Iris Waichler

Iris Waichler, MSW, is a 12-time award-winning author, healthcare expert, and retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 40 years of experience helping individuals and families navigate serious medical and life challenges. Her expertise encompasses aging, caregiving, infertility, trauma, and catastrophic medical conditions, including head injuries, burns, amputations, and strokes. Iris began her career in mental health before transitioning to hospital social work, where she worked across four hospitals, including in emergency room and physical medicine and rehabilitation settings, and ultimately served as a director of social work. Her passion for patient advocacy led to her first book, Patient Power: How to Have a Say in Your Hospital Stay, published in 1988. She has since authored four nonfiction books, hundreds of healthcare articles, and numerous podcast appearances, with her work featured by outlets including The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, and Redbook Magazine.

Throughout her career, Iris has been committed to educating and empowering people during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Her third book, Role Reversal: How to Take Care of Yourself and Your Aging Parents, received eight major book awards, contributing to her record of 12 book awards overall. Her newest book, Burned Out, released in August 2026, explores the trauma experienced by first responders and the impact it can have on them and their families. Iris draws not only on her professional expertise but also on deeply personal experiences with caregiving, loss, and end-of-life care. She believes that people are remarkably resilient and that providing them with information, resources, and practical tools can help them feel less alone and better equipped to navigate difficult circumstances.

Today, Iris continues to build on her decades of healthcare advocacy through writing, podcasting, and educational outreach. She is passionate about sharing knowledge on caregiving, aging, trauma, infertility, and medical crises while making these resources accessible to a broader audience. Her leadership philosophy centers on collaboration, teaching by example, creating safe environments for learning, and helping others develop through experience and continued education. At 72, Iris remains active and eager to pursue new challenges, including additional podcasts, articles, and potential radio and television appearances, with the goal of using her experience and expertise to educate, support, and empower even more people.