalo Chapter; Board of Directors (2006–2007)
American Medical Informatics Association: Fall Symposium; Reviewer (2006)
infoTech Niagara BETA Awards; Judge (2006)
National Center for Ontological Research: Scientific Committee; Committee Member (2005–2007)
UNYPHIED (Buffalo, NY); Board of Directors (2005–2010)
University at Buffalo: UBA Information Technology Committee; Chair (2005–2008)
University at Buffalo Associates; Board of Directors (2005–2007)
University at Buffalo School of Informatics: Founding Committee; Committee Member (2004–2006)
University at Buffalo: Secure Knowledge Management Workshop Program Committee; Committee Member (2004)
University at Buffalo: Provost‘s Informatics Briefing Committee; Committee Member (2004)
Kaleida Health: Point of Care Testing Committee; Committee Member (2004)
Temple Beth Zion: A Bioethics Study Group in the Jewish Tradition Facilitator (2004)
University Pediatric Associates, Inc.: Board of Directors; Treasurer (2004)
University at Buffalo: HUBNET PDA SIG Steering Committee; Committee Member (2003–2004)
ePocrates Inc. www.epocrates.com; Advisor (2003–2004)
American Medical Informatics Association: Fall Symposium; Reviewer (2003)
Wolters Kluwer Health Inc.: Clin-eguide www.clineguide.com; Reviewer (2003–2011)
University at Buffalo School of Informatics: Advanced Certificate in Medical/Health Informatics Program Co-Program Director, Founder and Instructor (2002–present)
American Medical Informatics Association: Ethics Committee; Chair (2002–2005)
University at Buffalo: Library/Information Services Task Force Committee for LCME Accreditation; Chair (2001–2002)
University at Buffalo: UBA Information Technology Committee; Committee Member (2001–2005)
Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo: Concept of Care Committee; Committee Member (2001)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Practice Plan HIPAA Compliance Committee; Chair (2001–2002)
Wilson Harbor Yacht Racing Association Web Site Manager and Scorer (2001–2012)
American Medical Informatics Association: Ethical, Legal and Social Issues Working Group; Chair (2001–2002)
University at Buffalo: WBFO (FM 88.7) Commentator (2000–2004)
Temple Beth Am: Finance; Vice President (2000–2002)
University at Buffalo/Kaleida Health: Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo Steering Committee; Committee Member (2000–2001)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Billing/EMR Committee; Committee Member (1999–2004)
Kaleida Health: Physician Information Technology Advisory Panel; Member (1999–2001)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: WNY IAIMS Grant - Research Planning Team; Member (1999)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Clinical Productivity Committee; Committee Member (1997–2000)
Wilson Harbor Yacht Racing Association; Chair (1997–2001)
Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo: Patient Inventory Focus Committee; Committee Member (1996)
American Medical Informatics Association: Ethics Committee; Committee Member (1996–present)
Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo: Medical Ethics Review Committee - Clinical Consultation and Review Subcommittee; Chair (1995–1997)
Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo: Dr. PIP Immunization Tracking Program Advisory Committee; Committee Member (1995–1997)
Temple Beth Am; Board of Directors (1995–2002)
Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo: Ethics Committee; Committee Member (1995–2007)
Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo: Pediatric Residents Association; President (1992)
Women and Children‘s Hospital of Buffalo: Pediatric Residents Association; Vice President (1991)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Alpha Omega Alpha Advisory Committee; Committee Member (1989–1990)
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Student Research Committee; Committee Member (1986–1990)
University at Buffalo: Polity; Member (1986–1990)
Canoe-Building Project for Underprivileged Children from Inner-City Buffalo (Fall 1995, 1996, 1997 and Spring 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) Funded by $1,500 grants per year.; Coordinator